USDA-ARS Fellowship in Vector Biology

USDA-ARS Foreign Arthropod‑Borne Animal Diseases Fellowship

Location:

Manhattan, KS

Submit your application by scrolling to the bottom of this opportunity and clicking APPLY.

A complete application consists of: an application form, transcript(s), a current resume/CV, and two educational or professional recommendations.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

2/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

FABADRU uses multifaceted and interdisciplinary techniques to understand the interactions of viruses, vectors, hosts, and the environment on the transmission of viruses affecting livestock. The specific mission is to identify and manage exotic arthropod‑borne diseases that have the potential to cross international boundaries and present a risk to U.S. livestock. The fellow will contribute to the design, implementation, and data analysis of projects related to vector biology, including ecology, population genetics, management strategies, virus interactions, and virus‑transmission competence, depending on the candidate’s expertise.

Additionally, the fellow will be encouraged to develop a scientific project that addresses research gaps related to the transmission or management of vectors of JEV, VSV, or RVFV, leading to peer‑reviewed publications. The fellow may also have the opportunity to be involved in the USDA new world screwworm response.

• Techniques in entomology, molecular biology, and ecological modelling
• Experience in entomological field research, molecular laboratory research, and possibly research within BSL-3, BSL-3
  
  Ag and ACL-3 containment
• Manuscript preparation and research presentation skills
• Domestic and international collaboration with USDA and non‑USDA researchers

Dr. Lee Cohnstaedt (Lee.

Cohnstaedt) and Dr. Dustin Swanson (Dustin.

Swanson). For questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Start date:

April/May 2026 (flexible). Length:
Initially one year, may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and contingent on availability of funds. Level: Full time.

Stipend: $65,000 – $100,000 annually.

Citizenship: U.S. citizen only.

This program is administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). 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; health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, email ORISE.ARS.Plains and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master’s or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. The degree must have been received within the past five years or be anticipated to be received by the start of appointment.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Previous experience in team and collaborative scientific environments
• Project and team leadership experience

• Previous experience with insect vectors of animal pathogens (field and/or laboratory)
• Previous experience with insect genomic and population genetic analyses or modeling

• Citizenship: U.S. citizen only
• Degree:
  Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computer Vision, Human Language Processing, Machine Learning)
  • Computer Science (general)
  • Data Science
  • Databases, Information Retrieval, and Web Search
  • Information Science and Technology
  • Scientific Computing and Informatics
  • Software Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Veteran Status:
  Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 months