USDA-APHIS Chronic Wasting Disease Study Fellowship

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance stipend

Conference travel budget

Monthly stipend

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Fort Collins, CO, offers a research opportunity with USDA APHIS NWRC focusing on Chronic Wasting Disease. You will collaborate with state wildlife agencies and partners to develop adaptive, multistate management experiments and data-sharing frameworks.

Training covers ecological and epidemiological data collection and laboratory techniques. The role emphasizes rigorous study design, cross-agency collaboration, and hands-on field and bench work,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with wildlife disease ecology, epidemiology, or related discipline.
• Experience collecting, managing, or analyzing ecological data using statistical software or programming tools such as R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to NWRC's Chronic Wasting Disease project and related wildlife-disease research.
• Collaborate with state wildlife agencies and researchers to implement cross-jurisdiction experiments.
• Support data-sharing agreements and coordinated research processes across agencies and states.

Skills

wildlife disease ecology

epidemiology

data analysis

R or Python

Education

Master's degree

Tools

R

Python

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-APHIS-2026-0419

Application Deadline

1/1/2027 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may close before the deadline.

APHIS Office/Lab and Location

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. APHIS's mission also includes addressing issues such as wildlife damage and disease management; regulation of genetically engineered crops and animal welfare; and protection of public health and safety as well as natural resources that are vulnerable to invasive pests and pathogens.

Research Project

You will be a part of the National Wildlife Research Center's (NWRC) Chronic Wasting Disease Project aimed at delivering research products that protect producers and natural resources from wildlife diseases and damage. You will gain experience with the continued development and implementation of a multistate adaptive management framework for white-tailed deer by colaborating with state wildlife agencies, researchers, and other partners to develop and operationalize a collaborative, cross-jurisdiction experimental approach. You will also help with developing data-sharing agreements and ensuring that experimental interventions and evaluation procedures are scientifically rigorous, logistically feasible, consistently implemented, and capable of supporting regional learning and adaptive management of CWD and deer populations. Additionally, you may have opportunities to contribute to other NWRC-led research activities, including, but not limited to, wildlife immobilization, animal sampling and handling, postmortem examinations, and laboratory-based analyses, including diagnostic assays and other bench techniques used to support wildlife disease research.

Learning Objectives

• Contribute to the National Wildlife Research Center’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Project, learn about research that protects agricultural producers, wildlife, and natural resources.
• Gain experience developing and implementing a multistate adaptive-management framework for white-tailed deer and CWD.
• Collaborate with state wildlife agencies, researchers, and other partners to operationalize cross-jurisdictional management experiments.
• Learn to support development of data-sharing agreements and coordinated research processes across multiple agencies and states.
• Help ensure that management interventions, monitoring methods, and evaluation procedures are scientifically rigorous, logistically feasible, and consistently implemented.
• Develop skills in analyzing and applying data to support regional learning, adaptive management, and decision-making for deer populations and CWD.
• Potentially gain hands‑on experience in wildlife immobilization, animal handling, biological sampling, and postmortem examinations.
• Build laboratory and diagnostic skills through participation in assays and other bench techniques supporting wildlife-disease research.

The research will provide training in ecological and epidemiological data collection; integrating ecological and epidemiological components with concurrent human dimensions pilot‑study efforts; and data repository design to support long‑term data sharing and analysis across collaborating agencies.

Mentor

The mentor for this opportunity is Jennifer Malmberg ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

December 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length

The appointment will initially be for one year but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA APHIS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation

The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $65,000 - $75,000 yearly, with an additional health insurance stipend supplement and a budget for travel to conferences and meetings.

Citizenship Requirements

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens.

ORISE Information

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and APHIS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, APHIS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment‑related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions

Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email [e-mail] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master’s degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Preferred Skills

• Experience or familiarity with wildlife disease ecology, epidemiology, wildlife population management, or a related discipline.
• Experience collecting, managing, or analyzing ecological, epidemiological, or wildlife population data using statistical software or programming tools such as R or Python.
• Familiarity with adaptive management, experimental study design, or collaborative approaches to natural resource management.
• Experience with database design, data repositories, data standardization, or data‑sharing practices across research teams or organizations.
• Experience collaborating with wildlife management agencies, researchers, or other partners on applied research or conservation projects.
• Familiarity with wildlife handling, biological sample collection, diagnostic laboratory techniques, or other methods used in wildlife disease research.
• Experience communicating scientific information and research findings to diverse stakeholders, including wildlife management agencies, researchers, natural resource professionals, and other partners.

Stipend

$65,000.00 – $75,000.00 Yearly

Point of Contact

Michele

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences
  • Fish and Wildlife
  • Natural Resources
  • Wildlife Management
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (9 )