USDA-ARS Research Training in Emerging Zoonotic Diseases: Nipah Virus and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Manhattan, Kansas.
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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit (ZEDRU), at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, invites recent graduates to participate in research focused on high-consequence and emerging zoonotic pathogens.
Emerging zoonotic diseases represent urgent threats to public health, livestock health, and agricultural security. NBAF is USDA’s state-of-the-art high-containment (BSL-4) research facility, uniquely positioned to investigate these pathogens and their potential impact on U.S. agriculture. This educational experience will expose participants to real-world challenges at the intersection of virology, data science, ecology, and agriculture.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will have the opportunity to:
- Participate in laboratory or computational studies supporting research on high-consequence and emerging pathogens.
- Gain hands-on training in molecular biology, virology, ecology, or bioinformatics methods depending on the project.
- Learn to collect, process, and analyze samples and datasets relevant to zoonotic and vector-borne disease research.
- Collaborate with USDA scientists and partners to connect findings with broader One Health and agricultural security goals.
- Contribute to internal reports and presentations, developing scientific communication skills.
This program provides exposure to USDA’s only high-containment facility capable of studying BSL-4 zoonotic pathogens. It is an exciting opportunity for recent graduates considering careers in health, medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, or biomedical research, offering training experiences that strengthen applications to graduate or professional schools while providing meaningful contributions to national biosecurity.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Lisa Hensley (lisa.hensley@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2025. 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. The anticipated stipend range is $40,463 - $55,500 for bachelor's, annually.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. biology, microbiology, ecology, computational biology, bioinformatics, or a related discipline).
Preferred skills:
- Coursework or internship experience in biology, microbiology, ecology, or computational biology.
- Familiarity with basic laboratory or computational methods (e.g., PCR, cell culture, coding in R/Python).
- Demonstrated interest in public health, medicine, veterinary medicine, or biomedical research.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
- Interest in One Health approaches and connections between human, animal, and environmental health.
- Motivation to pursue graduate or professional school in health or science.
- Demonstrated interest in zoonotic diseases, emerging pathogens, or agricultural security.
- Laboratory or computational research experience (coursework, internships, or undergraduate research) is desirable.
- Strong motivation to learn, problem-solve, and collaborate in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Stipend
$40,463.00 – $55,500.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree.