Pig Wallows Research Professional-Limited Term

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals as well as people. The college benefits pets and their owners, food-producing animals, and wildlife by offering the highest quality hospital and diagnostic laboratory services. Equipped with the most technologically advanced facilities located on a university campus, the college is dedicated to safeguarding public health by studying emerging infectious diseases that affect both animal and human health.

The College of Veterinary Medicine values all members of the university community, recognizing that differences in experience and culture can only lead to a more well-rounded, accepting academic environment as embodied in our Principles of Community.

M-F 8-5pm or as needed for field work.

Grant-Term Limited: This is a grant-funded position with employment duration contingent upon continued grant funding and availability of project resources throughout the research period.

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A MS in wildlife ecology, animal science, biology, or a related degree is preferred. At least 2 years of wildlife related field experience; proficiency with field-based data collection; data management, ability to use GPS systems; a valid driver's license; willingness to learn molecular techniques, animal trapping, and sample collection.

This research position involves comprehensive field and laboratory work supporting a multi-objective study examining pathogen transmission dynamics between feral swine, livestock, and wildlife at feral swine wallow sites across the southeastern United States. This is a grant-funded position with employment duration contingent upon continued grant funding and availability of project resources throughout the research period. The individual will work closely with the Principal Investigator and graduate students to establish and maintain a monitoring network of 50 game cameras at 25 strategically selected feral swine wallows, collaborating with USDA biologists to identify optimal sites that span diverse habitat types including cattle pastures, woodland-pasture interfaces, and forested areas.

This position has a limited-term appointment term which is 1-year grant-funded. The position may be extended beyond the initial term, contingent upon continued funding.

Prolonged periods in working outdoors, ability to lift 50 lbs, as well as manual, repetitive tasks requiring light physical effort (e.g., molecular diagnostics or working at the laboratory bench for long hours).

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Traveling to conduct monthly camera checks and data downloads, implementing and executing standardized protocols for wallow characterization (measuring size, water depth, temperature, pH, and turbidity), establishing robust data management systems to handle the expected 20,000+ wildlife-livestock-feral swine interaction detections over the 24-month monitoring period, and working with landowners and managers.

Developing and implementing comprehensive sampling protocols for pathogen and antimicrobial resistance surveillance at nine enhanced surveillance wallows across three distinct sites. Responsibilities include assisting with collecting and processing 576 environmental samples annually (288 per year) using Moore swabs, sediment collection, cheese cloth environmental sampling, and perimeter sampling with environmental bootie

Laboratory processing for Salmonella isolation , Leptospira detection via qPCR, and antimicrobial resistance gene screening. The individual will establish wildlife trapping protocols for targeted capture of mesomammals (primarily raccoons and opossums), including proper animal handling, biological sample collection (blood and rectal swabs), and coordination with immobilization procedures.

Conducting preliminary network analyses of camera trap data to quantify temporal overlap coefficients and species interaction patterns that will inform pathogen transmission risk assessments and support the overall project goal of developing comprehensive species interaction networks for identifying high-risk transmission pathways.

Maintain all field supplies, including inventory supply