Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Meat Sciences), Assistant Professor

Job Description

Tenure Track Faculty Position
Assistant Professor in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Meat Sciences)
Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department
Huntley College of Agriculture
Salary Range: $97,020-$111,360

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility , and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education . In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our Principles of Community can be found here .

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2025, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 25,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 57% of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 54% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 2% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-five percent of students enroll in our STEM majors, and our top five enrolled programs across the university include mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law.

College of Agriculture:

The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture offers a variety of applied science programs in Agricultural Science, Animal Health Science, Animal Science, Food Science & Technology, Nutrition Science and Dietetics, and Plant Science, as well as management and technology programs in Agribusiness & Food Industry Management and Apparel Merchandising & Management. We are the legacy College of Cal Poly Pomona and a foundational aspect of the university’s identity and heritage. Located in Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the nation with over 10 million people, and close to the second largest U.S. city (Los Angeles), we are committed to the development and support of urban agriculture and of sustainable food, agriculture and related systems in California. Our educational programs prepare our students for exciting careers in the food, agriculture, nutritional health, animal health, and apparel sectors as well as opportunities in federal and state agencies. We are the primary provider of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in these disciplines in Southern California. Our orchards, greenhouses, vineyards, large urban farm with organic certified acreage, animal units and laboratories, veterinary clinic, food science laboratories, experimental kitchens, and digital apparel design, production and retail laboratories, provide hands on experiences for our students under Cal Poly Pomona’s “learn to become” philosophy. Our students engage with the campus and local community, gaining practical experiences working with faculty and staff in our AGRIscapes (Kellogg Ranch) Center, the Discovery Farm, and the Farm Store, and with the extended community through industry internships, volunteer activities, and other interactions. Our faculty are engaged teacher-scholars with a strong commitment to student success, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences:

The Animal & Veterinary Sciences Department’s mission is to provide state of the art instructional and research programs. Our core values are to provide quality education by supporting diversity in our student and faculty populations, maintaining state-of-the-art facilities, a collegial environment, and promoting academic freedom. The department has eleven tenured/tenure track faculty, twelve part-time faculty, and approximately 1,050 undergraduate and 15 graduate (MS) students. About 61% of undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college or earn a four-year degree. More than 85% of the students are women. The student population is very diverse (Hispanic/Latino, 58.5%; White 15.5%; Asian, 14.5%; Multiracial, 5.5%; Unknown/Non-resident aliens, 4.4%; Black/African American, 1.5%; and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.3%); this diversity is also reflected in the faculty.

The department offers a four-year curriculum in the two undergraduate majors (Animal Science and Animal Health Science), leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Animal Science has options in Pre-Veterinary Science/Graduate School and Animal Science general. The Pre-Veterinary Science/Graduate School subplan meets requirements for admission to most schools of veterinary medicine, related medical technical fields, and for graduate study in animal nutrition, meat science, animal breeding, and animal physiology. The Animal Science general option is designed to prepare students who do not plan to go to Veterinary or Graduate School for employment in the animal and allied industries. Animal Health Science trains students to be registered veterinary technicians. A Master of Science degree in Agriculture with a subplan in Animal Science is also available. In addition, minors in Equine Studies, and Animal and Veterinary Sciences are offered. The department maintains 330 acres of rangeland and 100 acres of irrigated pastures. Livestock includes a breeding herd of Angus and Angus Crossbred cattle, purebred Rambouillet and Suffolk sheep, goats, and a herd of various commercial breeds of swine. It is the only four-year program with animal production units in Southern California. In addition, horses are available at the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, a breeding facility located on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. Students get hands-on learning experiences working directly with a variety of animals which gives them a competitive edge in the employment marketplace and getting into Veterinary School.

Position description:

Teaching : Tenure-track faculty position providing instruction in the Animal & Veterinary Sciences Department, Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture, for undergraduate courses focusing on the Pre-Veterinary Science/Animal Science program and as needed, the Animal Health Science program if the candidate possesses the required expertise. The average teaching load is 12 weighted teaching units (WTUs) per semester. The university provides assigned time during the first two years of the appointment to be used towards development of pedagogy and research/scholarly activities (reduced to 9 WTUs per semester).

Research/Scholarship : Although workload is based primarily on teaching, faculty are expected to seek grant funding to secure assigned time for research/scholarship activities. The new faculty member will conduct research/scholarly activities commensurate with their area of expertise and seek collaborations with other faculty or external organizations.

Service: Committee service to the Department, College, and University is expected. The new faculty member will participate in departmental service, including curriculum development, student advising, program assessment and development, student recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities.

Compensation : Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits are considered competitive when compared to similar institutions in the region.

Applicants whose work demonstrates a commitment to diversity in higher education are particularly encouraged to apply.

Minimum requirements include:

• Earned PhD and/or DVM by the time of appointment in Meat Science, Meat Processing, Food Science with a meat emphasis, Animal Science with a meat science emphasis, Muscle Biology, or a closely related discipline. Candidates with degrees in a related field must demonstrate substantial preparation and experience in meat science and meat processing.
• Demonstrated professional, research, outreach, and instructional experience in applied meat systems, including one or more of the following: livestock harvest; humane handling and slaughter systems; carcass evaluation and fabrication; meat processing; meat product development; or meat quality and safety.
• Ability to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses and hands-on laboratory experiences in meat science, meat processing, carcass evaluation, livestock harvest, meat quality, food safety, or closely related areas including general animal science courses. The candidate must be prepared to teach skills-based laboratories in appropriate instructional facilities.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices used to produce safe and wholesome meat products, including sanitation and SSOPs, GMPs, HACCP-based food safety systems, hazard control, regulatory compliance, and worker safety. Familiarity with USDA-FSIS requirements or comparable meat inspection and regulatory systems is expected.
• Evidence of scholarly, applied, or creative productivity relevant to meat science, meat processing, food safety, meat quality, product development, or related food-animal systems, and the potential to develop an externally supported program of research, outreach, or industry collaboration.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success through experiential learning, mentoring, inclusive teaching, and preparation of students for careers in meat processing, food manufacturing, food safety, livestock production, government, research, or related industries.
• Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, livestock producers, meat processors, regulatory agencies, commodity organizations, and other external partners.
• Eligibility to work in the United States.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced expertise in one or more applied areas, such as humane harvest and slaughter; carcass grading and yield; fabrication; postmortem muscle biology as it affects quality; fresh and processed meat products; formulation and ingredient functionality; curing, smoking, fermentation, thermal or nonthermal processing; sensory evaluation; packaging and shelf life; meat microbiology and interventions; or sustainable utilization of co-products.
• Documented experience and knowledge in meat processing procedures, and ability to manage a meat processing facility.
• Experience developing hands-on curricula, laboratory exercises, demonstrations, or workforce-development programs that connect animal production and harvest with meat product manufacturing, product quality, food safety, and regulatory practice.
• Evidence of building productive partnerships with relevant industry, or government; professional experience with livestock producers, meat processors, food manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, regulatory agencies, or meat and livestock organizations.
• Training or certification in HACCP, preventive controls, food safety auditing, meat inspection, sensory evaluation, animal handling, occupational safety, or related professional areas.
• A record of applied publications, technical reports, industry-sponsored projects, patents or product development, extension materials, invited presentations, grants, or other scholarships that demonstrate impact beyond the laboratory.
• Postdoctoral training, residency, or substantial professional experience in meat science, food processing, food safety, muscle biology, or a closely related applied field.

Application Process: A completed application will consist of:

• Cover letter in which the applicant describes their interest in the position, relevant experience, and how they meet the minimum and preferred qualifications,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Teaching Philosophy statement (2-page max) that addresses Cal Poly Pomona’s commitment to excellence in education,
• Research Statement (2-page max, single spaced),
• The names and contact information for at least three individuals that can serve as references,
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate). Official transcripts will be required of finalists.

Finalists for the position will:

• Provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview,
• Provide three recent letters of reference before the on-campus interview,
• Finalist candidates being interviewed are expected to make a presentation of their research and a teaching demonstration to faculty and interact with students.

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than December 15, 2026.

Please direct inquiries to ojgekara@cpp.edu

Applications accepted only via PageUp -online application portal-for University hires.

Salary range for academic year, nine-month appointment: $96,800-$111,350.

Disclosures

Education Code 89521 Requirements:

Pursuant to Education Code 89521 applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Background Check:

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed. Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Out of State Employment:

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.

Mandated Reporter:

The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

International Candidates:

Cal Poly Pomona is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Cal Poly Pomona is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at avpfa@cpp.edu. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.

Clery Act:
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Fire Safety Report .

EEO Statement:

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly Pomona, excellence is built on talent, merit, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Reasonable Accommodation:
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at ADACoordinator@cpp.edu . For more information, go to Employment Notices .

Other Notices:
For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Employment Notices web page.

Advertised: Oct 30 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: