Department Head, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Job Description

Colorado State University

Colorado State University (CSU) is Colorado’s land-grant university and a Carnegie R1 research institution. CSU advances teaching, research, engagement, and service for the benefit of Colorado, the nation, and the world. Located in Fort Collins, CSU offers a highly collaborative environment for interdisciplinary scholarship and education, with broad strengths in the life sciences, veterinary medicine, public health, agriculture, engineering, data science, and environmental sustainability.

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

The CSU land grant mission is dedicated to education, research, service, and outreach which permeates the college. CVMBS’ vision is to advance the well-being of animals, people, and the planet. CVMBS offers undergraduate, professional, and graduate courses of study, and confers Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in a range of biomedical and veterinary medical topic areas. The College is comprised of four departments: Biomedical Sciences; Clinical Sciences; Environmental Health and Radiological Sciences; and Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. CVMBS is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and has been highly ranked in national surveys, including U.S. News & World Report, Blue Ridge Institute, and Planetary Health Report Card. CVMBS faculty explore a variety of pivotal issues in human and animal health via world-renowned research programs in infectious disease, orthopedics, neuroscience, cancer biology, animal reproduction, and translational medicine, with annual extramural funding in the range of $60-100M. CVMBS has created the Veterinary Health System (VHS) to provide oversight management of operations of four clinical units and the state diagnostic laboratory to provide a collective and efficient approach to patient care delivered with the highest level of customer service, employee satisfaction, and advancements in medicine.

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology (MIP) comprises more than 80 faculty, and over 400 staff, trainees, and students united by a commitment to addressing consequential problems in animal and human health. MIP is a broad, interdisciplinary department with missions in discovery, education, clinical and diagnostic services, and engagement. With greater than 90 faculty, expertise spans anatomic and clinical pathology, bacteriology, cancer biology, clinical diagnostics, computational biology, genomics, immunology, microbiomes, mycobacterial diseases, parasitology, prion biology, RNA biology, science pedagogy, scientific communication, vector biology, and virology.

The department contributes to undergraduate and graduate education, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, residency and advanced clinical training, and instruction for students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine program at CSU. MIP is intricately connected with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, the VHS, and the One Health Institute, and includes major research enterprises such as the Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, and the Prion Research Center. This breadth along with a presence on all three CSU campuses in Fort Collins creates exceptional opportunities for collaboration across basic science, clinical medicine, diagnostics, public health, and One Health research. More information about the department is available in the Department Head Prospectus .

Position Summary

CVMBS invites applications and nominations for the position of Head of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. The Department Head will provide strategic, academic, scientific, administrative, and cultural leadership for a large and highly interdisciplinary department. The successful candidate will articulate an ambitious and inclusive vision; foster excellence across research, education, diagnostic and clinical service, and engagement; steward human, financial, and physical resources; and create conditions in which faculty, staff, and trainees can thrive.

The Department Head reports to the Dean of CVMBS and serves as a member of the College’s senior leadership team. The Head will work in close partnership with MIP associate department heads, center and program directors, the department administrative team, other academic department heads, the Veterinary Health System, and the leadership of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories. The Head will represent and advocate for MIP within CSU and with external academic, government, industry, philanthropic, and community partners.

Full Consideration Date: please apply by Sunday, 10/25/2026, 11:59pm (MT). Review of applications will begin on 10/26/2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Salary

$250,000-$300,000; signing bonus possible.

Leadership Opportunities and Priorities

• Engage the MIP community in developing and implementing a forward-looking strategic vision that builds on established strengths while identifying emerging opportunities in research, education, diagnostics, service, and engagement.

• Advance a supportive, accountable, and collaborative organizational culture grounded in the CSU Principles of Community and the CVMBS values of community, integrity, collaboration, and innovation.

• Develop and mentor faculty and staff across career stages; promote transparent workload, evaluation, promotion, recognition, and succession practices; and cultivate future leaders.

• Enhance educational excellence and integration across undergraduate, graduate, professional, residency, and medical curricula, while supporting innovation in teaching and trainee development.

• Strengthen the department’s research portfolio by supporting faculty success, facilitating interdisciplinary and team science, recruiting strategically, and expanding partnerships and resources for discovery and translation.

• Partner with the Veterinary Health System and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories to sustain and advance high-quality diagnostic, clinical, and service programs and to strengthen connections among diagnostics, research, and education.

• Ensure responsible financial and operational stewardship, including strategic budgeting, space and infrastructure planning, research support, administrative effectiveness, and risk management.

• Increase the visibility, influence, and external engagement of MIP and communicate the department’s contributions to animal health, human health, public health, and scientific discovery.

• Position the department for its next era of growth by expanding student and trainee recruitment and educational opportunities while cultivating innovative, and diversified sources of support for its research portfolio.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D., D.V.M., M.D., or equivalent terminal degree in a discipline relevant to the department.

• A record of scholarly achievement and professional distinction that merits appointment as Professor with tenure in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in an academic, research, clinical, diagnostic, governmental, or comparably complex organization.

• Evidence of effective administrative, personnel, and fiscal management.

• A sustained commitment to excellence in research, education, service, and professional development.

Preferred Qualifications and Leadership Attributes

• A compelling record of inclusive, transparent, and collaborative leadership, including the ability to build trust, establish clear expectations, make timely decisions, and promote accountability.

• Ability to develop and communicate an inspiring vision and translate that vision into coherent strategy, measurable priorities, and effective execution.

• Demonstrated success recruiting, retaining, developing, mentor