Research Associate

Montgomery County Maryland; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 50,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas State University seeks a Research Associate to support CEZID and CEEZAD in high-consequence pathogen research, including vaccine and diagnostic development. You will analyze tissue pathology from animal studies at BSL-2/BSL-3 under PI guidance, while ensuring DOJ Select Agent clearance and compliance.

Requires a Master’s degree with two years of relevant experience; a valid driver’s license is mandatory. Preference given to MS/PhD in animal disease and DVM with pathology training.

Qualifications

• Master's degree plus two years of relevant experience.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct experiments and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
• Keep laboratory records and write posters, manuscripts, and articles.
• Perform diagnostic testing on animal samples.
• Write SOPs and biosafety manuals.

Skills

Master's degree

Two years experience

Valid driver's license

Education

Master's degree

MS/PhD in animal disease field

DVM with pathology training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About This Role

The Research Associate position will support two Centers of Excellence: The Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID) and the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) for research involving various pathogens including animal influenza viruses, African swine fever virus, Classical Swine Fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. This position is part of a very busy, successful research team whose main goal is to develop rationally designed vaccines and diagnostics against high-consequence foreign animal, emerging and zoonotic disease threats and provide training for the next generation of veterinary scientists. The position requires the individual to display critical thinking and independent judgement as it relates to ongoing and new research projects with direct guidance from the Primary Investigator. Specifically, the candidate will independently evaluate and interpret pathologic changes in tissues obtained from animal studies. Only persons specifically trained in pathology will be able to conduct these independent investigations and interpretations. The research is conducted at the BSL2 and BSL3 level of containment and employs several select agents and target animal models such as pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, hamsters, rat and mice. The position requires the acquisition and maintenance of a DOJ Select Agent clearance.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a master's degree and two years of relevant experience. Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. The degree requirement ensures candidates possess advanced research skills, data analysis expertise and scientific writing ability in order to independently execute complex research tasks, interpret findings and contribute to scholarly publications. These competencies are typically developed and rigorously validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and intensive experiential learning inherent in a formal degree program.
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications:

• A MS or PhD graduate degree in any animal disease related field, Microsoft Office knowledge and skills. The candidate will assist in the laboratory with routine molecular biology techniques, RT-PCR, PCR, cloning, maintaining various cell cultures, propagating viral stocks, general laboratory maintenance and animal handling in BSL-2 and BSL-3 Ag biocontainment. Select Agent and DOJ clearance is required for this position. The candidate will assist in technical editing or formatting manuscripts for submission to selected journals. The candidate will help write Standard Operating Procedures as well as biosafety manuals.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and post-DVM training in anatomic pathology with current eligibility status for certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Additional Role Information:

• Plan and conduct experiments, run, calibrate, and troubleshoot general laboratory equipment and instruments, keep laboratory records in the form of a notebook or other generated records, write and edit posters, manuscripts, and articles, perform diagnostic testing on a variety of animal samples.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Application Window

Applications close on: 09/29/2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$49,925 - $87,169