Postdoctoral Fellow II

Postdoctoral Fellow

The Comparative and Translational Veterinary Pharmacology Laboratory (CTVPL) in the Department of Veterinary Clinical and Life Sciences at Utah State University College of Veterinary Medicine invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join a newly Food and Drug Administration-funded Animal and Veterinary Innovation Center project. The position is available immediately, with a preferred start date as soon as possible.

The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research team investigating comparative drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy, and residues of antiparasitic drugs in sheep, goats, and bison. The project will develop pharmacologic tools and generate translational data to support veterinary drug development and regulatory decision-making in ruminant species.

The position provides extensive opportunities for training and research in comparative veterinary pharmacology and drug metabolism, bioanalytical method development and validation, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory science. The fellow will take a leading role in the design, execution, and coordination of assigned research components; independently drive experimental progress; analyze and interpret data; troubleshoot experimental challenges; and lead preparation of manuscripts and reports, and deliver scientific presentations. The fellow will be expected to develop increasing scientific independence, contribute intellectually to the direction of the research program, and contribute to development of research proposals and other scholarly activities.

For candidates holding a veterinary degree, there may be an opportunity to develop an American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology-approved alternate residency training program in veterinary clinical pharmacology in conjunction with the postdoctoral appointment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. U.S. Work Authorization is required for the duration of employment. For full consideration, please submit your complete application (cover letter, CV, and three references) by November 13, 2026.

This is a full-time postdoctoral position. Initial appointment will be for one year with the expectation of renewal based on satisfactory performance and continued funding for a total of three years.

Job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret in vitro drug-metabolism studies in ruminant species.
• Develop, optimize, and validate LC-MS/MS methods for quantification of drugs and metabolites in biological samples.
• Coordinate assigned research activities with internal and external collaborators and contribute to integration and interpretation of collaborative datasets.
• Monitor progress toward project milestones, identify experimental or logistical barriers, and work with the PI and collaborators to maintain research progress.
• Maintain complete and accurate research records and ensure appropriate data quality, quality-control procedures, experimental rigor, reproducibility, and compliance with applicable laboratory and study procedures.
• Participate in pharmacokinetic, safety, efficacy, and residue-depletion studies in food-animal species in collaboration with other project personnel.
• Prepare first-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, contribute to collaborative manuscripts as a co-author, and present research findings at scientific meetings.
• Actively participate in collaborative research meetings.
• Contribute to progress reports, grant applications, and preliminary data generation for future funding.
• Mentor graduate, veterinary, and undergraduate students involved in related research.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the research program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary biomedical sciences, toxicology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field by the position start date; OR a DVM, VMD, or equivalent doctoral veterinary degree with a research-based MS degree or substantial advanced research training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience conducting biomedical research.
• Ability to independently design, conduct, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret experiments.
• Strong scientific writing, oral communication, organizational, and quantitative skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with in vitro drug-metabolism assays.
• Experience with LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method development and validation.
• Experience with recombinant protein expression and related molecular biology techniques.
• Background in comparative, veterinary, or food-animal research.
• Experience with pharmacokinetic, PK/PD, or population pharmacokinetic analysis or modeling.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications relative to career stage

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
• Cover letter describing your research background and interests, relevant technical experience, and how your career goals align with the position to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
• Contact Informaton for three professional references to be typed at the beginning of the application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Salary will be $74,813 (per the grant) plus excellent benefits.

ADA

This position requires moderate physical activity, including the handling of average weight objects up to 25 pounds and/or standing, sitting, or walking more than four hours per day. Employees are exposed to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. The work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment. This position requires repetitive hand motions and reaching overhead.

College/Department Highlights

Research Environment Highlights

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work in the Comparative and Translational Veterinary Pharmacology Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Martinez. The laboratory integrates analytical chemistry, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, and molecular biology to address clinically and regulatorily relevant questions across veterinary species using a comparative and translational framework.

The laboratory is equipped to support translational research, including a SCIEX Triple Quad 4500 LC-MS/MS system for bioanalytical sample analysis from in vitro and in vivo studies. The laboratory is housed in Utah State University's new Veterinary Medical Education Building, home to the rapidly growing College of Veterinary Medicine and an expanding research environment in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

The fellow will participate in a large, five-year FDA-funded collaborative research program involving investigators at multiple academic institutions and will have broad opportunities for scientific and professional development through collaborative research, manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, mentorship, and exposure to veterinary drug development and regulatory science.

College/Department Highlights

The Postdoctoral Fellow will join the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) during an exciting period of growth and investment in veterinary education and research. In 2022, the State of Utah approved the creation of a full four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at USU, and in fall 2025 the CVM admitted its inaugural class following approval by its accrediting agency, the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. As the College expands, it is investing in research programs, laboratory infrastructure, and shared scientific resources that support basic, translational, and clinical research.

In summer 2026, the CVM moved into a newly constructed, state-of-the-art Veterinary Medical Education Building that includes new research laboratories and shared core facilities designed to support collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

University Highlights

As Utah's student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation's second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education