Trainee Elephant Trainer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology is seeking an Instructor to join its mRNA vaccine research program targeting elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), the leading infectious cause of mortality in young Asian elephants worldwide. This position supports the laboratory's "Bench to Barn" initiative, which spans vaccine design, preclinical evaluation, and field implementation in partnership with AZA-accredited zoological institutions, veterinary collaborators, and international range-country partners.

The Instructor will play a central role in advancing second-generation EEHV vaccine candidates from preclinical development through field-based evaluation, while contributing to grant development, mentorship of trainees, and dissemination of research findings. The Instructor will work in laboratory research setting within the Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, with field-based components conducted in collaboration with AZA-accredited zoos and international range-country institutions.

The Instructor will report to the Principal Investigator of the EEHV mRNA vaccine research program. Specific responsibilities include, expansion EEHV vaccine research to design and produce second-generation vaccine candidates, conduct preclinical studies in mouse models to evaluate the immunogenicity and performance of second-generation EEHV vaccines, collaborate with veterinarians and zoo staff to implement and evaluate EEHV vaccines in elephants at institutions across the United States and in EEHV range countries, collaborate with range-country partners to establish and apply serology assays for evaluating vaccine response and identifying EEHV-vulnerable elephants, and prepare and submit any relevant early-career grant applications to support independent and collaborative research directions. In addition the candidate will assist in the development and writing of research grant applications, assist with training and mentoring incoming postdoctoral fellows and other laboratory personnel, assist with supervision of summer students and other short-term trainees, assist with the production, organization, and tracking of vaccine batches and pre-/post-vaccination elephant samples, and present research findings at national and international scientific conferences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in virology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related biomedical field.
• Postdoctoral research training/fellowship in virology, immunology, and/or vaccine development in wild-life and zoological animal species.
• Demonstrated experience in molecular biology, immunological assay development, and/or serology techniques related to elephants or other wild life.
• Record of scientific presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience mentoring or supervising trainees preferred.
• Experience with grant writing and/or extramural funding applications preferred.