Avian Immunology Post-Doctoral Research Opportunity

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
ARS-FSEPRU-2015-0080-02
How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

If you have questions, send an email to USDA-ARS@orau.org.  Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

Description

An avian immunology postdoctoral research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa. The selected applicant will participate in basic and applied food safety research to describe the host response of turkey intestinal epithelium to colonization by Campylobacter jejuni or C. coli, and to develop and test different Campylobacter spp. control strategies in turkeys. Secondary activities will include participating in ongoing Campylobacter spp. and turkey studies in the Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit (FSEPRU).

NADC is the premiere research institute within the USDA for studying infectious diseases of food producing animals. At the NADC, researchers are able to investigate host-microbe interactions in their natural animal host.

The position is full-time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of the ARS and availability of funding. The annual stipend rate for this position is $58,562. A health insurance allowance will be provided to offset the cost of an individual or family health insurance plan. The participant must show proof of health insurance. Relocation expenses, up to $500, may be reimbursed with prior approval. An annual allowance of $3,000 is available for travel-related expenses to scientific and professional development activities.   The participant does not become an employee of ARS or ORISE.

While participants will not enter into an employment relationship with ARS, this position requires a pre-employment check and a full background investigation.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).

This is an equal opportunity program open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status.

For more information about the ARS Research Participation Program, please visit http://www.orise.orau.gov/usda-ars.

Qualifications

Eligible applicants must have received a doctorate degree within five years of the desired starting date, preferably focusing on immunology or infectious diseases. Candidates whose doctoral thesis research emphasized poultry immunology, mucosal immunology, vaccine development or intestinal biology will be given greater consideration. Although a doctor of veterinary medicine (D.V.M.) degree is not required for this position, candidates that possess a D.V.M. and Ph.D. in the areas mentioned above will receive the greatest consideration.

Qualified candidates must be able to read and write in English and be an effective written and oral communicator, as well as be highly motivated to perform independent research. They should have some experience with animal models of infectious diseases. This position requires experience in some, but not all, of the following areas:

• In vitro cell culture
• In vitro culture of bacteria
• Animal husbandry:
          o Oral inoculation
          o Venipuncture
          o Necropsy, tissue fixation and processing for histopathological analysis
• Immunology:
          o Flow cytometry
          o Developing and validating ELISAs
• Molecular biology:
          o RNA isolation
          o qRT-PCR
          o Next generation sequencing techniques (e.g., RNAseq)

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (6 )
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