Advanced Disease Detection and Diagnostics Postdoctoral Scholar

Job Summary: Under the direction of Principal Investigator (Dr. Brian Bird), the successful postdoctoral scholar candidate will support virology research including in-depth detection and diagnostic assay development [serology (IgM, IgG, and DIVA) and nucleic acid amplification and sequencing) studies on Rift Valley fever virus and other high-priority zoonotic and wildlife diseases (e.g., CCHFV, hantaviruses). The postdoc scholar will work to build collaborative One Health partnerships, conduct laboratory-based research, design and evaluate innovative diagnostics and detection platforms in support of ongoing bio-surveillance activities and vaccine clinical trials, provide scientific guidance, oversight, and technical assistance as part of implementation and reporting activities for UC Davis One Health Institute Laboratory programs in Tanzania and the United States of America.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The One Health Institute (OHI) sits within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and our teams work closely with international and local partners to conduct research and training activities related to zoonotic diseases and global health security. The postdoctoral researcher will be part of a diverse team addressing complex issues using collaborative One Health approaches for scholarly work across sectors and disciplines. Ongoing research projects include studying the viral disease ecology and epidemiology of vector-borne diseases such as Rift Valley fever virus as an important mosquito-borne agent. Primary duties will focus on establishing and evaluating laboratory analyses for the detection of IgM, IgG, and DIVA assays for detection of anti-RVFV NP, NSs and NSm antibodies in archived and prospectively collected human and animal serological specimens; and advancing molecular detection efforts for a variety of pathogens among wildlife and arthropod vector species.

The UC Davis One Health Institute Rift Valley Fever Vaccine Initiative is a transdisciplinary One Health project focusing on specific virology and epidemiology research questions and associated tasks to evaluate a vaccine candidate against Rift Valley fever (RVF) in humans East Africa. This project will be implemented as part of HALI (the Health for Animals and Livelihood Improvement Project), a long-term collaboration involving University of California, Davis (UCD), Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania, with other partner organizations involved as relevant. The HALI project is a more than 18-year collaboration that investigates the overlap of human, livestock, wildlife, and environmental health to identify areas of increased disease transmission risk and to reduce adverse impacts of disease on local livelihoods.

The postdoctoral scholar will work with UCD, IHI, SUA, and other research partners and collaborating organizations to conduct independent virology research and training involving immunology, molecular diagnostics, and serologic assays to support RVFV vaccine trial planning and implementation, and/or to support zoonotic disease surveillance projects involving livestock, wildlife, and humans. These activities will be conducted in coordination with other UCD staff and scholars. This position may involve frequent travel to and/or extended time in East Africa, primarily Tanzania at the clinical trial site. This position will have a primary focus on viral disease diagnostics and immunology in field and laboratory settings, and the postdoc may also be involved with research on differential causes of febrile disease and/or other zoonotic pathogens using a One Health approach.

Positions Supervised: 

As directed by PI and Management Team, assist with training, mentoring of project personnel (e.g. early-stage Ph.D. students, Masters students, laboratory technicians, laboratory interns and other visiting scholars).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

80% Scientific Research and Advising

• Conduct independent virology and diagnostic assay development research, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
• Advise research staff and graduate students on virology and immunology topics, sampling protocols, data analysis, and publication preparation. 
• Establish or review laboratory protocols, objectives, and planned methods for achieving scientific goals. 
• Ensure research objectives are contributing to in-country priorities and needs, and supervise junior scientists as appropriate to meet these goals.

20% Project Implementation, Training, and Capacity Building

• Design and review curriculum for laboratory training.
• Conduct appropriate training for lab biosafety, serologic and molecular diagnostic tests, new equipment, specimen storage and shipping, and other relevant lab topics.
• Help to establish a reliable supply chain for ordering lab equipment and consumable materials.
• Ensure that permitting and reporting requirements and tasks for various projects are being met, assist with project report preparation (including writing and review of reports).
• Assist with collaboration and communication among project partners.

Minimum Qualifications 

• REQUIRED: PhD in a relevant field related to pathogen diagnostics, detection, immunology or pathogenesis.
  • Persons holding both a PhD and a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree are preferred but not required.
• Extensive experience with molecular and serologic diagnostic tests, troubleshooting diagnostic tests, and laboratory management.
• Analytical skills sufficient to analyze data and present analyses both verbally and in writing to scientific audiences. Skills to collect, organize, and interpret data.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to write in technical language and communicate health information in culturally appropriate lay terms. 
• Clear publication record or manuscripts in review that support interest and experience in virus detection and diagnostics, pathogenesis, and or immunology.
• Leadership skills, including ability to assess and effectively solve problems through creative means. 
• Organizational skills and demonstrated change agility; skills to establish goals, prioritize workload and complete projects on time and within budget. 
• Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills to deal with individuals at all levels and from various cultural backgrounds, including program stakeholders, members of governmental agencies, local scientists, etc. 
• Skills to coordinate staff workloads and effectively manage personnel resources. 
• Supervisory responsibilities involving planning, assigning, and scheduling of individuals such as, human and veterinary health and diagnostic personnel, researchers, students, and volunteers. 
• Skills to work in multiple computer formats (PC and Mac) and utilize a variety of computer software programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, R or other statistical software, etc.) 
• Experience training students and/or lay audiences on scientific topics.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• International experience conducting and coordinating diagnostics, assay comparisons and validations, virology, serology, immunology and laboratory diagnostic research or training.
• Experience in human or animal vaccine clinical trials and GLP/GCLP best practices.
• Skills to interact and communicate in basic Swahili.  
• Experience working in developing countries, especially East Africa.
• Previous experience writing and editing procedural documents and reports. 

Work Environment: 

• Must be able to work effectively in a foreign country with diverse team members and stakeholders.
• Must be able to work independently from a remote location.   
• Must be flexible and able to work with potentially limited resources (e.g. limited internet access and electricity at times).