Assistant / Associate Professor, Veterinary Pharmacology

The Assistant or Associate Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) is a “Teaching and Research” stream faculty position. This role is designed for a clinician-scholar who can lead the next generation of veterinarians through the complexities of drug action, toxicology, and therapeutic design. Whether you are an emerging researcher (Assistant) or an established national leader (Associate), you will be a cornerstone of the UCVM’s unique “Distributed Veterinary Teaching Hospital” model.

Job Details

• Employer: University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM).

• Rank: Assistant Professor (Tenure-track) or Associate Professor (With Tenure).

• Stream: Teaching and Research.

• Location: Calgary, AB (Spy Hill Campus and community clinics).

• Start Date: July 1, 2026.

• Review Begins: March 30, 2026.

Key Responsibilities: The Clinical & Scholarly Interface

You will balance the rigors of high-impact research with the delivery of a comprehensive DVM curriculum.

• Pedagogical Leadership: Contribute to the DVM program (approx. 100 students per year) by applying scholarly approaches to teaching. You will design learning experiences that bridge basic pharmacology with clinical application.

• Research & Scholarship: * Assistant Rank: Develop an original, high-quality research program with the potential for external funding.

  • Associate Rank: Maintain an established, nationally recognized academic program supported by sustained external funding.

• Clinical Integration: Participate in UCVM’s Distributed Veterinary Teaching Hospital (DVTH) model, potentially spending time in community clinics to maintain clinical relevance and provide guidance to trainees.

• Toxicology Expertise: Provide specialist insights into veterinary toxicology, investigating how environmental and chemical factors impact animal health across various species.

• Service: Engage in active involvement within the university, the veterinary profession, and the broader Calgary community.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

• The “Vanguard Clinician”: A DVM (or equivalent) is required, plus a minimum of 2 years of veterinary practice experience (any species).

• Licensure: Must be licensed or eligible for licensure with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA).

• Pharmacology Wit: Demonstrated expertise in veterinary clinical pharmacology or toxicology. While a PhD or Specialty Board-certification (ACVCP/ECVCP or Internal Medicine) is desirable, it is not strictly required if research experience is robust.

• Research Grit: A strong record of publications. For Associate applicants, evidence of national peer recognition and a history of obtaining funding is essential.

• Educational Mindset: A clear interest in reflective practice and professional learning related to teaching and learning.

Technical Insights: Pharmacology in the DVTH Model

At UCVM, pharmacology isn’t just taught in a lab; it’s applied in a real-world network of community partners.

• Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD): Your research and teaching will likely focus on the “Dose-Response” relationship across different species, from companion animals to livestock.

• Species-Specific Metabolism: You will address the unique metabolic pathways of different animals (e.g., feline glucuronidation deficiencies) to ensure safe and effective prescribing.

• The “One Health” Approach: Toxicology research at UCVM often intersects with “One Health” principles, examining how animal pharmacology impacts food safety and environmental health.

Diversity and Statistics at UCalgary

The University of Calgary is a leader in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), recognizing that diverse perspectives lead to better scientific outcomes.

• Institutional Strategy (ii’ taa’poh’to’p): With 18 Elders serving as advisors, the university ensures that Indigenous ways of knowing are integrated into the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This is particularly relevant in rural and community-based veterinary practice.

• The Confidence Gap: UCalgary explicitly encourages applications from women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. Research shows these groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification; UCVM invites you to apply if you have the “grit” and “wit” to grow into the role.

• Global Standing: UCVM is an AVMA-accredited institution and is part of a research-intensive university that consistently ranks as one of Canada’s top 5 research institutions.

Job Description

Do you believe that the future of veterinary medicine depends on the precise application of science at the point of care? The University of Calgary is seeking a Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology to join our Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. We aren’t just looking for a “lecturer”; we are looking for a clinical investigator who has the “grit” to build a nationally recognized research program and the “wit” to mentor 100 students through the intricacies of drug therapy and toxicology.

In this role, you are a “Therapeutic Architect.” You understand that every prescription is a data point in a larger clinical outcome. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Veterinary Scholarship,” ensuring that our graduates are the most scientifically literate practitioners in the country. We look for “Integrity-first” academics who are collaborative, curious, and ready to contribute to Canada’s most enterprising university.

Joining UCVM means joining a faculty that is redefining veterinary education through the Distributed Teaching Hospital model. We offer a competitive, research-intensive environment where your work in pharmacology and toxicology will have a global impact on animal and human health. If you are a scholar with a commitment to “Clinical Innovation and Responsible Research,” we invite you to apply and start something today at the University of Calgary.

UCalgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: “One Community, One Health”

The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) is defined by a mission to meet the animal and public health needs of Alberta and beyond through a “One Health” approach. This philosophy views the health of animals, humans, and the environment as inextricably linked. UCVM’s culture is notably people-oriented and transformative; as a younger veterinary school (established in 2005), it prides itself on “meaningful disruptions” to traditional medical models, prioritizing hands-on clinical skills from the very first year and fostering deep partnerships with the local rural and agricultural communities.

Unlike many traditional faculties, UCVM operates across a unique, dual-campus model that bridges urban biomedical research with rural clinical practice:

• Spy Hill Campus (NW Calgary): Located at 11877 85th Street NW, this is the clinical and diagnostic heart of the program.

  • Clinical Skills Building (CSB): A LEED Gold-certified facility where students gain direct experience with animals. It houses the Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU) and specialized labs for anatomy and surgery.

  • Veterinary Learning Commons (VLC): A newly completed $68.5M hub that serves as a modern “home base” for students, providing collaborative study spaces and advanced digital tools.

  • Research Stations: Includes the Veterinary Sciences Research Station (VSRS) and the Wildlife Research Station (WSRS), designed for handling everything from domestic livestock to exotic wildlife.

• Foothills Campus (South Campus): Located at 3280 Hospital Drive NW, adjacent to the Foothills Medical Centre. This site focuses on the “human-animal” interface, housing wet labs for genomics, infectious diseases, and regenerative medicine within the Cal Wenzel Precision Health (CWPH) building.

• W.A. Ranches: A massive 1,000-head working beef cattle ranch located northwest of the city, serving as a “living laboratory” for production animal health and sustainable ranching practices.

UCVM is particularly recognized for its Distributed Veterinary Learning Community (DVLC). Rather than relying on a single teaching hospital, the faculty partners with over 80 private veterinary practices across Alberta, allowing students to complete their final-year rotations in “real-world” settings. This ensures that graduates are not only clinically proficient but also deeply integrated into the professional and economic fabric of the province’s diverse animal industries.