The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) is seeking applications for a Companion Animal Science Assistant Professor of Practice position. This 12-month (calendar year), non-tenure track appointment will teach classes related to companion animals, advise undergraduate students, and conduct companion/zoo animal science and/or teach related research. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the apportionment for this position is 80% teaching and 20% research.

Teaching (80%)
The successful candidate for the Companion Animal Science position will serve as the instructor for 3-4 undergraduate companion animal science courses per semester based on expertise area.

Current courses include:

• ASCI 120: Animal Biology.
• ASCI 171: Human-Companion Animal Interactions.
• ASCI 202: Exploring Companion Animal Nonprofits and Businesses.
• ASCI 251a, b, e, and/or j: Introduction to Companion Animals: Dogs, Cats, Small Mammals, and Non-Domesticated.
• ASCI 271: Companion Animal and Equine Behavior.
• ASCI 321: Companion Animal Nutrition.
• ASCI 458: Advanced Companion Animal Biology.

The position will work with the current companion animal faculty in a curriculum development role for courses as needed and may include hands-on experiential companion animal experiences. The position will also serve as an academic advisor to undergraduate students interested in working with companion animals.

Research (20%)
Research focus is at the discretion of the hired candidate. Research areas could include discipline-based education research (DBER), human-animal interaction, companion animal shelters, etc. The candidate would be required to develop and maintain this research program to address issues in education or companion animals. The candidate may collaborate with individuals in the department with physiology, nutrition, animal welfare, and others to build their program. Candidates are expected to publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them at national conferences.

This position will assist with student recruitment and outreach efforts by providing programs that increase visibility of the companion animal science program with high school students. In addition to the above-described duties, the individual will be expected to accept committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university level.

Recognizing that collaboration and participation in teams enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Animal Science are committed to creating learning, research, and Extension programming environments where the unique contributions of each individual are acknowledged and valued. At IANR we see every person and every interaction as important to our collective well-being and our ability to deliver on our mission.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Meat Science, Animal Science, Food Science, or a relevant field of study.
• Experience and demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching undergraduate courses focused on companion animal science.

Preferred Qualifications

• Commitment to experiential education.
• Experience in program development.
• Experience teaching both traditional and non-traditional college students in face-to-face and online courses.
• Experience in course design, development, and management at the undergraduate level.
• Experience with advising and/or mentoring undergraduate students.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin June 22, 2026, and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. To view details of the position and create an application, go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_260057. Click “Apply for this Job” and then “Faculty Application.” Complete the application and attach the following documents:

1. A letter of interest that describes your qualifications and anticipated contributions to the position.
2. Your curriculum vitae.
3. Contact information for three professional references.
4. Statements that describe your philosophy and approach to teaching and research.
5. A statement describing your experience working in teams or groups and your anticipated contributions to creating environments in which every person and every interaction matters (2 page maximum). See https://go.unl.edu/ianrguide for guidance in writing this statement.

Please combine all statements (items 4 and 5) into a single document for upload.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, chartered in 1869, is an educational institution of international stature. UNL is listed by the Carnegie Foundation within the "Research Universities (very high research activity)" category. UNL is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. UNL celebrated the 143rd anniversary of its founding on Feb. 15, 2012. Always a place of high ambition, this was one of the first institutions west of the Mississippi River to award doctoral degrees — the first was granted, in physics, in 1896. The University of Nebraska established the world's first undergraduate psychology laboratory. The discipline of ecology was born here, and the campuses reflect that tradition, being recognized as botanical gardens and arboreta. An early institutional interest in literature and the arts provided the foundations for today's Prairie Schooner literary magazine, for the University of Nebraska Press, and for the Sheldon Museum of Art, which houses one of the world's most significant collections ...of 20th century American art. Today, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is one of the nation's leading teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities.

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