USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Virology

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-2022-0190
How to Apply

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A complete application consists of:

  • An application
  • Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
  • A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
  • Two educational or professional recommendations

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

Application Deadline
12/29/2022 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.

ARS Office/Lab and LocationA postdoctoral research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) located in Athens, Georgia.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency with a mission to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence. The mission of the United States National Poultry Research Center is to provide leadership in solving current and future problems in the management of viral diseases of poultry using basic and applied multidisciplinary, team approaches thereby benefiting the poultry industry and consumers.

Research ProjectThe purpose of this project is to A) Identify avian reovirus (ARV) determinants of virulence associated with arthritis and tenosynovitis in poultry production and B) characterize host-pathogen interactions associated with infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus strain variation, immunosuppression, and pathogenesis. The selected participant will contribute research to our effort to 1) develop reverse genetics system for IBD and ARV; 2) characterize the recombinant viruses and conduct pathogenicity study, and 3) characterize viral genes associated with immunosuppression.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to interact with a multidisciplinary team within the US National Poultry Research Center in Athens, GA, as well as our sister unit, the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory and will have the opportunity to present research findings within the center and at professional meetings.

Learning ObjectivesThis environment offers opportunities to learn the techniques necessary to manipulate ARV in vitro and produce infections in vivo, to produce recombinant viruses and viral vectors, and to interact with scientists and technicians within the group to develop new projects.

USDA-ARS Contact: If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact Sujit Mohanty (sujit.mohanty@usda.gov).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 2022. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment LengthThe appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of the mentor and ARS, and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of ParticipationThe appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend The participant(s) will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. 

Citizenship RequirementsThis opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

ORISE InformationThis program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and ARS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. If you have additional questions about the application process please email USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Familiarity with one or more of the following areas is preferred: molecular biology, bioinformatics and computational biology, in vitro culture of cell lines, virology, and animal science.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Overall GPA: 3.00
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
  • Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).