Postdoctoral Associate

Mississippi State University Agricultural Economics • Starkville, MS

445d

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Associate position at Mississippi State University focuses on the intersection of poultry health and predictive modeling of respiratory diseases. The role involves significant work with spatial analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and environmental data integration to study and predict the spread of respiratory bacterial diseases in poultry and bovine populations. The postdoc will collaborate on a project analyzing the spatial-temporal distribution of these diseases, aiming to enhance disease management practices through advanced predictive modeling tools.

Requirements

• PhD in Poultry Science, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, or related fields.
• Knowledge of molecular biological techniques, such as RNA/DNA/protein extraction, handling research animals at farm, gene expression, microbiome analysis, and real-time PCR.

Nice To Haves

• Proven record of research excellence.
• Field and laboratory work beyond the minimum required.
• BSL-2 and ABSL-2 expertise in animal handling and care.
• Experience with chicken models of infection, especially with bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and/or cell culture.
• Strong interest in conducting research and working in groups and cooperatively with other lab members as a team as well as the ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement predictive models to forecast outbreaks of avian and bovine respiratory bacterial diseases using GIS and machine learning algorithms.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret complex data sets involving spatial, environmental, and biological factors related to disease transmission.
• Disseminate findings through publications in high-quality journals and presentations at relevant conferences.
• Mentor graduate students and visiting scholars as assigned by the PI, providing guidance and support for their research projects.
• Ensure proper care in using and maintaining equipment and supplies and promote continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree