University of Connecticut, Animal Science

Position ID:UConn-AnimalScience-494922 [#17735, 494922]
Position Title: Department Head & Professor
Position Type:Tenured/Tenure-track faculty
Position Location:Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Area: Animal Science
Appl Deadline: finished (2021/03/18, finished 2021/09/25, listed until 2021/03/19)
Position Description:    

*** this position has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut in Storrs (UConn) invites applications for the position of Department Head with an appointment as Associate or Full Professor.  We are seeking an inspirational, dynamic and visionary individual to provide sound leadership for a highly ranked and productive department in alignment with the new strategic plans for the College (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues/) and the University. This is a full-time, 9-month position with a 10th month of service in this administrative capacity. The Department Head reports directly to the Dean.  Active participation in the undergraduate curriculum and research/extension programs is expected.  

The goal of the Department is to provide a first-class, comprehensive program to meet the tripartite missions of teaching, research, and service in animal science and husbandry. The Department includes 19 tenured, tenure-track and teaching faculty and 22 staff members. The diverse expertise of the faculty encompasses equine science, food science and microbiology, growth physiology, genetics and genomics, meat science and muscle biology, production, reproductive biology, and biotechnology. The Department maintains research and teaching farms (beef cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, horses and a state-of-the-art dairy facility) on the Storrs campus.  The Department also manages a commercial creamery, a meat processing facility, and forage crops.

Undergraduate and graduate programs balance development of breadth of knowledge, core technical and professional skills, and the global and social literacy needed upon graduation. The undergraduate curricula are strengthened through hands-on learning practices and established Honors, internship, and undergraduate research programs. Currently, the department offers curricula to 400+ undergraduates pursuing AAS and BS degrees and 35+ graduate students pursuing MS and PhD degrees.  For more information, see http://animalscience.uconn.edu

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties include:

  • Teach a minimum of one undergraduate course and participate in research and/or extension programs.
  • Support and promote the excellence of our multi-faceted teaching, research, extension, and service activities.
  • Manage administrative responsibilities for academic, personnel, and fiscal affairs and provide oversight of physical facilities.
  • Represent and promote the department within the College, the University, and the State, as well as at the national and international levels.
  • Promote collegiality and enhance a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff in the department.
  • Acquire and maintain current knowledge with all relevant campus, college and union policies and procedures, and develop appropriate policies as required.
  • Actively engage in fundraising on behalf of the department in collaboration with the College’s Director of Development.
  • Mentor and support the unionized faculty, staff, and graduate students in academic and professional endeavors.
  • Serve as a team-builder to encourage interactions among faculty within the department and between departments to achieve individual and departmental goals.
  • Inspire, initiate and support entrepreneurial missions.
  • Develop and supervise an effective support staff and structure.
  • Perform other responsibilities as related to the Department Head administrative duties.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Animal Science or a closely related discipline; DVM or equivalent in a relevant field is also acceptable.
  • Nationally and internationally recognized record of scholarship and professional activities related to teaching, research, and/or extension that will qualify the individual to be tenured at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in the Department of Animal Science.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills appropriate to sustaining a mutually respectful environment and delivering quality academic programs within an inclusive work environment.
  • Evidence demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the diversity and inclusion of students, faculty, and staff.
  • Demonstrated leadership in developing departmental programs, coordinating capital improvements, stimulating external funding from both public and private sources.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Full professorship or equivalence in Animal Science or a closely related discipline.
  • Evidence of excellence in research, teaching, and/or extension including but not limited to significant records of success in obtaining extramural funding from nationally competitive research programs, foundations, private or other donors, and maintaining a nationally recognized program of scholarship.
  • Prior administrative experience suited to leadership of an academic department engaged in teaching, research, and service activities at a major Land Grant University.
  • Demonstrated ability to encourage consensus while coming to and executing decisions in a collegial atmosphere.
  • Experience recruiting highly qualified and diverse graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff, including those who are traditionally underrepresented in Animal Science and related fields.
  • Experience supervising a diverse set of animal/crop units, and dairy manufacturing facility (creamery) which sometimes have competing demands.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month position with a 10th month of service in this administrative capacity. Salary is competitive and commensurate with applicant’s record. The University provides an extensive benefits package, which includes retirement and health insurance coverage.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/17735 and submit the following application materials:

  • A cover letter,
  • Curriculum vitae that includes a list of publications, grants received, and records of teaching, outreach and service,
  • A statement of administrative experience, vision and leadership philosophy for the Department
  • Research and scholarship statement (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
  • Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.);
  • Commitment to diversity statement (addresses how the candidate has advanced diversity, equity and inclusion, including  prior experience, current interests/activities and future goals to promote an environment that fosters diversity and inclusion);
  • Contact information for three professional references.

Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2021 and will continue until a successful candidate is selected. 

Inquiries should be sent by email to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Cindy Tian (Xiuchun.tian@uconn.edu) with a copy to Ms. Lois Limberger (lois.limberger@uconn.edu).

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.  

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.


Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:
www.animalscience.uconn.edu
email address
 
University of Connecticut
Department of Animal Science
17 Manter Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4040