Fellowship in Quantitative Epidemiology and Ecology

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

APHIS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This opportunity will be 100% remote.

Research Project: The participant will collaborate with veterinary medical officers, statisticians, economists and ecologists specializing in epidemiology, risk analysis, disease modeling, economic evaluation, and surveillance to operationalize and when needed to improve analytical tools. Activities will support program management, emergency preparedness, and surveillance planning for disease transmission. Research activities will include:

• Operationalize, and where needed suggest improvements to previously developed models of the geographic distributions of livestock prior to slaughter.
• Identify and develop data and other model inputs for use in an existing framework for the optimization of slaughter surveillance in cattle.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and decision makers to ensure analytical tools are developed in a way that meets VS needs. Collaboration would also enhance knowledge and skills in disease risk modeling and application to support programmatic decisions and policy.
• Conducts sensitivity analysis of parameters used in a model of ASF disease dynamics in feral swine. Research activities would also include running models across a range of additional scenarios and summarizing results to inform research associated with understanding time to detection, optimal control and determining disease freedom.

Learning Objectives: The fellowship will provide opportunities for the participant to learn about and aid in ensuring functional analytical tools are applied to support national programmatic decisions and policy.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Karl Musgrave (Karl.Musgrave@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2023.  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 for a total of five years upon recommendation of APHIS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participants will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. 

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).

Background Investigation Requirements: Background investigations are required for the selected candidate so the individual can work in biocontainment without an escort and handle select agents. Adjudication of a Special Agency Check (SAC) is required before the selected candidate can start at Plum Island Animal Disease Center. An advanced BI security clearance will be be conducted/adjudicated after start date, allowing for unescorted access to biocontainment. An APHIS Select Agent Clearance is also required so that the selected candidate can work with select agents. Paperwork for all of these clearances will be sent to the selected candidate after acceptance of the official offer from ORAU.

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 APHIS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, APHIS, 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.

This is an equal opportunity program open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email USDA-APHIS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.