IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Veterinary Pathology

Ames, IA 50011-1134

515-294-3282

FAX 515-294-5423

Combined Graduate/Residency in Veterinary Pathology Iowa State University

Position description:

The Department of Veterinary Pathology is happy to announce a candidate search for our combined residency/graduate program. This is a combined residency/graduate program in veterinary anatomic pathology. The ideal candidate is interested in pursuing a career in industry, academia, or diagnostics and will be qualified for this role by attaining board certification in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and a graduate degree. The ideal candidate is curious about pathology and motivated to better explain pathogenesis beyond our current understanding.

The Department of Veterinary Pathology is housed in Patterson Hall near the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. Our department includes seven ACVP board-certified anatomic pathologist, three board-certified clinical pathologists, and two board-certified veterinary parasitologists. The Department of Veterinary Pathology has its own fully operational histopathology laboratory, necropsy floor, clinical pathology laboratory and parasitology service. Our department sees all diagnostic necropsies and biopsies from the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center and Prairie Meadows Racetrack. We also have a busy diagnostic biopsy service that serves practitioners from all over Iowa and surrounding states.

The goals of the program are to guide trainees to 1) Become an independent diagnostic pathologist 2) Become an independent scientific investigator, and 3) Gain experience in academic didactic and clinical teaching. Working toward these goals will help the candidate prepare for ACVP board certification and the ability to be a day-one ready pathologist in academia, research & industry, or diagnostic pathology service. Expected effort during the program will be towards graduate research, didactic and clinical teaching, and diagnostic service.

Acceptance into a combined graduate/residency program is dependent on acceptance by the ISU Graduate College (https://www.grad-college.iastate.edu). A graduate assistant stipend with benefits is provided for this graduate research assistant position (50%; university guideline approximately 20 hours per week spent on assistantship duties = research and teaching) with coursework and required residency training (50%) for a full-time work schedule year-round (12 months).

Teaching opportunities exist in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th year professional veterinary curriculum. Each resident will gain teaching experience in the 1^st year (general pathology) and 2^nd year (systemic pathology) courses as a teaching assistant. Additionally, each resident is expected to assist 4^th year professional veterinary students while on our diagnostic necropsy service.

Concurrent progression on a research project is expected. The opportunity exists to collaborate with pathologists in the Departments of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Veterinary Preventative Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, and Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Interdepartmental collaboration with researchers housed outside of these departments at Iowa State University is also possible. Research opportunities exist with researchers and pathologists at Federal laboratories located in Ames, such as USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center and National Veterinary Laboratory Services. Two medical colleges are nearby (University of Iowa, Iowa City and Des Moines University, Des Moines).

All residency training and diagnostic service will be carried out under the supervision of a board-certified pathologist. Combined resident/degree candidates are expected to complete a minimum of 50 weeks of diagnostic service within the first 3 years of the combined program in addition to attending all required weekly rounds and seminars. Candidates enrolled in a concurrent PhD program can potentially adjust their service weeks over a 5- to 6- year period to better fit the PhD work. Candidates enrolled in a concurrent MS must complete their service weeks within a 3- to 4- year period. Each resident will spend 50% of their service weeks on necropsy service and 50% on biopsy service. The benchmarks of this residency training program may adjust to meet the minimum required for ACVP standard track training. Advancement in the residency training program will be based on the number of service weeks/diagnostic cases completed, performance with diagnostic case coordination, performance in specialties seminars, interaction with students/clients, and performance on biannually administered mock examinations.

Required Qualifications: DVM or equivalent degree from an AVMA listed university, with qualifying scores on English proficiency exams that will satisfy the ISU Graduate College admissions requirements. (https://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/future/english-requirements)

Preferred Qualifications: veterinary practice experience, prior experience in teaching or research

Proposed Start Date: 7/1/2026

Required materials for application:

1. CV

2. Personal statement expressing career goals and interest in production animal pathology

3. Transcript from veterinary college

4. Please have three references send letters to supuncd@iastate.edu

We will accept applications through November 4, 2025

Please send application materials to: supuncd@iastate.edu

Please contact afales@iastate.edu and/or lisauhl@iastate.edu with questions regarding the position.