USDA-ARS Fellowship in Arbovirology

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available within the Center for Grain and Animal Health Research and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) located in Manhattan, Kansas. The selected fellow will be located at the Center for Grain and Animal Health Research. 

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.

Research Project:  The postdoctoral research fellow will be part of experimental laboratory studies that are focused on vector competence, virus-vector interactions, emergence, and viral evolution of arboviruses that impact livestock through the ARS Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (ABADRU) and Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (FABADRU). The fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in virology, vector biology, and experimental evolution with a focus on vesicular stomatitis virus. Under the guidance of the mentor, the fellow will contribute to the design, implementation, and data analysis of projects relating to experimental viral evolution, virus-vector interactions, and vector competence projects. Additionally, under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will be encouraged to develop a scientific project that helps address research gaps in the emergence of vesicular stomatitis virus and leads to peer-reviewed publications.

Learning Objectives: The fellow will learn techniques in virology, entomology, molecular biology, and phylogenetics. In addition to laboratory research, the fellow will have the opportunity to gain experience and skills in manuscript preparation, research presentation, and collaboration with other USDA and non-USDA researchers to address complex questions in livestock disease transmitted by arthropods. 

Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Dr. Stacey Scroggs (ABADRU) (stacey.scroggs@usda.gov) and Dr. Chad Mire (FABADRU) (chad.mire@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2025/2026. 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 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.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.