MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

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Avian Pathologist

Assistant, Associate, or full Clinical Professor (NTT)

Hiring Department

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) 

Job Description

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) is seeking a highly qualified avian pathologist/poultry veterinarian to fulfill the tripartite mission of a land grant institution, which includes teaching, service, and research. The VMDL is a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) authorized lab, a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) level 1 lab, and a Food and Drug Administration – Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (FDA Vet-LIRN) Tier 1 lab. The VMDL is the only full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians in the state of Missouri. Because Poultry is one of Missouri’s top commodities, expertise in poultry disease diagnostics has been recognized as one of the top needs of the state.

The avian pathologist is expected to provide high quality diagnostic services to poultry producers and regulatory agencies, teach avian pathology to veterinary students who rotate through the VMDL as part of the clinical training, actively engage Missouri poultry industry, producers, and Missouri Department of Agriculture for disease prevention, diagnostics, and control/eradication, and conduct collaborative or independent research aimed at improving animal and public health.

Thus, this position is expected to actively engage Missouri poultry industry, producers, and Missouri Department of Agriculture for disease prevention, diagnostics, and control/eradication.

In addition to service and teaching, this position is encouraged to conduct collaborative or independent research aimed at improving animal and public health. 

This full-time faculty appointment will be hired at the level of either Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. Academic rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology will be the academic home of this position.

Title: Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, FTE: 1.0

Term of Appointment: 12 months

Tenure Status: Clinical Track

Type: Ranked

Home Department: Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Responsibilities:

  • Diagnostic Service, Engagement and Outreach: 0.3 to 0.4 FTE. The major commitment of this position is to provide comprehensive diagnostic services to poultry producers, pet bird owners, zoos, and government agencies. Responsibilities include coordinating avian diagnostic cases, performing avian necropsies, supervising avian serology operations, delivering accurate and client-friendly diagnostic reports. Another critical responsibility of this position is to engage key constituency groups, including practicing the poultry industry, producers, and veterinarians.
  • Teaching: 0.4 to 0.5 FTE. Teaching is fully integrated with diagnostic service. The primary responsibility is to teach avian diagnostic pathology to veterinary students who rotate through the VMDL as part of the clinical training. There are eight 6-week long rotations per year. During each rotation, the avian pathologist delivers approximately 6 lectures on avian diseases and provides hands-on training to students (7-10) on disease diagnosis, including interviewing clients, performing necropsies, requesting appropriate laboratory tests, interpreting test results, and drafting diagnostic reports. Additional teaching and mentoring opportunities are available.
  • Academic Service: 0.1 to 0.2 FTE. Responsibilities include but are not limited to serving on university, college, and departmental committees and task forces, serving as a faculty advisor for student organizations, serving on relevant professional organizations’ committees, reviewing journal articles and grant applications. 
  • Research: Up to 0.2 FTE. Responsibilities include conducting collaborative research on avian diseases or pathogens, such as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). 

FTE distribution can be adjusted based on the candidate’s career goal and the VMDL’s needs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidate must possess a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent. Having a license or eligible to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in Missouri. An MS or PhD degree or having an established scholarly record is preferred.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

Preference will be given to candidates with relevant field experience and diplomats of American College of Poultry Veterinarians. A commitment to the three-fold academic missions of service, teaching and research. Candidates for an associate or full professor appointment should have appropriate experiences, a record of excellence in avian pathology and a documented record of scholarship.

Application Materials

Interested individuals should submit a letter of intent stating career goals and current expertise, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three references.

Application materials and CV must be submitted online at https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings 

Please contact Dr. Dae Young Kim, search committee chair, with any questions.

Email: kimdy@missouri.edu

Phone: (573) 882-6811

Application Deadline

Screening and review of applications shall begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for university benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses.  For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

Lab Sections

  • Anatomic Pathology
  • Avian Pathology
  • Bacteriology & Mycology
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Histopathology
  • Serology
  • Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Message from the Director

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory and Missouri’s only laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The VMDL is a Level I Lab of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, Tier I Lab of the FDA Veterinary Laboratory Response Network, and a National Poultry Improvement Plan authorized lab. The VMDL maintains an effective quality assurance and quality control program.

The VMDL has formal anatomical pathology, clinical pathology, and clinical microbiology training programs. The VMDL faculty hold academic appointments in the Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. The director is administratively responsible to the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for the overall operation of the laboratory and its multiple missions of public service, teaching, research and continuing education/extension.

The VMDL faculty and staff work diligently to provide relevant, timely and cost-effective diagnostic services to our clients and to create a positive learning environment for our students and residents. In 2024, veterinarians, animal owners and researchers from 103 Missouri counties and cities, as well as from 51 states and provinces outside Missouri, continued to rely on the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (VMDL) diagnostic services. The lab performed approximately 63,500 total cases and conducted nearly 204,500 tests.

About the MU VMDL

The VMDL is a full-service laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). The VMDL provides in-depth laboratory diagnostic support to veterinary practitioners, livestock and poultry industry interests, companion animal interests, wildlife conservationists, scientists utilizing animals in their research throughout the university, state and regulatory officials, and clinicians of the MU Veterinary Health Center.

Our Location

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901 E. Campus Loop
Columbia, MO 65211

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