The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) is seeking applications for an open rank professor as a Feedlot Extension Specialist. This 12-month (calendar year), tenure-track appointment will create and deliver world-class Extension and research programs focused on beef feedlot nutrition and management. The apportionment is 60% Extension and 40% research. This position will be located at a Research, Extension, and Education Center (REEC) in western Nebraska with preference toward the Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff, NE.

The Feedlot Extension Specialist will contribute to the integrated Extension and research land-grant mission of the Department of Animal Science and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) as an effective scholar and citizen, including supporting student recruitment and IANR science literacy, by advancing Nebraska’s beef feedlot industry on a statewide level through impactful outreach and applied research.

This specialist will interact with the feedlot community across the state and be a statewide leader in feedlot Extension programming by delivering science-based information and practical tools to support feedlot operators, allied industry professionals, veterinarians, and nutritional consultants. They will be expected to conduct applied research, seek extramural funding, and work across disciplines to help address key challenges in feedlot management and nutrition, labor recruitment, sustainability, and profitability. The specialist will provide feedlot Extension and research leadership in each of the three (western, central, and eastern) cattle feeding regions of the Nebraska beef industry and will provide leadership for facilitating funded projects at PREEC.

Primary Extension Responsibilities (60%)

• Provide leadership in planning, developing, delivering, and evaluating innovative and impactful statewide feedlot Extension programs.
• Serve as Chair of the Nebraska Feedlot Extension Committee, working collaboratively with other Nebraska Extension and Great Plains Veterinary Education Center personnel.
• Develop signature areas of programming as expertise and need dictates, including overseeing the Beef Feedlot Roundtables, as well as new and innovative programming structures.
• Engage with producers through social media, podcasts, webinars, and industry summits. Create relevant, high-impact digital content and maintain a social media presence.
• Represent UNL at state, regional, and national events.
• Seek funding through grants and partnerships with industry, commodity groups, and government agencies to support extension programming.
• Publish peer-reviewed extension articles and develop educational materials for professional and lay audiences.

Statewide Extension Responsibilities

• Service feedlot sectors in western, central, and eastern Nebraska.
• Establish relationships and partnerships in the Nebraska panhandle region to address stakeholder needs through Extension programming and/or in feedlot/PREEC research in collaboration with personnel at PREEC and other Extension livestock faculty (specialists and educators) across the state.
• Schedule regular visits and other engagement activities to develop relationships with producers in the panhandle and statewide.
• Provide engagement opportunities for each region by working with educators to develop and host periodic producer meetings at the county level.
• Generate high-throughput Extension communication (text and social media) specific to the problems/challenges encountered by producers in each region.

Primary Research Responsibilities (40%)

• Develop and maintain an externally funded research program that addresses critical issues in beef feedlot systems. Areas include management, nutrition, health, sustainability, production efficiency, etc.
• Lead and collaborate on interdisciplinary research with faculty in ruminant nutrition, animal health, agricultural engineering, economics, and others to solve real-world challenges for the feedlot industry.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them at national and international conferences to enhance the scientific understanding and practical application of feedlot management strategies.
• Lead and contribute to large-scale grant proposals for funding from federal, state, commodity groups, and industry sources. Contribute to USDA multi-state research committees and sustainability initiatives.
• Provide research experiences to graduate and undergraduate students. These may include thesis and dissertation supervision, mentoring for academic competitions, and participation in research symposia.
• Contribute data-driven insights to inform industry practices and policy discussions related to feedlot management, nutrition, sustainability, labor, and animal welfare.

Statewide Research Responsibilities

• Identify and obtain research funding for the PREEC feedlot alongside other faculty members and provide mentorship for personnel running those specific projects at the PREEC feedlot.
• Pursue research questions important to feedlot sectors in Nebraska, with emphasis in the panhandle.
• Leverage relationships with feedlot owners/operators in each geographical region as potential collaborative research sites.
• Identify research needs in each geographical region through events such as producer listening sessions. Engage with industry partners to develop solutions to critical problems.

In addition to the described duties, the specialist 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 Animal Science or an earned terminal degree in a related field.
• Expertise in ruminant nutrition.
• Familiarity with beef feedlot production in Nebraska and the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience, training, and/or working knowledge of the beef feedlot industry in Nebraska and the U.S.
• Strong evidence of research experience and ability to conduct feedlot research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong evidence of experience and/or training in developing Extension programming.
• Evidence of collaboration and working on collaborative teams.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin July 20, 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_260066. 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.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at University of Nebraska-Lincoln