USDA-ARS Influenza Virus Postdoctoral Computational Biology

USDA-ARS Influenza A Virus Postdoctoral Computational Biology Opportunity

Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code: USDA-ARS-MWA-

Final date to receive applications: 1/30/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

• Conduct research on the evolutionary dynamics of influenza A virus (IAV) in swine and dairy cattle under the guidance of a mentor.
• Employ a range of phylogenetic methods to study how interspecies transmission, genomic reassortment, and farm production practices influence the evolution of endemic viruses and the emergence of novel influenza viruses with zoonotic potential.
• Quantify genetic evolution of IAV, identify genetic predictors of host range and virulence, and study the antigenic variability of endemic viruses.
• Analyze epidemiologic patterns of IAV transmission among hosts and across landscapes.
• Possibly develop novel algorithms, bioinformatic tools, or analytical pipelines to quantify the diversity of RNA viruses for use in online databases or interactive websites.

• Doctoral degree in or currently pursuing a Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, data science, biology, virology, genetics, bioinformatics) received within the last five years or expected in 2026.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with others.

• Experience in disease ecology, evolutionary biology, virology, population genetics, molecular biology, or quantitative approaches to studying infectious disease dynamics.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, R, Bash, or Perl.
• Experience with multivariate statistical analyses, including generalized linear mixed models.
• Familiarity with phylogenetic methods and algorithms.
• Machine learning experience for genomic epidemiology.

Mentor:
Tavis Anderson (tavis.anderson)

Appointment

Start Date:

January 2026 (flexible)

Appointment Length:
Initial 1 year, renewable based on funding and recommendation.

Position Type:
Full time.

Stipend:
Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

Location:

National Centers for Animal Health campus, Ames, Iowa.

Submit an application, unofficial transcript, current resume/CV, and two educational or professional recommendations via the online portal. All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

For additional information, email ORISE.ARS.Midwest and include the reference code USDA-ARS-MWA-.