The Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) at the Pennsylvania State University, part of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS), is seeking a Veterinary Virologist to provide diagnostic services in support of ADL’s mission to protect the health and productivity of Pennsylvania’s poultry and livestock, ensure food safety, and protect human health. This full-time, 48-week, non-tenure track position will be filled at the Assistant Clinical, Associate Clinical, or Clinical Professor level. This is a term position funded for one year from date of hire with excellent possibility of refunding.

This primary responsibility (70%) of this position will consist of providing leadership and serving as head of the Virology and the Molecular Biology sections of the ADL, and being the primary case coordinator for virology and molecular diagnostic cases.

Leadership and oversight of Virology and Molecular Diagnostics at the ADL will include ensuring that relevant, accurate and cutting-edge diagnostic tests are available for endemic diseases of concern to veterinarians and food-animal producers in Pennsylvania. The individual will also work with other ADL faculty and leadership to help ensure that the ADL can respond effectively and efficiently to any high-consequence, emerging, and/or trans-boundry disease outbreaks.

Timely and effective communication with clients is an important function of the case coordinator role to ensure the correct interpretation of diagnostic test results, answer client questions, and ensure relevance and value of ADL’s services.

Management of technicians within the Virology and Molecular Diagnostics sections will be expected, including conducting annual goal-setting, performance reviews and guiding professional development. The successful candidate will also ensure that the Virology and Molecular Diagnostics sections are compliant with the PADLS Quality Management system, in order to ensure that test results are accurate, repeatable, and reliable.

The remaining responsibilities (30%) of this position will consist of applied research in direct support of the ADL mission. This may involve the development of new and better diagnostic tests, designing tests for emerging diseases, and knowledge discovery regarding disease pathogenesis as it relates to improved diagnostics and disease surveillance. The incumbent will be expected to develop an extramurally-funded program to support their research, and will disseminate the results of their research through appropriate venues.

The successful candidate may contribute to teaching by providing guest lectures in relevant undergraduate or graduate courses within the Department or College. Individual learning opportunities for students, such as VBSC 496 (Independent Study), or externships for students from schools of veterinary medicine, may also be offered. The incumbent could also develop a residency program to provide specialized training and board certification for future veterinary diagnosticians.

Interested candidates must apply online (https://hr.psu.edu/careers), and must:

Upload a cover letter describing future professional goals related to virology and molecular diagnostics, as well as applied research.

Upload a copy of their curriculum vitae.

Provide a document with the names and contact information of three professional references.

Provide a “Reflection on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging” document.

Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

For any questions or additional information about this position, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Ernest Hovingh, Clinical Professor and ADL Director, at eph1@psu.edu or 814-863-374