USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Animal Disease Genomics

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-2022-0411
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. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. 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
2/1/2023 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 Location: A postdoctoral research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Animal Disease Research Unit located in Pullman, Washington for a motivated scientist to join Research Projects “Genetic Approaches and Tools to Prevent, Control, and Eradicate Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies” and “Understanding Host-Bacterial Interactions to Mitigate Disease in Small Ruminants”. This fellowship will mainly focus on host genomics/transcriptomics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) mission involves problem-solving research in the widely diverse food and agricultural areas encompassing plant production and protection; animal production and protection; natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems; and nutrition; food safety; and quality. The programs are conducted in 46 of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For ARS to maintain its standing as a premier scientific organization, major investments in computing, networking, and storage infrastructure are required. Training in data and information management are integral to the integrity, security, and accessibility of research findings, results, and outcomes within the ARS research enterprise. Nearly 2000 scientists and support staff conduct research within the ARS research enterprise.

Research Project: The selected applicant will collaborate with a team of veterinarians, immunologists, and geneticist on projects aimed at understanding genomic mechanisms of inherited and infectious diseases of Rocky Mountain Elk and domestic sheep. The selected participant will help quantify host transcriptomics and/or genomics relative to disease status with the goal to identify host genomic factors that may play a role in inherited and infectious diseases. Opportunities for international travel and collaboration are possible.

Learning Objectives: The participant will gain a better overall understanding of research through attendance of laboratory meetings, sharing and discussion of data with the research team, and reading of peer-reviewed papers in the respective field.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Michelle Mousel (michelle.mousel@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2022 or early 2023.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed an additional year upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The stipend for this opportunity is $64,009/year for the first year. A health insurance supplement will be provided along with a travel allowance for scientific and professional development activities.

Citizenship Requirements: This 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 Information: This 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. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.PacificWest@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 (e.g., Veterinary Medicine, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genomics) before the start date of the appointment. Degree must have been received within the last five years.

Preferred skills:

  • Experience in basic genomics, immunological, and microbiological techniques
  • Fluent technical writing in English for peer-reviewed publications
  • Experience with basic RNA and DNA isolation, PCR design and applications, and DNA and RNA sequencing techniques
  • Highly detail-oriented, with the ability to organize projects and prioritize work with minimal supervision
  • Interested in collaborative research and engaging with scientists from interdisciplinary backgrounds.
Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (2 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (23 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (1 )
  • Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).