Postdoctoral Research Associate - Poultry Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology

Iowa State University • Ames, IA

7d

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will lead and support research advancing poultry disease diagnostics, molecular epidemiology, and pathogen surveillance. The role involves designing and conducting projects using real-time PCR, sequence typing, and next-generation sequencing to evaluate, develop, and improve diagnostic assays for poultry diseases. The researcher will investigate disease transmission patterns, differentiate primary and secondary pathogens, and contribute to understanding disease emergence and spread in poultry populations.

The position provides technical leadership in the laboratory, including training and supervising students and staff, maintaining laboratory operations, and ensuring the quality and integrity of research. The successful candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, analyze and interpret complex data, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, assist with grant development, and present research at scientific meetings. This work supports poultry health, disease prevention, and the advancement of diagnostic technologies for the poultry industry.

Requirements

• Completed Ph.D. in Poultry Medicine or a closely related field, with a focus on poultry infectious diseases, by the start date of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing and validating molecular diagnostic assays.
• Clinical diagnostic experience in poultry or veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
• Expertise in virology, microbiology, phylogenetics, sequence typing, and molecular epidemiology.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analyses.
• Strong publication record demonstrated through peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support research in poultry disease diagnostics, molecular epidemiology, and pathogen surveillance.
• Design and conduct research using real-time PCR, sequence typing, and next-generation sequencing.
• Evaluate, develop, and improve diagnostic assays for poultry diseases.
• Investigate disease transmission patterns and differentiate primary and secondary pathogens.
• Contribute to understanding disease emergence and spread within poultry populations.
• Provide technical leadership in the laboratory.
• Train and supervise students and staff.
• Maintain laboratory operations and ensure the quality and integrity of research activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams.
• Analyze and interpret complex data.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Assist with grant development.
• Present research outcomes at regional, national, and international scientific meetings.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
• Vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans.
• Onsite childcare in Ames, Iowa.
• Life insurance and long-term disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Voluntary benefits and discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellbeing program.
• WorkFlex options for some positions, offering flexibility on when, where, and how work is performed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree