Assistant Professor Animal Welfare Dairy Cattle

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POSITION SUMMARY:

This is a nine-month full-time academic tenure-track faculty position (60% research and 40% teaching) at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science. This position is part of the Dairy Innovation Hub a state-wide initiative to advance dairy research education and outreach. The teaching load for this 40% teaching appointment is 4.67 contact hours per semester. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interests and abilities to conduct research and teach courses in dairy and/or animal science with an emphasis on dairy welfare and management. Opportunities exist for optional summer employment through teaching research grants internship supervision and other funding sources.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research (60%)

• Conduct primary research on dairy cattle welfare and management.

• Utilize the UWRF Dairy Herd and/or collaborate with commercial dairy farms across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

• Handeand evaluate herd data sets using dairy management software.

• Work with individual cow management systems.

• Engage in collaborative dairy research with UW-Madison and UW-Platteville as part of the Dairy Innovation Hub program.

• Establish and maintain affiliations with dairy farmers dairy-affiliated groups and dairy associations at the regional state and national levels.

Teaching (40%)

• Teach undergraduate courses in dairy and/or animal science with emphasis on dairy welfare and/or management.

• Help in teaching core disciplines of Dairy or Animal Science based on departmental needs individual interest educational background or skill level.

• Be an effective and engaged teacher.

• Maintain a strong interest and ability in providing undergraduate students with leadership mentoring and advising.

• Have well developed and effective oral and written communication skills.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Department:

Animal and Food Science

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Dairy Science or Animal Science or Animal Welfare or closely related discipline. A DVM with a graduate degree would also be considered. Applicants who have finished course work and are still working on their dissertation may be considered for a conditional appointment and must complete their Ph.D. or graduate degree within one year after their date of appointment.

• Educational and professional expertise primarily in dairy cattle

• Professional priority for achieving excellence in dairy welfare and management research

• Strong interest in and desire to teach college-level courses

• Well-developed and effective oral and written communication skills

• Familiarity with North American animal agricultural practices

Preferred Qualifications:

• Handling and evaluating herd data to assess and improve dairy cattle health and wellbeing

• Experience with dairy management software such as Dairy Comp PC Dart etc.

• Experience with individual cow management systems such as Cow Manager etc.

• Experience in evaluating the individual cows environment as it relates to cow comfort

• Demonstrated research activity in publications in relevant areas

• Experience and ability to teach in the core disciplines of Dairy or Animal Science at the college level

• Experience contacts and involvement in the dairy industry

• Strong interest in and ability to provide undergraduate students: 1) leadership and mentoring in research; 2) academic advising; and 3) advising of co-curricular activities such as student organizations.

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to apply online at Career Opportunities. UWRF will not consider paper emailed or faxed applications. Applicants are required to provide:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Unofficial Transcripts

• 2- 3-page Statement on Research Plans and Teaching Philosophy

• Letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience (cover letter)

• Names addresses telephone numbers and email addresses of at least three references who can specifically comment upon your teaching experience and professional preparation (references)

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Melkaye Melka

Associate Professor & Search Chair

Deadline to Apply: Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration applicants should submit all required materials on or before March 15 2026

Employees receive excellent benefits including exceptionally low-cost comprehensive health dental and vision benefits; employer match of Wisconsin Retirement System contributions of 6.95%; an attractive amount of paid leave per year in addition to paid sick leave. To learn more about our benefits go to
Falls does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this please contact Human Resources at .

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the final candidates may be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

Title IX Notice

As required by Title IX and federal regulations UW-River Falls does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities including in admission and employment. Questions about the application of Title IX may be referred to UWRFs Title IX Coordinator at; the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights; or both. For more information please see Background Check and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you your most recent employer and all previous Universities of Wisconsin institutions and State of Wisconsin agency employers from the past seven (7) years to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment per Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 1275.

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Reasonable Accommodations

UW-River Falls provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or an accommodation in applying because of a disability contact or .

Academic Freedom & Freedom of Expression

The University is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression and provides all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to explore ideas and to speak write listen challenge and learn pursuant to Regent Policy Document 4-21 Commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin age pregnancy disability status as a protected veteran or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds perspectives and skills and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.