Position Title:

Research Scientist II

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

Are you passionate about advancing animal health and working directly with producers to make a real world impact? We are looking for a collaborative and motivated Research Scientist to support innovative research focused on dairy goat health, sustainability, and production systems.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys a mix of hands on fieldwork, data driven research, and industry engagement while contributing to meaningful improvements in animal agriculture.

What you’ll do

Lead and support animal health research in dairy goat systems, including coordinating field data collection such as animal sampling, farm records, and diagnostic data, and analyzing results to inform outcomes
Develop and refine research methods, identify challenges, and implement solutions to improve research quality and effectiveness
Collaborate with faculty, students, and research staff, and may provide guidance to student workers and trainees
Contribute to research dissemination through publications, presentations, and reports to scientific and industry audiences
Engage directly with dairy goat producers and stakeholders by developing educational materials, supporting outreach efforts, and serving as a liaison between the research team and industry

Additional details

This position involves a combination of field, farm, lab and office based work.
Regular travel to research sites and privately owned farms is expected.
Work will include animal handling, sample collection, and exposure to environmental conditions such as heat and cold.
Standard safety training and personal protective equipment will be provided.

About the department

The Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine within the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is committed to improving animal and public health through research, education, and outreach. Faculty and staff collaborate across disciplines to address complex challenges in animal agriculture, including disease prevention, sustainability, and workforce development.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s or PhD in Animal Science or Veterinary Science related field.
Experience conducting livestock or animal health research, including field based data collection.
Experience handling and sampling animals, preferably small ruminants such as dairy goats.
Experience contributing to scientific publications, technical reports, or peer reviewed research.
Experience developing or delivering educational or extension materials such as presentations, webinars, or training modules.
Experience in the dairy goat industry.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Letter of Application/Cover Letter

Why Choose Iowa State University?
Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:

Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Appointment Type:

Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

June 28, 2027

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Grade:

PS808

Original Posting Date:

May 21, 2026

Posting Close Date:

May 29, 2026

Job Requisition Number:

R19253

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.