Research Assistant Professor

To build upon this foundation, the department seeks to recruit a Research Assistant Professor to contribute to high-impact research in virus evolution, genomic diversification, and host-pathogen interactions. This is a 12-month, non-tenure track position with a predominantly research-focused appointment. The successful candidate will design and execute controlled viral evolution experiments and apply advanced sequencing and bioinformatic approaches to characterize viral population diversity, recombination processes, and structural genome variation. Specific distribution of effort among research, teaching, and service is negotiable.

The Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a leader in infectious disease research, integrating experimental virology, advanced genomics, and computational biology with strong national and international collaborations.

Multidisciplinary teams operate at the interface of virology, genomics, and host-pathogen biology to address pressing challenges in emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases.

This position is On-site.

Minimum Qualifications:

- PhD in Virology, Microbiology, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated expertise in virus culture systems, experimental evolution, and genomic sequencing technologies
- Strong publication record in virus evolution and/or viral genomics
- Experience in interdisciplinary, data-intensive research environments
- Extensive experience in next-generation sequencing technologies, including both Illumina short-read and Oxford Nanopore long-read platforms
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, R, or comparable languages)
- Experience working in high-performance computing environments

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience working with large DNA viruses (e.g., herpesviruses)
- Detailed knowledge of viral polymerase fidelity and proofreading mechanisms
- Demonstrated expertise in long-read sequencing-based approaches to resolve recombination and structural variation
- Experience analyzing defective viral genomes
- Experience resolving complex population structures
- Experience linking molecular mechanisms to evolutionary outcomes

Additional Role Information:

- This is a 12-month, non-tenure track position
- Specific distribution of effort among research, teaching, and service is negotiable

Sponsorship eligibility:

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

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter
2. Statement of research interests
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Contact information for at least three references

Applications close on: May 22, 2026

Commensurate with Experience