| Location | Athens, GA |
Posting Details
Position Details
Posting Number G/R34329P Working Title Postdoctoral Research Associate- Sundaram Department VetMed-Precision One Health About the University of Georgia
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.
About the College/Unit/Department
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.
College/Unit/Department website Employment Type Employee Additional Schedule Information
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Advertised Salary Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, with a minimum anticipated salary of $55,000. Anticipated Start Date 10/01/2026 Posting Date 08/11/2026 Closing Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicants
Application Instructions
Applications should be submitted through the University of Georgia Jobs website.
Applicants should upload:
Cover letter (maximum two pages)
Curriculum vitae
Contact information for three professional references
One representative publication
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Location of Vacancy Athens Area EOO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.
Duties/Responsibilities
Duties/Responsibilities
Prepare manuscripts and disseminate research findings
Percentage of time 20 Duties/Responsibilities
Develop predictive models of wildlife and zoonotic outbreaks
Percentage of time 20 Duties/Responsibilities
Conduct statistical, spatial, and machine learning analyses
Percentage of time 25 Duties/Responsibilities
Develop and curate wildlife pathogen and outbreak databases
Percentage of time 20 Duties/Responsibilities
Generate and manage GIS and spatial environmental datasets
Percentage of time 15
Position Details
Position Information
Classification Title Post-Doctoral Associate AD FLSA Exempt UGA Job Code FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications Position Summary
The Sundaram Laboratory within the Precision One Health Initiative in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the ecology of animal reservoirs and wildlife infectious disease outbreaks, and how these processes shape the emergence of zoonotic diseases in humans.
Research in the laboratory seeks to answer fundamental questions such as:
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to pursue these and related questions while contributing to a growing research program integrating disease ecology, macroecology, epidemiology, machine learning, and spatial modeling.
Research Responsibilities:The successful candidate will contribute to the following research activities: Develop and curate global databases of wildlife reservoirs, pathogen occurrence, and infectious disease outbreaks. Create, process, and integrate environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic GIS layers relevant to pathogen transmission and reservoir ecology. Conduct spatial, statistical, and machine learning analyses to identify ecological drivers of pathogen persistence, wildlife outbreaks, and zoonotic spillover. Develop predictive models linking wildlife disease dynamics with human zoonotic outbreaks. Publish findings in leading scientific journals.Projects span a broad range of pathogens and host systems, providing considerable flexibility for the successful candidate to pursue their own scientific interests while contributing to a larger research program focused on understanding and predicting zoonotic disease emergence. The position offers extensive opportunities to develop expertise in GIS, spatial statistics, machine learning, macroecology, and large-scale ecological databases.
Funding is currently available for five years. The position will be based at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where the Principal Investigator is located.
About the Laboratory: The successful candidate will be mentored by Dr. Mekala Sundaram, Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, with a joint appointment at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Research in the Sundaram Laboratory integrates ecology, epidemiology, spatial analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling to understand pathogen reservoirs, wildlife disease outbreaks, and zoonotic disease emergence. Current projects span wildlife reservoir forecasting, outbreak prediction, infectious disease ecology, and spatial epidemiology. More information can be found on mekalasundaram.com and on google scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=dJm8OQQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao). Our laboratory values scientific curiosity, collaboration, independence, and mentorship. We strive to provide postdoctoral scholars with the freedom to develop their own research ideas while receiving close mentorship in publishing, grant writing, scientific communication, and career development.
Application Instructions
Applications should be submitted through the University of Georgia Jobs website.
Applicants should upload:
Cover letter (maximum two pages)
Curriculum vitae
Contact information for three professional references
One representative publication
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification in Position
The ideal candidate will have experience with one or more of the following:
Experience in disease ecology, macroecology, wildlife ecology, epidemiology, spatial ecology, biogeography, or related quantitative disciplines is desirable. Experience working with large georeferenced datasets is particularly advantageous.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies Physical Demands Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Is driving a requirement of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Background Investigation Policy
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.
Contact Information
Recruitment Contact
Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Mekala Sundaram Recruitment Contact Email msundara@uga.edu Recruitment Contact Phone
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Optional Documents