CDC Postdoctoral Fellowship: Genomics and Diagnostics Team

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this opportunity will remain open until qualified candidates are identified.

CDC Office and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available within the Influenza Division (ID) of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, Georgia. Remote participation is not available.

The Genomics and Diagnostics Team (GDT), which is part of the Virology, Surveillance, and Diagnosis Branch (VSDB), performs diagnostic testing and genetic surveillance of influenza viruses, both seasonal and those with pandemic potential. GDT utilizes next generation sequencing (NGS), both internally and through national and international partners, to monitor for genetic changes in these viruses to develop risk assessments and recommend vaccine components to the World Health Organization.

Research Project: The selected participant will play a role in the development of improved surveillance and diagnostic techniques for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Under the guidance of a mentor, opportunities include:

• Study design to meet regulatory needs
• Viral culture and mock specimen generation
• RNA extraction
• rRT-PCR, dPCR, and CRISPR-Cas based testing of RNA
• RT-PCR amplification of viral genes/genomes
• Targeted enrichment of viral nucleic acids
• NGS of viral targets
• Bioinformatic analysis of NGS data

Learning Objectives: The fellow will learn practical laboratory and bioinformatic skills desired in high-throughput settings like government and industry. These skills include the development and validation of laboratory techniques to identify and genetically characterize viral respiratory pathogens. The research questions posed here are intended to have direct and practical applications for the surveillance and diagnosis of influenza and other respiratory viruses within CDC and for US and international public health laboratories. This project will be accomplished by collaborating with diverse groups of scientists within CDC.

Mentors: The mentors for this opportunity are Marie Kirby (pbi0@cdc.gov) and Matthew Keller (nqp3@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a qualified candidate is identified.  Start date is negotiable.

Appointment Length: The appointment will be for one year. Renewal is contingent upon the recommendation of CDC and 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 CDC. Participants do not become employees of CDC, 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.

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operation components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.

Qualifications

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

We are seeking a highly motivated individual that works well as a part of a collaborative team. In addition to being an effective collaborator, the preferred candidate will possess independent problems solving skills and be able to manage their time and tasks well. Importantly, this individual will approach scientific endeavors with integrity and accountability.

Preferred skills:

• A strong background in molecular biology, virology, or microbiology
• Handing infectious material and RNA using appropriate techniques
• Next generation sequencing experience
• A functional understanding of bioinformatics

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Academic Level(s): Postdoctoral.