RECENT GRADUATE RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

The Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) Research Participation Program has opportunities available to participate in research activities on foreign animal diseases. Applicants must have recently completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in veterinary medicine, pathology, immunology, molecular biology, virology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and other disciplines related to understanding pathogenesis, immune response and vaccine and antiviral development against foreign animal diseases (FADs).

Participants will be involved in research activities related to foreign animal diseases, including but not limited:

• Development of more sensitive and accurate methods of disease agent detection and identification
• Development of new strategies to control disease epidemics, including rDNA vaccines, antiviral drugs, and transgenic, disease-resistant animals
• Assessment of risks involved in importation of animals and animal products from countries where epidemic FADs occur
• Diagnostic investigations of suspect cases of FAD outbreaks in U.S. livestock
• Tests of animals in animal products to be imported into the U.S. to make sure those imports are free of FAD agents
• Production and maintenance reagents used in diagnostic tests and vaccines for FADs

Research will be conducted in BioSafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment in modern, well-equipped laboratory space. Plum Island is located off the eastern tip of Long Island, requiring daily travel by government ferry from either Orient Pt., NY or Old Saybrook, CT.