Assistant/Associate Professor of Microbiome Studies

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Job Title:

Assistant/Associate Professor of Microbiome Studies

Department:

FAES | Animal Sciences

See attached job description.

Position Overview

• Distribution of Effort: 60% Research/ 30% Teaching/ 10% Service/ 0% Extension

• Position Track: Tenure Track

Position Location

Columbus, Ohio

Position Description

Our goal is to recruit, support, and retain a scholar in a 9-month tenure-track position with a primary focus on microbiome studies in ruminants. The ideal candidate will establish or expand a research program that builds upon departmental strengths and employs interdisciplinary, collaborative, and innovative approaches to unlock the potential of livestock microbiomes (ruminant focused) to improve livestock production, health, and environmental sustainability, and address challenges facing sustainable food production and security. Among the areas of interest are, but are not limited to, 1) microbiome-host interactions influencing feed efficiency, methane emissions, and nutrient utilization through various in vitro and in vivo approaches; 2) inter-kingdom microbial interactions that shape microbiome structure, functions, and microbial products benefiting the host; 3) microbiome-informed metabolic modeling using machine-learning and artificial intelligence technologies; and 4)  microbiome signatures guiding interventions to improve ruminant livestock health and productivity. A background and vision to integrate multi-omics technologies and artificial intelligence to develop effective solutions for sustainable livestock production are desired.

Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in nutrition, microbiology, or physiology would be favorable, and the successful candidate will be expected to train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. The successful candidate will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and is expected to establish a nationally and internationally recognized extramurally funded research program. Faculty members have a shared responsibility to support and sustain the CFAES Principles of Community, convey good citizenship, and interact collegially. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with diverse life experiences and whose scholarship demonstrates successful collaborative efforts and interactions with industry, academic, government, and non-government organizations. All faculty are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas of the Land Grant Institution (Research, Teaching and Extension) regardless of distribution of efforts.

Performance Objectives

• Contribute to the Department’s academic mission through teaching 6 credit hours per year,
• Demonstrate an ability to cultivate learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities and backgrounds, and a commitment to enhancing Animal Sciences and related professions.
• Develop and/or expand a productive, collaborative, interdisciplinary research program in microbiome studies, including seeking extramural funding, presenting research findings at national and international meetings, and publishing high-impact research.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research and advise undergraduate students in academic planning.
• Work collaboratively with university faculty, staff, and relevant Ohio industries to advance the land grant missions of the college and university.
• Serve the department, college, university, and professional communities through committee work and other appropriate faculty responsibilities and activities.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:

• Ph.D. in animal sciences, microbiology, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated expertise and a deep interest in exploring and conducting microbiome research in the complex interactions between microbes and animal systems using state-of-the-art multi-omics technologies.

• Evidence of potential for excellence in teaching and research.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a willingness and ability to work closely with diverse groups of academic (e.g., students, staff, faculty) and industry audiences.

• Demonstrated interest in and/or experience with teaching, recruiting, mentoring, and advising students.

Desired:

• Documented evidence of individual and/or collaborative research and teaching efforts and outcomes relevant to the position.
• Experience using machine learning, and AI in research with large and complex biological datasets

·         Experience developing or working in interdisciplinary research teams.

How to Apply
To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday https://hr.osu.edu/careers/  Requisition R162301.

Application materials must include:

Required:

• Cover letter

• Describe your qualifications, areas of expertise, career goals, and alignment with desired qualifications and preferred qualifications where applicable

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Statement of Education (including teaching and mentoring capability) that includes innovative approaches to delivering education in classroom settings and to various stakeholders (two-page limit)

• Statement of Research that addresses direction and vision for establishing or expanding a collaborative research program that has potential for impacting the industry and advancing microbiome science (two-page limit)

• Names and contact information (email and phone number) of three references.

Initial consideration will be given to applications received by January 15th, 2027. We welcome informal inquiries, which can be made by contacting Search Committee Chair, Dr. Chanhee Lee at [email protected].

Additional Information:

Department/School Information

The Department of Animal Sciences is based on two campuses in Ohio: one in Columbus and the other in Wooster. There are 38 faculty and 60 staff that deliver the research, teaching, and extension programs of the department. Approximately 530 undergraduate students and 55 graduate students are enrolled. Undergraduate students can choose from seven Animal Sciences minors and three major degree specializations including Animal Biosciences, Animal Industries, and Veterinary Technology. The Department also collaborates in offering an interdisciplinary undergraduate Nutrition Program alongside Human Nutrition and has a strong, recognized graduate program that awards MS and PhD degrees, including the OSU Interdisciplinary PhD in Nutrition (OSUN). The Department aims to increase the economic profitability of agricultural animals and the quality of their products through the department’s priority areas that include: 1) Nutrition and the Microbiomes, 2) Growth and Development, 3) Health and Disease, and 4) Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions. The Department maintains herds and flocks of major food-producing animals across both campuses and statewide for teaching, research, and extension engagement (https://cfaes.osu.edu/research/stations-and-sites). Excellent opportunities are available for collaboration with food, veterinary, medical, animal and plant scientists on the Columbus and Wooster campuses.  

The College

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) anchors its mission in a simple, yet powerful phrase: We Sustain Life. Faculty, staff and students alike contribute to this mission in a variety of ways. Our Strategic Alignment outlines the colleges values: Land-Grant Scholarship; Lifespan Learning; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Integrity and Accountability; and Permeable Borders. These values, which align with the university’s Shared Values, shape our goals of our Strategic Alignment. We are committed to scholarship across three mission areas (teaching, research, Extension) with a commitment to serving our state in addition to the country and world. As a land grant, we are part of a cooperative structure that includes key partners all dedicated to integrating research, education, and Extension to improve the food and agricultural sectors, the environment, and the quality of people’s lives. We educate not just undergraduate and graduate students but learners across the lifespan. We work to ensure groundbreaking scientific discoveries are brought out of the laboratory and into the hands of those who can put them to work.

CFAES houses 11 departments/schools with over 20 undergraduate majors and 9 graduate programs, including 3 interdisciplinary programs affiliated with multiple Ohio State colleges. We also administer OSU Extension, which provides robust and relevant programming to Ohioans and beyond in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Community Development. We are one college spanning three campuses: Columbus, CFAES Wooster, and Statewide. Our CFAES Wooster campus includes a large research station; Research and Analytical Service Cores that support microscopy, DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing, library preparation, proteomics, and bioinformatics consulting; and Ohio State’s only two-year academic unit, Ohio State ATI. The Statewide campus includes 11 research stations and Extension offices in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. Our At a Glance provides additional information regarding our size, capacity, and impact as a college.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

The Ohio State University’s Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to support new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University. 

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. In addition to its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to CFAES Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI. 

The university offers extensive infrastructure and resources for microbiome research, including the Infectious Diseases Institute Genomics and Microbiology Solutions (IDI-GEMS) Laboratory, state-of-the-art platforms for diverse omics technologies, and high-throughput computing (Ohio SuperComputer Center). It also brings together internationally recognized microbiome researchers and scientists across disciplines, with the Center of Microbiome Science comprising more than 130 faculty members and offering extensive resources, curriculum, and services to support faculty and trainees in cutting-edge microbiome research and training including expanding culturomics capabilities.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.

Location:

Animal Science Building (0156)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

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