Assistant/Associate Professor of Infectious Disease

This is a 12-month, tenure-track position with a predominately research-focused appointment. Specific distribution of effort among research, teaching, and non-directed service is negotiable. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in working across disciplines and collaborating broadly in areas that are potentially synergistic with existing departmental and college faculty strengths in animal and zoonotic infectious diseases. The successful candidate will develop and apply mathematical, computational, and statistical models to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases. This work will involve the integration of diverse data streams, including agent and pathogenesis studies, epidemiological, geographic, environmental, and movement data. Models may be used to forecast disease outbreaks, quantify drivers of disease spread, evaluate surveillance and intervention strategies, and support real-time outbreak response. The modeler will collaborate closely with government, industry, and academic partners and play a key role in translating modeling results into actionable recommendations for stakeholders. This position provides exceptional opportunities to engage with Kansas State University's Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology (CORE) as well as the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID), enabling close integration of infectious disease modeling with high-containment research, animal models, and outbreak preparedness initiatives.

The Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is a leader in infectious disease prevention and control, combining cutting-edge research, data-driven decision-making, and strong partnerships with national and international stakeholders.

Kansas State University is a major land-grant research university located in Manhattan KS, a dynamic collegiate community of approximately 50,000 in the scenic Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. The department, university, and community provide an excellent research environment. Our multidisciplinary teams operate at the interface of animal and human health, integrating epidemiology, mathematical modeling, computational biology, bioinformatics, and other disciplines to address urgent global health challenges. A key focus is the epidemiology and ecology of infectious diseases in animal and human populations, leveraging diverse datasets, advanced analytical methods, and innovative modeling approaches to study transmission dynamics and design effective control measures. Our research portfolio spans animal, zoonotic, foodborne, vector-borne and transboundary pathogens. We collaborate extensively with federal partners such as the USDA ARS National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility located in Manhattan, state agencies including the Kansas Department of Agriculture, as well as industry and academic institutions.

Manhattan consistently ranks as one of the top college-towns in the nation offering a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities in a friendly and welcoming community. The university offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, and liberal paid leave time. A complete listing of benefits can be viewed at: https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/benefits.

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must hold a PhD in Epidemiology, Applied Mathematics, Computational Biology, Applied Statistics, or a related discipline, with demonstrated expertise in infectious disease modeling and experience in the development and application of mathematical and statistical models. Proficiency in relevant programming or modeling languages such as R, Python, or C++ is required, along with a strong publication record and excellent communication skills for interdisciplinary work.

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:

• Preferred qualifications include experience modeling zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases, integration of spatial, environmental, or movement data into modeling frameworks, and a track record of real-time modeling for outbreak response. Familiarity with livestock or food production systems and experience engaging with government, industry, or international partners on disease control policy are considered strong assets.

Please submit the following documents:

• Interested candidates should submit a cover letter that includes specific information relevant to the applicant's ability to meet the qualifications, a statement of research interests and goals, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for at least three references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation. Applications can be made online at https://www.k-state.edu/hcs/careers/.

Applications close on: 03/11/2026

$110,000 - $140,000