Assistant Professor - Cellular & Molecular Biology (Musculoskeletal Therapies)

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 19 Jun 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Assistant Professor - Cellular & Molecular Biology (Musculoskeletal Therapies)
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Posting Number 202300168F
Proposed Annual Salary Range $90,750-$100,125
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ . To see the value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit our compensation calculator – https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/ .
Position Type Faculty
Work Hours/Week 40
Description of Work Unit
Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.

The Department of Clinical Sciences mission is to assure the health and productivity of animals to meet societal needs through high quality educational programs for professional veterinary medical students, graduate veterinarians, and the public through a faculty and veterinary medical center of excellence, and to advance and disseminate comparative biomedical knowledge in an environment of interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) at Colorado State University was founded by renowned equine orthopaedic surgeon and researcher, C. Wayne McIlwraith. It is known worldwide for use of the horse as a model for research related to joint injuries and cartilage healing in both horses and human athletes. Within the ORC, a dedicated group of clinician scientists, graduate and post-doctoral students continue to answer critical questions about orthopedic health in horses, other companion animals and people.
The ORC mission is to investigate the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disease and injury for the betterment of both animals and humans. The ORC purpose is to find solutions to musculoskeletal problems with a focus on joint injuries and osteoarthritis. The overarching philosophy is to find the best treatment for animal and human patients. This necessitates continued critical assessment of results and modifications to plans, both investigative and therapeutic, toward the goal of appropriately treating and preventing problems that cause permanent damage and impact quality of life.
With the opening of the Translational Medicine Institute (TMI) in 2019, opportunities for collaborations in orthopedic and translational musculoskeletal research (as well as allied areas of biologic therapies and stem cell research), greatly expanded beyond horses to companion animals and humans. In great part, this was due to the centralized location of multiple groups working on similar problems. Where the ORC had historically collaborated with two other laboratories, the inclusion of all three groups within the TMI has allowed for greater overlap. These groups include the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory (OBRL) and the Pre-clinical Surgical Research Laboratory (PSRL). Together with the ORC, this globally competitive Musculoskeletal Research Program, is considered a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence (PRSE) at CSU. The significant contributions from having all three groups interacting within the TMI has added considerably to our research and enterprise, as well as led to funding directed at investigating musculoskeletal health in humans. An additional area of collaboration is with the Immunotherapy Research Laboratory (also housed within the TMI) with a focus on immunological and orthobiologic cellular therapies to improve musculoskeletal health.
Tenure/Tenure Track? Yes
% Research 70-75
% Teaching 10-15
% Service 10-15
% Administration 0
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 06/19/2023
Number of Vacancies
Desired Start Date
Position End Date
Position Summary
This position will be housed in the Department of Clinical Sciences located on the Veterinary Health Campus of Colorado State University.
The Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) in the C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute (TMI), within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University is seeking to hire an Assistant Professor (tenure track) with demonstrated training and translational research capabilities in musculoskeletal biology and cellular therapies.
This position will be for a 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor in Cellular and Molecular Biology Relating to Musculoskeletal therapies. Summer salary will be supported for 2 years through start-up funds if extramural grants or contracts sufficient to cover this are not generated. Subsequently, it is expected that extramural grants or contracts will be used. Effort distribution between research, teaching and service is negotiable but will approximate 75/15/10%, respectively.
A PhD with demonstrated effort in the field of musculoskeletal biology is a requirement for this position. Additional preferred qualifications including an MD or DVM and focused training in a clinical specialty or postdoctoral work in the area of musculoskeletal biology will be favorably viewed.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Required Job Qualifications
  • PhD in biology or closely related field
  • Demonstrated effort in the field of musculoskeletal biology
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • MD or DVM
  • Focused training in a clinical specialty or postdoctoral work in the area of musculoskeletal biology
  • Expertise in cellular and/or immune biology and the application of advanced cell therapeutics or gene editing technologies. Areas of focus may include mesenchymal stem cell biology, induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and/or other cell types in the context of developing musculoskeletal applications and therapies in horses, dogs, and humans.
  • Expertise in advanced techniques in molecular biology, cell characterization, genomics, including single cell sequencing applications as these relate to joint disease, tendon disease, and therapeutic applications in equine translational medicine (including for example post-traumatic osteoarthritis, cartilage repair and tendon healing).
  • Expertise in biomarker analysis using techniques such as metabolomics, proteomics, single cell sequencing and mRNA analysis.
  • History of extramural funding at the PI level preferred.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice
Special Instructions to Applicants
Candidate will need to supply a Resume/CV and cover letter that address the required and preferred qualifications and your commitment to diversity and inclusion. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Diversity Statement
Personal or professional commitment to diversity and inclusion as demonstrated by persistent effort, active planning, allocation of resources and/or accountability for diversity and inclusion outcomes.
Search Contact Liz Miyoshi, [email protected]

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Teaching/Advising/Mentoring
Duty/Responsibility
  • Train/Mentor graduate and post-doctoral fellows in the research lab.
  • This individual will serve as a mentor and member of graduate committees for clinician scientists within the ORC and collaborate with other PI’s within the ORC on projects that align with their area of interest
Percentage Of Time 10-15%
Job Duty Category Research/Scholarly Activity
Duty/Responsibility
  • To establish an extramurally funded program focusing on musculoskeletal biology and cellular therapy within the ORC, and to further enhance the quality and level of basic biologic research in the TMI.
  • Collaborate with faculty in the ORC and TMI, and more broadly in the College, University and CU Medical School in Denver.
  • Attend ORC monthly meetings to provide input on all matters pertinent to the future of the ORC
  • Obtain a University license for radioactive materials use and serve as the faculty Principal User for radiation used within the ORC.
  • Scholarly activity will include publication of high impact original research.
    • Professional and lay publications (e.g. book chapters) in the discipline of Cellular and Molecular Biology relating to Musculoskeletal therapies and/or education journals will also contribute to this category.
Percentage Of Time 70-75%
Job Duty Category University & Professional Service/Outreach
Duty/Responsibility
  • Outreach: Develop and participate in continuing education programs for researchers at Colorado State University and other locations.
  • Administrative: Participate in Departmental, College, and University administrative committees as well as active participation in the organization and implementation of the goals for research in the department.
Percentage Of Time 10-15%

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