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Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education · 7 hours ago

USDA-ARS Fellowship in Influenza A Virus in Swine Phylogenetics

Ames, IA

Internship

Onsite

Intern

Start in 2026 Winter

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is offering a research opportunity with the USDA Agricultural Research Service focused on influenza A virus in swine phylogenetics. The participant will study the evolutionary dynamics of IAV, employing phylogenetic methods and collaborating with scientists in a comprehensive research program.

Government Administration

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

The participant will be involved in studying the evolutionary dynamics of influenza A virus (IAV) in swine

The participant will use a range of phylogenetic methods (including Bayesian) to study how interspecies transmission, genomic reassortment, and farm production practices affect the evolution of endemic viruses and the emergence of novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential in swine

Using the data provided by the USDA Influenza A virus in swine passive surveillance system, genetic evolution of IAV from swine will be quantified, genetic predictors of influenza host range and virulence will be identified, the genetic and antigenic variability of endemic viruses will be studied, and epidemiologic patterns as swine IAV is transmitted among hosts and across landscapes will be quantified

The participant may also have the opportunity to be involved in the development of novel algorithms, bioinformatic tools or analytical pipelines that quantify the diversity of RNA viruses infecting swine that may be deployed in online databases or interactive websites

During this project, the participant will learn HPC computing technologies and techniques in genomic epidemiology and machine learning to quantify drivers of IAV evolution in swine using data generated from IAV surveillance in human and swine populations

The participant will have the opportunity to collaborate with multiple USDA ARS scientists and investigators within the University of Pennsylvania Center for Excellence in Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) as part of the NIH NIAID CEIRR collaborative network

The participant will have the opportunity to attend local and/or national meetings and will be supported and encouraged to publish research dealing with the evolution and pandemic potential of swine IAV