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 Ames, Iowa.

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: Conducting research to reduce economic losses due to livestock disease is a major focus of the NADC. Selected participant will be conducting research to identify novel mechanisms in the pathogenesis of economically important viruses. This information will be used to develop and improve control and prevention strategies for the respective diseases. The participants may assist with planning, conducting, collecting, and analyzing research data. Activities will include the collection of samples, the use of a variety of techniques to evaluate the samples (e.g., virus isolation, immunohistochemistry, histopathology, antibody assays, etc.), and report research results in scientific journals.

Learning Objectives: The selected participant will collaborate with a diverse team of virologists, immunologists, bioinformaticians, and veterinarians to investigate host-virus interactions. This will provide opportunities for the participant to increase their research capabilities.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Alexa Buckley (alexandra.buckley@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 2024. 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, 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.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Preferred skills:

Experience with conducting livestock challenge studies with an emphasis on viruses. Experience with laboratory assays such as virus isolation, PCR, ELISA tests, and immunohistochemistry. Willingness to learn new laboratory techniques as needed to satisfy the needs of the project. Ability to conduct research independently, as well as part of a team while building and nurturing collaborations with external research groups. A degree in Veterinary Medicine or equivalent education and experience with livestock.