National Association of Animal Breeders??
* Position Announcement: ?? Postdoctoral Research Geneticist*

Location:

Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL), Animal and Natural 
Resources Institute Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA

AIPL conducts research to discover, test, and implement improved genetic 
evaluation techniques for economically important traits of dairy cattle 
and goats. Research is directed at genetic improvement of efficiency of 
yield traits (milk, fat, and protein) and nonyield traits that affect 
health and profitability (longevity, conformation, fertility, calving, 
and disease resistance). AIPL is at the forefront of animal genetics and 
genomics research in livestock. 

Major duties:

         Contribute to developing and testing a more accurate genomic 
evaluation system that uses advanced, efficient methods to combine 
pedigrees, genotypes, and phenotypes for all animals in the national 
database, which includes over 68 million lactation records of 28 million 
cows, 59 million pedigree records, and 180,000 animals with genotypes 
with marker densities that range from 3,000 to 777,000.

         Contribute to priority research projects on evaluation methodology:

         Single-step (instead of multistep) methods to account for 
genomic preselection and allow more flexible modeling.

         Multitrait (instead of single-trait) models to include 
correlated traits and genetic-environmental interactions

         All-breed (instead of single-breed) genomic equations to 
include more information in marker effect estimates.

         Inclusion of genotypes from crossbred animals and differing but 
correlated marker effects across breeds.

         Related research on detecting deleterious effects and 
discovering markers particularly informative for fertility is also possible.

         Provide technical guidance to AIPL support scientists and 
computer programmers assigned for phases of research.

         Discuss research plans and progress periodically with 
collaborators and present to industry groups.

         Qualifications:

         Ph.D. in animal breeding, genetics, computational biology, or a 
related field.

         Ability to process large data files using languages such as 
Fortran, C, R, or SAS.

         Skill in writing scientific reports of research findings.

         Ability to explain genetic evaluation methodology to 
scientists, dairy industry representatives, and users of the evaluation 
system.

 

Salary and Benefits: $74,850, plus benefits

         Major Medical Insurance

         Life Insurance

         Disability

         Paid Vacation

 

Other Information:

         Duration of position is 2 years

         Position is under the general supervision the President of the 
National Association of Animal Breeders, who provides guidance and 
occasional projects.

         A staff of three senior and five support AIPL scientists 
provides mentorship and computational resources.

         Molecular genetics support is provided by the Bovine Functional 
Genomics Laboratory.

 

Contact:

Dr. Gordon A. Doak, President

National Association of Animal Breeders (www.naab-css.org 
<http://www.naab-css.org>) P.O. Box 1033 Columbia, MO 65205, USA

573-445-4406 (voice)

573-446-2279 (fax)

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