As its mission, the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology (PHP) strives to prepare today’s veterinary, undergraduate, and graduate students to respond to current and future challenges in both veterinary and human medicine. We serve national and global endeavors focused on food animal production, veterinary medicine and human medicine through excellence in teaching, high impact research and discovery, veterinary clinical sciences, and extension/engagement.

We orient our research to the One Health approach focused on the areas of pathology, immunology/infectious disease, farm and food animal medicine (swine, poultry and ruminant), and epidemiology/global health benefiting both animal and human populations. Our high standards of excellence position us as leaders in the Veterinary College, North Carolina State University, and profession. The College has gained international recognition on the strength of its teaching, research, engagement, and patient care efforts and is ranked 3rd among the nation’s colleges of veterinary medicine in the current U.S. News & World Report survey.
Located on 180 acres near downtown Raleigh, the College encompasses 20 buildings on the main Centennial Biomedical Campus. Instruction is in three departments—Clinical Sciences, Molecular Biomedical Sciences, and Population Health and Pathobiology. In addition to the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, there are programs leading to master and doctoral degrees in several areas with numerous opportunities for specialization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within NC State’s PHP department, the Crisci lab seeks a highly motivated, passionate PostDoc to lead a new interdisciplinary USDA NIFA IDEAS-funded project called “PreProPRRSV”. This project aims to control one of the most devastating diseases affecting the global pig industry – the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The project combines PRRS virus (PRRSV) forecasting technology with vaccine efficacy prediction to enable precision animal management and to better prevent PRRSV outbreaks. The successful candidate will mainly be responsible for establishing the vaccine efficacy prediction part of this interdisciplinary project. Amongst others, the candidate will plan and conduct pig trials, develop an immune biobank, establish lab techniques, perform T-cell restimulation assays, lead and perform advanced immune and viral studies, engage in farm/extension activities, and perform PRRSV isolations. The candidate will collaborate with the Gustavo’s Machado lab for the forecasting portion of the project and will interact with the pig industry (extension) for sample collection, and to provide feedback on the outcome and performance of PreProPRRSV. Additional duties would include writing and editing manuscripts/articles as well as providing educational guidance to students.

The ideal candidate would have a background in virology and/or immunology, cell culture techniques, flow cytometry, experience with the pig model or willingness to learn pig handling and sampling. The position requires the individual to display critical thinking and independent judgement as it relates to immunology, viral research with direct guidance from the Primary Investigator. The candidate will perform research techniques, sample collection and processing and will assist in the development of the research project and hypotheses and interpret and evaluate data.


The selected individual will understand the rationale for the research and perform related experiments to test research hypotheses. Research activities include independent management of the research project, method development, and designing and carrying out experiments. The applicant will be expected to independently lead and manage the project. It is anticipated that the candidate will contribute to preliminary data, for both small to moderate intramural and major extramural research grant proposals.

Other duties as assigned

n/a

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.