BSL-3 Training Program
June 9 – June 20, 2024
Now Accepting Applications!
The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) BSL-3 Training Program for Research Support Personnel is designed to provide introductory BSL-3/BSL-3 Ag training to research personnel, either current federal staff; research fellows; recent graduates from U.S. universities (BS, MS) and current enrolled college students (BS, MS and PhD) with career interests in USDA Agricultural Research Service who want to attain additional training and knowledge in the area of high-containment research as potential career choice.
The CEEZAD training program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) -Agricultural Research Service and is directed at highly motivated BS/MS level research support personnel interested in research and careers in the field of high consequence, transboundary and zoonotic diseases of animals. The two-week program consists of one week of hands-on and classroom training at the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI; https://www.bri.k-state.edu/) at Kansas State University and the second week with in-person and virtual presentations from area industry partners and seminars/lectures from national and international subject matter experts in high containment research and transboundary animal diseases.
The BRI, located adjacent to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) contains an Education and Training area which includes a training laboratory with equipment that simulates BSL-3 research practices. Both, the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Disease Center (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.
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizenship or Green card holders (eligible for ORISE fellowships)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale (for the respective BS and/or MS degrees)
Program Goals
- Demonstrating an understanding of pathogen risk group classifications and biosafety levels
- Identifying potential risks associated with executing standard laboratory practices
- Engage in laboratory practices that reduce the potential for aerosol exposures
- Identifying areas of potential vulnerabilities in the laboratory ecosystem/network to include how technology introduction may impact laboratory operations (cybersecurity), safety, security, and overall laboratory capability
- Demonstrating essential biocontainment practices for use in BSL3, ABSL3 and BSL3 Ag settings.
Successful applicants will receive a travel stipend (up to $2,500; depending on home base) to cover transportation (to and from Manhattan, Kansas), lodging and per diem expenses. Applicants residing in or near the Manhattan, Kansas, area may not be eligible to receive a travel stipend. An on-campus housing option is available.
A certificate of completion for the program will be provided to signify the student/participant has attended the program and is familiar with basic knowledge of working in BSL-3 environments. (Note: This is not a certification program.)
Please note that this program is in-person following CDC/KSU COVID-19 rules and recommendations. Masks are optional for all individuals on KSU and CDC guidelines.
All applications must be submitted by: Monday, March 4, 2024
For More Information, Please Contact:
E-mail: ceezad@ksu.edu; kcortes@vet.k-state.edu
APPLY HERE:
Submissions Are Now Closed
Program Overview
Week 1: Classroom and hands-on BSL-3 training at the BRI
The first week 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:
- 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;
- Identify areas of potential vulnerabilities in the laboratory ecosystem/network to include how technology introduction may impact laboratory operations (cybersecurity), safety, security, and overall laboratory capability;
- Demonstrate essential biocontainment practices for use in BSL-3, ABSL-3 and BSL-3Ag settings.
Week 2: Industry overview and Speaker series
The second week will include presentations by industry experts on R&D projects and industry perspectives for veterinary products as well as lectures by academic and government experts in the fields of high biocontainment research and transboundary animal diseases. Topics covered may include:
- Careers in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry
- Careers in high-containment research and development
- Necropsy in high-containment research
- Rift Valley Fever virus
- Japanese Encephalitis virus
- Monkeypox virus
- Foot and Mouth Disease virus
- African Swine Fever virus
- SARS-CoV-2 mitigation strategies
- Arboviral diseases of livestock
- Research in a BSL-4 environment (Ebola, CCHV, Nipah, or similar)
- Research at Plum Island Animal Disease Center
- Future projects at NBAF
All participants will be required to submit a final written report at the end of the program.