Veterinary Pathologist (Principal Scientist)

Veterinary Pathologist (Principal Scientist)

Location: Kalamazoo, MI Department: Veterinary Pathology – Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences

Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development is seeking a driven and detail-oriented Veterinary Pathologist to join our Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences team in Kalamazoo, MI. This is a high-impact role within a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your expertise will directly influence the development of safe and effective animal health products.

We are looking for an anatomic pathologist with extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology of common veterinary species, strong communication skills, and a passion for translational research – someone who will drive in vivo model development and provide pathology insights that shape discovery and development across multiple species (canine, feline, equine, bovine, small ruminants, swine, poultry, and commercial fish)  and therapeutic areas (i.e. small molecule, biopharmaceuticals, and biologicals such as vaccines).

Key Responsibilities

• Pathology Leadership & Study Oversight
  Serve as the Project Pathologist for assigned compounds and therapeutic areas, leading pathology efforts for both internal and outsourced studies. Responsibilities include conducting gross necropsy and histopathology evaluations, integrating clinical pathology, organ weights, providing peer review to ensure consistency and scientific rigor, and guiding study design, data interpretation, and regulatory strategy.
• In Vivo Study Design & Data Integration
  Collaborate closely with toxicologists, target animal safety scientists, pharmacokineticists, and research scientists to design and interpret in vivo studies. Findings will support risk assessments and guide go/no-go decisions for candidate compounds.
• GLP Compliance & Reporting
  Act as a GLP Principal Investigator or contributing scientist for pathology, overseeing necropsy procedures, recording findings using electronic data capture pathology systems (e.g., Pristima), and preparing detailed reports that clearly communicate pathological outcomes. Work closely with study directors to ensure pathology data is accurately reflected in final study reports.
•  Pharmacovigilance Case Assessment
  Contribute expert pathology evaluations to pharmacovigilance activities by assessing cases for safety signals and adverse event investigations, supporting the ongoing monitoring of marketed products to ensure animal health and welfare.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Partner with target animal safety scientists, toxicologists, study directors, external study monitors, and project teams to interpret and communicate pathology findings clearly. Provide expertise to support the integration of pathology data into regulatory submissions, safety narratives, and responses to agency queries. Facilitate collaboration among internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent and accurate interpretation of pathology results.
• Innovative Research & Translational Science
  Apply comparative pathobiology to support target validation, animal model development, and non-animal alternatives. Contribute to mode-of-action studies and experimental design, bridging preclinical findings with clinical relevance to improve candidate quality.
• Regulatory Strategy & Documentation
  Author regulatory submissions and address regulatory queries, ensuring pathology data is accurately and clearly represented in all regulatory documentation. Support compliance with GLP standards and regulatory approval processes.
• Communication & Scientific Influence
  Present pathology findings to project teams, senior leadership, scientific meetings and regulatory agencies, translating complex data into clear, actionable insights. Influence project strategy and play a critical role in advancing compounds through the development pipeline.
• Mentorship and Oversight
  Provide guidance and oversight to veterinary pathology interns, fostering their professional development and ensuring high standards of scientific rigor and ethical conduct within the team.
• Travel
  Occasional travel will be required to monitor studies, participate in necropsy procedures, and/or conduct peer reviews at external sites or CROs to ensure study quality and compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• DVM/VMD from an accredited veterinary school (or international equivalent) is required. Advanced degrees (MS or PhD) in pathology or related fields are highly preferred.
• Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) or European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) is required.
• 3–5 years of experience in veterinary pathology, ideally within a research or regulatory setting. Experience in diagnostic or comparative pathology is a strong asset.
• Technical & Scientific Skills
  • Proficiency in gross and microscopic pathology across multiple domestic and laboratory animal species
  • Understanding of toxicologic pathogenesis and risk assessment
  • Experience with animal model development and translational research
  • Interest or experience in molecular pathology is desirable, especially to support collaboration on internal de-risking frameworks for discovery research
  • Familiarity with electronic data capture pathology systems (e.g., Pristima)
  • Understanding of regulatory guidance and experience in writing regulatory dossiers to support submissions effectively is desired
  • Competence with digital tools including MS Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, and emerging AI platforms to enhance data analysis, communication, and collaboration
• Interpersonal & Collaboration Skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams
  • A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for scientific problem-solving

Role is hybrid  with 50% onsite in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Full timeRegularColleague

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