Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development is seeking a driven, detail-oriented Veterinary Pathologist to join our Global Therapeutics Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In this collaborative, high-impact role, your expertise will help inform the development of safe and effective animal health products.
We are seeking an anatomic pathologist with strong knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of common veterinary and laboratory animal species; excellent communication skills; and a passion for translational research. You will provide pathology insights and support in vivo model development across laboratory and domestic animal species, including rodent, canine, feline, equine, bovine, small ruminant, swine, poultry, and commercial fish, and across therapeutic areas such as small molecules, biopharmaceuticals, and biologicals, including vaccines.
Key Responsibilities
- Pathology Leadership & Study Oversight Serve as Project Pathologist for assigned compounds and therapeutic areas, providing scientific leadership for pathology activities across internal and outsourced GLP and non-GLP studies. Conduct and/or oversee gross necropsy and histopathology evaluations, integrating clinical pathology, organ weight, and other relevant study data to ensure comprehensive interpretation of findings. Serve as Study Pathologist, contributing scientist author, and peer review pathologist, as appropriate, to ensure scientific rigor, consistency, and high-quality pathology assessments. Lead pathology data interpretation, risk assessment, and translational relevance evaluations, and deliver recommendations that support informed decision-making and candidate progression throughout development.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Work with toxicologists, target animal safety scientists, clinicians, pharmacokineticists, research scientists, study directors, external study monitors, and project teams to design and interpret in vivo studies and communicate findings. Support the integration of pathology data into regulatory submissions, safety narratives, and agency responses, and promote consistent interpretation across internal and external partners.
- Pharmacovigilance Case Assessment Provide expert pathology evaluations for pharmacovigilance activities, including safety-signal assessment and adverse-event investigations, supporting the ongoing monitoring of marketed products and animal health and welfare.
- Innovative Research & Translational Science Apply comparative pathobiology to support target validation, animal-model development, and non-animal alternatives. Contribute to mode-of-action studies and experimental design, bridging preclinical findings with clinical relevance to improve candidate quality.
- Regulatory Strategy & Documentation Author or contribute to regulatory submissions and responses to agency queries, ensuring pathology data are represented accurately and clearly and supporting regulatory approval processes.
- Communication & Scientific Influence Present findings to project teams, senior leadership, scientific meetings, and regulatory agencies, translating complex data into clear, actionable insights. Contribute scientific strategy and help shape project direction as compounds advance through development.
- Mentorship & Oversight Training and guidance veterinary pathology interns and laboratory staff, supporting professional development and maintaining high standards of scientific rigor and ethical conduct.
- Travel Occasional travel may be required to monitor studies, participate in necropsy procedures, or conduct peer reviews at external sites or contract research organizations (CROs).
Qualifications & Experience
- DVM/VMD from an accredited veterinary school, or international equivalent, required. MS or PhD in pathology or a related field is highly preferred.
- Board certification Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP), or an equivalent recognized veterinary pathology board is required.
- 3+ years of veterinary pathology experience, ideally in an industry setting (CRO, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology). Diagnostic or comparative pathology experience is a strong asset.
Technical & Scientific Skills
- Proficiency in gross and microscopic pathology across multiple domestic and laboratory animal species.
- Understanding of toxicologic pathogenesis and risk assessment.
- Experience with animal model development and translational research.
- Interest or experience in molecular pathology is desirable; the ability to collaborate with molecular pathology specialists is important, particularly in support of discovery research and internal de-risking frameworks.
- Familiarity with electronic data-capture pathology systems (e.g., Pristima).
- Understanding of regulatory guidance; experience writing regulatory dossiers to support submissions is desired.
- Competence with digital tools, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, and emerging AI platforms, to support data analysis, communication, and collaboration.
Interpersonal & Collaboration Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams.
- Collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for scientific problem-solving.
Location & Work Arrangement
This role is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with approximately 50% onsite and 50% work-from-home arrangement. Candidates must be able to commute to the Kalamazoo laboratory during onsite days. This is not a fully remote position.
Full time
Regular
Colleague
