INTRODUCTION

The Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut is soliciting applications for the position of Assistant or Associate Professor of Meat Chemistry. Candidates with a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and research interests in meat chemistry are encouraged to apply. This will be a 9-month, 70% research and 30% teaching tenure track position.

The Department of Animal Science includes 19 tenured, tenure-track, and teaching faculty and 22 staff members. Faculty expertise includes food science and microbiology, meat science and muscle biology, poultry and livestock production, growth physiology, genetics and genomics, reproductive physiology, equine science, and animal biotechnology. The Department has approximately 400 undergraduate majors pursuing AAS and BS degrees and 35 graduate students pursuing MS and Ph.D. degrees. In addition to classroom instruction, the undergraduate curricula include experiential learning, study abroad opportunities, and undergraduate research programs. A meat processing facility, commercial creamery, and AAALAC accredited farms (beef cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, horses, and a dairy facility) that support both research and teaching are located on the Storrs campus.

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources has developed and implemented a Strategic Vision (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues/) to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and extension programs. An essential component of that Strategic Vision is a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, research, and extension and addressing structural racism by broadening participation and integrating culturally-sustaining approaches in all College activities. Faculty hired for this position will be expected to make significant impacts to this Strategic Vision through contributions in their area of expertise, contributing to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion and of one or more of the CAHNR’s strategic initiatives: 

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply  
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally  
• Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces  
• Advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate 
• Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for anti-racist policies, practices, and norms

The CAHNR Strategic Vision provides information on strategic initiatives and related areas of emphasis.

The UConn Center for Open Research Resources and Equipment² (COR²E; https://core.uconn.edu/news) located on the Storrs campus promotes and supports the growth of research at UConn. In particular, this center offers a strong collegial atmosphere in proteomics, metabolomics, advanced light microscopy, genomics and functional genomics, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry as well as infrastructure support for research and training.

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

The candidate is expected to develop and maintain a strong, independent, extramurally-funded, innovative research program in meat chemistry and contribute to the success of the Department of Animal Science through a variety of instructional methods and research activities. The successful applicant will be expected to use fundamental and molecular research to better understand issues relevant to meat quality or meat processing and production. The instructional component of this position will consist of undergraduate and graduate courses in food chemistry as well as undergraduate advising and graduate student mentoring. The candidate will be expected to collaborate with existing faculty within both the Department of Animal Science and the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. In addition, it is expected that the candidate will develop collaborative relationships with professional peers in departments outside of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, as well as industry partners across state and regional boundaries.

The candidate also is expected to:

• Develop a program that promotes the new strategic plans for the College and the University
• Recruit graduate students in a nationally and internationally competitive graduate program
• Promote undergraduate research in the Department of Animal Science
• Oversee/manage the UConn Ratcliffe Hicks Meat Laboratory and use the facility for teaching and research
• Participate as a collaborative faculty member in the Department of Animal Science
• Contribute to experiential learning experiences within the Department of Animal Science

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Meat Science, Food Science, or Animal Science, with an emphasis in meat chemistry. Equivalent foreign degrees are accepted
• A demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications from original research
• Teaching experience or assisted with teaching at the university level
• Demonstrated excellent skills in oral and written communication and strong interpersonal skills with a commitment to promoting diversity through academic and research programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in meat science research topics aimed at improving meat quality, including postmortem processing technologies, product development, value-added meat, packaging, and sensory evaluation
• Candidates with postdoctoral meat chemistry research and grant-writing experience
• Experience with team-oriented teaching and research
• Demonstrated success in securing both extramural and independent competitive research funding
• Ability to pursue innovative, collaborative, and/or multidisciplinary research
• Active participation in major professional societies and meetings
• Experience with teaching research methodologies in both classroom and laboratory settings
• Record of effective classroom instruction
• Ability to integrate research technology into instruction
• Demonstrated experience in graduate student mentoring

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a 9-month, 70% research and 30% teaching, tenure-track position at the University of Connecticut’s main campus located in Storrs. The salary will be commensurate with experience. The anticipated start date is August 23, 2022.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment at the University of Connecticut is contingent upon the successful candidate’s compliance with the University’s Mandatory Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  This Policy states that all workforce members are required to have or obtain a Covid-19 vaccination as a term and condition of employment at UConn, unless an exemption or deferral has been approved. 

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

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/20710 and submit the following application materials:

• Cover letter that addresses experience pertinent to the position’s responsibilities (2 page maximum)
• Current curriculum vitae
• At least four letters of recommendation

For the below statements, please include how your research, teaching, and commitment to diversity will contribute to the College’s success in achieving its Strategic Vision

• Statement of teaching philosophy (2 page maximum)
• Statement of research philosophy (2 page maximum)
• Commitment to diversity statement (1 page maximum)

Only complete applications submitted via Academic Jobs Online will be considered.  To ensure full consideration, applications should be received no later than February 1, 2022.  

Inquiries should be sent to the search committee chair, Dr. Richard Mancini, Richard.mancini@uconn.edu.

Evaluation of applicants will begin February 1, 2022, and will continue until a successful candidate is selected. For more information regarding the Department of Animal Science please visit the department website at https://animalscience.uconn.edu/.

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

This position will be filled subject the 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.