The CEEZAD BSL-3 Training/Transboundary Animal Diseases Summer Program is designed to introduce graduate, DVM and upper-level undergraduate students to high-containment training and to provide current practical and scientific information on select high consequence transboundary and zoonotic diseases. The program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Homeland Security and is directed at highly motivated students with a demonstrated career interest in transboundary and zoonotic diseases. The two-week program consists of one week of intensive, hands-on and classroom training at the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) at Kansas State University followed by a second week of site visits to area industry partners and seminars and lectures from national and international subject matter experts in containment research and transboundary animal diseases.
The BRI, located adjacent to the site of the future National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, has a premier Education and Training Facility including a training laboratory that contains equipment to simulate BSL-3 research practices. Both CEEZAD and the BRI are committed to training a specialized workforce to protect the nation's agriculture and public health sectors against high consequence transboundary, emerging and zoonotic diseases.
Successful applicants will receive a travel stipend up to $3,000 to cover transportation to and from Manhattan, Kan., lodging, and per diem expenses depending on individual eligibility and location. Applicants residing in or near the Manhattan, Kan. area may not be eligible to receive a travel stipend. On-campus and off-campus lodging suggestions will be provided.
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S citizenship
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
- Current enrollment as a full-time undergraduate (junior or senior), graduate student, or DVM student
- Priority will be given to students from CEEZAD-affiliated institutions
Program Overview
Week 1: June 13-17, 2016 - Classroom and hands-on BSL-3 training at the BRI
Training will address topics, techniques and essential practices to safely and successfully conduct research in a Biosafety Level-3 setting. By the end of the training the student will be able to:
Week 2: June 20-23, 2016 - Speaker series and Industry site visits
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- Demonstrate an understanding of risk group classifications and biosafety levels
- Identify potential risks associated with executing standard laboratory practices
- Engage in laboratory practices that reduce the potential for aerosol exposures
- Identify, select, and defend high containment practices required when manipulating agents and toxins
- Demonstrate essential biocontainment practices for use in BSL-3, ABSL-3, & BSL-3Ag settings
- Seminars and lectures by academic and government experts in the fields of containment research and transboundary animal diseases. Topics covered will include:
- Careers in high-containment research
- Research considerations in a BSL-4 environment
- Updates on selected transboundary diseases of animals
- Research at Plum Island Animal Disease Center/Future projects at NBAF
- Field visits to CEEZAD and Kansas State University partners in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor
Application Process
Please submit your completed application electronically to ceezad@k-state.edu. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, March 18, 2016.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Dr. Jessica Green, Program Coordinator
Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
Phone: 785-532-3175
E-mail: jlgreen@vet.k-state.edu
