Assistant Professor, Meat Science - Tenure Track

The University of Missouri invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Meat Science in the Division of Animal Sciences, an academic unit of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. This tenure-track, 9-month position will have 60% research and 40% teaching. The selected candidate is expected to develop a nationally recognized independent and collaborative research program in meat science that will obtain extramural support. Research emphasis should address emerging issues in the field of meat science and the meat industry.

To support the candidates selected research area, the University of Missouri is building an on-campus $35M meat processing center, set to open in the summer of 2026. This new facility will include slaughter, fabrication, ready-to-eat processing, retail space, and research laboratories. Additionally, access to the University's beef, pork, and poultry research farms and facilities is available. Additional resources outside the University include American Heartland Packing a beef slaughter plant within 1-hour drive of campus and vast connections with small, medium, and large processors throughout the state of Missouri.

The selected candidate is expected to teach courses related to Animal Products and Biotechnology, Advanced Meat Quality and additional courses that support departmental needs. The candidate is expected to mentor undergraduate and graduate students within Animal Science. The individual will collaborate with current meat science faculty and programs at the University of Missouri, including but not limited to workforce development, the Missouri Association of Meat Processors extension program, and the Show-Me Meat Education and Training programs.

About MU: MU is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System and is one of the most comprehensive land grant universities in the nation, including agriculture, veterinary medicine, and human medicine. The animal sciences division is one of the top departments in the university in terms of extramural funding, research productivity and student numbers. The graduate program is among the top-ranked in the nation, by the National Research Council. The University is located midway between St. Louis and Kansas City in Columbia, a vibrant community consistently ranked as one of the best small cities for livability, in the U.S.

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in meat science, animal science, food science or related field by the time of appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in research related to meat science
• Ability to communicate with faculty, staff, students, and the various groups of the Missouri and U.S. meat industries
• Experience in both graduate and undergraduate mentorship
• Demonstrated success in obtaining extramural funding for research, publishing results in appropriate journals, and training graduate students
• Demonstrated success in teaching of meat science courses

Application Procedure: To apply, visit https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings, Job ID 58269, and submit: a letter of interest addressing the applicant's qualifications, a comprehensive curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and objectives, a statement of teaching interests and experience, academic transcripts, and address, phone number, and email address of 4 references.

Review of applications will begin on February 15, 2026 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Specific inquiries regarding this position may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Teagan Schnurbusch (trs6r3@missouri.edu).

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.