Research Assistant Animal Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Department of Agriculture in the College of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) at South Carolina State University invites applications for a joint appointment position at the Assistant/Associate Professor level in Animal Science or Veterinary Medicine. The position has a 50% teaching appointment within the Department of Agriculture and a 50% extension/research appointment through 1890 Research and Extension.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in advancing the department's mission of providing high-quality education, conducting impactful research, and delivering relevant extension programming to the agricultural community of South Carolina and beyond.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching (50%):
Year 1 responsibilities include the development of a new degree program in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, as well as associated courses.
Upon final approval of the new degree program, 50% teaching and 50% research and Extension will be required.
Teach a variety of undergraduate courses in Animal Science, which may include but are not limited to: Animal Nutrition, Animal Breeding and Genetics, Livestock Production and Management (Beef, Swine, Small Ruminant, and Poultry), Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Reproductive Physiology, and Introductory Animal Science.
Develop and update course curricula, syllabi, and teaching materials to reflect current and future industry practices and scientific advancements.
Advise and mentor undergraduate students, including academic advising, career counseling, and fostering student success in agricultural disciplines.
Participate in departmental and university committees related to curriculum development, student affairs, and academic policy.
Develop and teach graduate-level courses if a graduate program is established.
Serve as graduate student advisor if the graduate program is established.
Extension & Research (50%):
Extension: Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative extension programs in Animal Science tailored to the needs of limited-resource farmers, small producers, youth, and other stakeholders in South Carolina. Focus areas may include sustainable/ regenerative/ precision livestock production, forage management systems for food animals, animal health, marketing strategies, and value-added agriculture.
Conduct field demonstrations, workshops, trainings, and educational events across the state.
Develop strong relationships with stakeholders, commodity groups, government agencies, and other universities to address critical issues in animal agriculture.
Prepare and disseminate educational materials, including fact sheets, newsletters, online resources, and presentations.
Research: Establish and maintain an active, extramurally funded research program focused on addressing challenges and opportunities in animal agriculture relevant to the needs of the state and region. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, sustainable/regenerative/precision livestock production systems, resilience and best practices to address adverse weather events in agriculture, genetic improvement, nutritional strategies, reproductive efficiency, diverse marketing strategies, and preventive health care.
Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at professional conferences.
Serve as graduate advisor for graduate students.
Mentor undergraduate and potentially graduate students in research activities.
Seek and secure external grant funding from federal, state, and private agencies to support research and extension efforts.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Animal Science, DVM in Veterinary Medicine, or a closely related field (e.g., poultry science, swine science, animal nutrition, reproductive physiology, veterinary medicine) from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in at least two of the following areas: animal nutrition, animal breeding and genetics, livestock production systems, reproductive physiology, or animal health.

Preferred Requirements: 

• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience in securing external grant funding for research or extension programs.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering extension programming.
• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in South Carolina and the southeastern United States.
• Experience working with diverse student populations and agricultural communities.

South Carolina State University is a historically Black public 1890 land-grant, R2 research-intensive institution. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, SC State University is committed to providing affordable and accessible quality higher education programs. SC State University prepares highly skilled, competent, and socially aware graduates to enable them to work and live productively in a dynamic and global society.

                                                 South Carolina State University is an Equal Opportunity