Tenure Track Faculty PositionAssistant Professor in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Meat Sciences)Animal and Veterinary Sciences DepartmentHuntley College of AgricultureSalary Range: $97,020-$111,360California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.
College of Agriculture:
The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture offers a variety of applied science programs in Agricultural Science, Animal Health Science, Animal Science, Food Science & Technology, Nutrition Science and Dietetics, and Plant Science, as well as management and technology programs in Agribusiness & Food Industry Management and Apparel Merchandising & Management. We are the legacy College of Cal Poly Pomona and a foundational aspect of the university's identity and heritage. Located in Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the nation with over 10 million people, and close to the second largest U.S. city (Los Angeles), we are committed to the development and support of urban agriculture and of sustainable food, agriculture and related systems in California. Our educational programs prepare our students for exciting careers in the food, agriculture, nutritional health, animal health, and apparel sectors as well as opportunities in federal and state agencies. We are the primary provider of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in these disciplines in Southern California. Our orchards, greenhouses, vineyards, large urban farm with organic certified acreage, animal units and laboratories, veterinary clinic, food science laboratories, experimental kitchens, and digital apparel design, production and retail laboratories, provide hands on experiences for our students under Cal Poly Pomona's "learn to become" philosophy. Our students engage with the campus and local community, gaining practical experiences working with faculty and staff in our AGRIscapes (Kellogg Ranch) Center, the Discovery Farm, and the Farm Store, and with the extended community through industry internships, volunteer activities, and other interactions. Our faculty are engaged teacher-scholars with a strong commitment to student success, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences:
The Animal & Veterinary Sciences Department's mission is to provide state of the art instructional and research programs. Our core values are to provide quality education by supporting diversity in our student and faculty populations, maintaining state-of-the-art facilities, a collegial environment, and promoting academic freedom. The department has eleven tenured/tenure track faculty, twelve part-time faculty, and approximately 1,050 undergraduate and 15 graduate (MS) students. About 61% of undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college or earn a four-year degree. More than 85% of the students are women. The student population is very diverse (Hispanic/Latino, 58.5%; White 15.5%; Asian, 14.5%; Multiracial, 5.5%; Unknown/Non-resident aliens, 4.4%; Black/African American, 1.5%; and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.3%); this diversity is also reflected in the faculty.
The department offers a four-year curriculum in the two undergraduate majors (Animal Science and Animal Health Science), leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Animal Science has options in Pre-Veterinary Science/Graduate School and Animal Science general. The Pre-Veterinary Science/Graduate School subplan meets requirements for admission to most schools of veterinary medicine, related medical technical fields, and for graduate study in animal nutrition, meat science, animal breeding, and animal physiology. The Animal Science general option is designed to prepare students who do not plan to go to Veterinary or Graduate School for employment in the animal and allied industries. Animal Health Science trains students to be registered veterinary technicians. A Master of Science degree in Agriculture with a subplan in Animal Science is also available. In addition, minors in Equine Studies, and Animal and Veterinary Sciences are offered. The department maintains 330 acres of rangeland and 100 acres of irrigated pastures. Livestock includes a breeding herd of Angus and Angus Crossbred cattle, purebred Rambouillet and Suffolk sheep, goats, and a herd of various commercial breeds of swine. It is the only four-year program with animal production units in Southern California. In addition, horses are available at the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, a breeding facility located on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. Students get hands-on learning experiences working directly with a variety of animals which gives them a competitive edge in the employment marketplace and getting into Veterinary School.
Position description:
Teaching : Tenure-track faculty position providing instruction in the Animal & Veterinary Sciences Department, Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture, for undergraduate courses focusing on the Pre-Veterinary Science/Animal Science program and as needed, the Animal Health Science program if the candidate possesses the required expertise. The average teaching load is 12 weighted teaching units (WTUs) per semester. The university provides assigned time during the first two years of the appointment to be used towards development of pedagogy and research/scholarly activities (reduced to 9 WTUs per semester).
Research/Scholarship : Although workload is based primarily on teaching, faculty are expected to seek grant funding to secure assigned time for research/scholarship activities. The new faculty member will conduct research/scholarly activities commensurate with their area of expertise and seek collaborations with other faculty or external organizations.
Service: Committee service to the Department, College, and University is expected. The new faculty member will participate in departmental service, including curriculum development, student advising, program assessment and development, student recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities.
Compensation : Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits are considered competitive when compared to similar institutions in the region.
Applicants whose work demonstrates a commitment to diversity in higher education are particularly encouraged to apply.
Minimum requirements include:
- Earned PhD and/or DVM by the time of appointment in Meat Science, Meat Processing, Food Science with a meat emphasis, Animal Science with a meat science emphasis, Muscle Biology, or a closely related discipline. Candidates with degrees in a related field must demonstrate substantial preparation and experience in meat science and meat processing.
- Demonstrated professional, research, outreach, and instructional experience in applied meat systems, including one or more of the following: livestock harvest; humane handling and slaughter systems; carcass evaluation and fabrication; meat processing; meat product development; or meat quality and safety.
- Ability to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses and hands-on laboratory experiences in meat science, meat processing, carcass evaluation, livestock harvest, meat quality, food safety, or closely related areas including general animal science courses. The candidate must be prepared to teach skills-based laboratories in appropriate instructional facilities.
- Working knowledge of the principles and practices used to produce safe and wholesome meat products, including sanitation and SSOPs, GMPs, HACCP-based food safety systems, hazard control, regulatory compliance, and worker safety. Familiarity with USDA-FSIS requirements or comparable meat inspection and regulatory systems is expected.
- Evidence of scholarly, applied, or creative productivity relevant to meat science, meat processing, food safety, meat quality, product development, or related food-animal systems, and the potential to develop an externally supported program of research, outreach, or industry collaboration.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success through experiential learning, mentoring, inclusive teaching, and preparation of students for careers in meat processing, food manufacturing, food safety, livestock production, government, research, or related industries.
- Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, livestock producers, meat processors, regulatory agencies, commodity organizations, and other external partners.
- Eligibility to work in the United States.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications: - Advanced expertise in one or more applied areas, such as humane harvest and slaughter; carcass grading and yield; fabrication; postmortem muscle biology as it affects quality; fresh and processed meat products; formulation and ingredient functionality; curing, smoking, fermentation, thermal or nonthermal processing; sensory evaluation; packaging and shelf life; meat microbiology and interventions; or sustainable utilization of co-products.
- Documented experience and knowledge in meat processing procedures, and ability to manage a meat processing facility.
- Experience developing hands-on curricula, laboratory exercises, demonstrations, or workforce-development programs that connect animal production and harvest with meat product manufacturing, product quality, food safety, and regulatory practice.
- Evidence of building productive partnerships with relevant industry, or government; professional experience with livestock producers, meat processors, food manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, regulatory agencies, or meat and livestock organizations.
- Training or certification in HACCP, preventive controls, food safety auditing, meat inspection, sensory evaluation, animal handling, occupational safety, or related professional areas.
- A record of applied publications, technical reports, industry-sponsored projects, patents or product development, extension materials, invited presentations, grants, or other scholarships that demonstrate impact beyond the laboratory.
- Postdoctoral training, residency, or substantial professional experience in meat science, food processing, food safety, muscle biology, or a closely related applied field.
Application Process: A completed application will consist of:
- Cover letter in which the applicant describes their interest in the position, relevant experience, and how they meet the minimum and preferred qualifications,
- Curriculum vitae,
- Teaching Philosophy statement (2-page max) that addresses Cal Poly Pomona's commitment to excellence in education,
- Research Statement (2-page max, single spaced),
- The names and contact information for at least three individuals that can serve as references,
- Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate). Official transcripts will be required of finalists.
Finalists for the position will:
- Provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview,
- Provi
