Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Meat Sciences), Assistant Professor

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

6d•$97,020 - $111,360•Onsite

About The Position

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences within the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture. The position focuses on undergraduate instruction in the Pre-Veterinary Science/Animal Science program and, as appropriate to the candidate’s expertise, the Animal Health Science program. The average teaching load is 12 weighted teaching units per semester. Assigned time during the first two years reduces the load to 9 WTUs per semester and supports development of pedagogy and research or scholarly activities. Although workload is based primarily on teaching, the faculty member is expected to seek grant funding to support assigned time for research and scholarship, conduct activities in their area of expertise, and pursue collaborations with faculty and external organizations. Department, college, and university service is also expected, including curriculum development, student advising, program assessment and development, and student recruitment and retention, particularly of underrepresented minorities. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses and hands-on laboratory experiences in areas such as meat science, meat processing, carcass evaluation, livestock harvest, meat quality, food safety, or related subjects, including general animal science courses. They will contribute to applied research, outreach, or industry collaboration and prepare students for careers in meat processing, food manufacturing, food safety, livestock production, government, research, and related industries. The role requires working with students, colleagues, staff, livestock producers, meat processors, regulatory agencies, commodity organizations, and other external partners. The position is a nine-month academic-year appointment. Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications; the posting lists a salary range of $96,800–$111,350, while an earlier listing gives $97,020–$111,360. The position is open until filled, with first consideration for completed applications received by December 15, 2026. Faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence, and CSU-related work may not be performed outside California.

Requirements

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 a related degree 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: 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 laboratories in meat science, meat processing, carcass evaluation, livestock harvest, meat quality, food safety, or closely related areas, including general animal science courses.
Preparedness to teach skills-based laboratories in appropriate instructional facilities.
Working knowledge of safe and wholesome meat production, 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.
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 potential to develop an externally supported research, outreach, or industry-collaboration program.
Demonstrated commitment to student success through experiential learning, mentoring, inclusive teaching, and career preparation.
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.

Nice To Haves

Advanced expertise in one or more applied areas: humane harvest and slaughter; carcass grading and yield; fabrication; postmortem muscle biology and 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 co-product utilization.
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 connecting animal production and harvest with meat manufacturing, product quality, food safety, and regulatory practice.
Evidence of productive partnerships with industry or government, or 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.
Record of applied publications, technical reports, industry-sponsored projects, patents or product development, extension materials, invited presentations, grants, or other scholarship demonstrating 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.

Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate courses focused on the Pre-Veterinary Science/Animal Science program and, when qualified, the Animal Health Science program.
Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses and hands-on laboratory experiences in meat science and related areas, including general animal science courses.
Teach skills-based laboratories in appropriate instructional facilities.
Conduct research and scholarly activities in the candidate’s area of expertise.
Seek grant funding to secure assigned time for research and scholarly activities and develop externally supported research, outreach, or industry collaboration.
Collaborate with faculty and external organizations.
Participate in departmental, college, and university committee service.
Contribute to curriculum development, student advising, program assessment and development, and recruitment and retention of underrepresented students.
Support student success through experiential learning, mentoring, inclusive teaching, and career preparation.
Work effectively with students, faculty, staff, livestock producers, meat processors, regulatory agencies, commodity organizations, and other external partners.