Iowa State

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Poultry Virology and Immunology

Ames, IA Full time

Position Title:

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Poultry Virology and Immunology

Appointment Type:

Post Doc/Trainee

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Carnaccini lab seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance experimental and translational research in poultry virology, with an emphasis on reverse genetics, cell culture, and plasmid-based systems, vaccine design, cell line immortalization, and in vivo vaccine evaluation in avian models. The successful candidate will lead independent projects, collaborate across disciplines, help manage day-to-day lab operations, and mentor graduate and undergraduate trainees.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

 Ph.D. in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Veterinary Microbiology, Immunology, or a closely related field (awarded by start date).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Strong record of research productivity (peer-reviewed publications, preprints, or conference presentations).
  • Prior experience with reverse genetics systems for RNA viruses or DNA viruses.
  • Experience with avian viruses and/or poultry models.
  • Proficiency with vaccine platforms (live attenuated, vectored, subunit, mRNA/DNA) and immunoassays (ELISA, HI, VN).
  • Experience with cell line immortalization and validation.
  • Competency in data analysis (R/Python/GraphPad), and version-controlled workflows.
  • Evidence of mentorship, leadership, and effective cross-functional collaboration.

Department/Program & College Description:

At VDPAM, we lead the future of food animal and population medicine. As a global center of excellence, we are recognized for our expertise, valued for our collaborative partnerships, and trusted to deliver innovative, science-driven solutions to the most pressing challenges in animal health and food production.

Department Unit/Website:

Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine - Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine

Proposed Start Date:

April 1, 2026

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

April 1, 2027

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Postdocs enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing Program

Original Posting Date:

February 20, 2026

Posting Close Date:

February 27, 2026

Job Requisition Number:

R18688