CDC Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Zoonosis and Discovery Team

About the Research Opportunity

A research opportunity is available in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, Georgia. A postdoctoral fellowship is available with the Zoonosis and Discovery Team, Coronavirus and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch (CRVLB), Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division (CORVD), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), CDC. You will receive training in advanced molecular methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS), viral genomics, and pathogen discovery. The fellowship will focus on the development, evaluation, and application of advanced laboratory and sequencing approaches for the detection and characterization of known, emerging, and novel viruses associated with respiratory disease, outbreaks, and cases of unknown etiology. You will have opportunities to participate alongside an interdisciplinary team of virologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, epidemiologists, and other public health professionals.

Research and Training Activities

• Participating in the development, optimization, evaluation, and application of advanced molecular methods and high-throughput sequencing approaches for the detection and characterization of known and novel viruses.
• Reviewing scientific literature and existing protocols and evaluate new reagents, technologies, and laboratory workflows for comprehensive viral detection.
• Developing and evaluating molecular approaches including PCR-based sequencing, targeted NGS, pan-viral enrichment NGS, metagenomic NGS.
• Participating in studies to characterize assay performance, including analytical sensitivity, reproducibility, inclusivity, and other relevant performance characteristics.
• Applying optimized molecular and sequencing methods to specimens from outbreak investigations, surveillance activities, etiologic studies, and zoonotic or emerging infectious disease investigations.
• Participating in viral discovery efforts for respiratory disease and other cases in which routine diagnostic testing does not identify an etiologic agent.
• Engaging with bioinformaticians to evaluate and apply analytical tools and pipelines for sequence data generated by Sanger sequencing, targeted NGS, enrichment NGS, and metagenomic sequencing.
• Analyzing and interpreting sequencing results and integrate laboratory findings with available epidemiologic and specimen information.
• Evaluating emerging sequencing platforms and laboratory technologies for potential applications in public health laboratories.
• Participating in laboratory quality management activities, including method documentation, quality control, specimen management, and laboratory safety.
• Preparing and delivering scientific findings through informal and formal presentations, technical reports, posters, abstracts, and manuscripts.

Learning Objectives

• Apply advanced molecular and NGS approaches for the detection and characterization of known, emerging, and novel viruses.
• Develop and evaluate targeted and untargeted sequencing methods for comprehensive viral detection and genome characterization.
• Design and evaluate molecular assays and laboratory workflows using appropriate controls, reference materials, and performance characteristics.
• Apply molecular and sequencing methods to specimens associated with outbreak investigations, respiratory disease surveillance, diseases of unknown etiology, and zoonotic disease investigations.
• Analyze and interpret laboratory and sequencing data in collaboration with bioinformaticians and other scientific partners.
• Evaluate emerging laboratory technologies, reagents, sequencing platforms, and analytical approaches for viral detection and characterization.
• Integrate laboratory, genomic, and epidemiologic information to support public health investigations.
• Apply laboratory quality management and biosafety principles to lab activities and molecular and sequencing workflows.
• Communicate scientific findings through presentations, reports, posters, and manuscripts.
• Participate effectively within an interdisciplinary public health laboratory environment.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in microbiology, molecular biology, virology, infectious diseases, genomics, or a related scientific discipline. Degree must have been received within the past 5 years.

Preferred Skills

• PCR-based molecular methods and assay development.
• Next-generation sequencing, including targeted sequencing, enrichment sequencing, or metagenomic sequencing.
• Development, optimization, evaluation, or validation of molecular laboratory methods.
• Working with infectious materials in a BSL-2 or higher.
• Analysis and interpretation of molecular or genomic data.
• Bioinformatics, phylogenetics, molecular evolution, or genomic epidemiology.
• Scientific writing and oral presentation.
• Laboratory experience with PCR, NGS, or other molecular methods and data analysis.
• Experience developing, optimizing, evaluating, or validating molecular assays.
• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills.
• Experience analyzing molecular and genomic datasets, particularly functional and comparative genomics, is desirable.

Applicants are not expected to have experience in every area.

Pay

$6,581.00 – $7,888.00 Monthly

Schedule

The appointment is full time. The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Citizenship Requirements

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only. Degree must have been received within the last 60 month(s). Minimum Overall GPA: 3.50. Discipline(s): Communications and Graphics Design, Computer, Information, and Data Sciences, Life Health and Medical Sciences.