Research

USDA APHIS NBAF Scientist Training Program

The purpose of the USDA APHIS NBAF Scientist Training Program, or NSTP, is to build the necessary technical and subject matter expertise to support the
Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, or FADDL, at the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. In addition to serving as an international reference laboratory for foot and mouth disease virus and a national reference laboratory for other foreign animal diseases such as classical swine fever and African swine fever viruses, FADDL’s mission will expand to include emerging and zoonotic diseases, including biosafety level-4 pathogens.

NSTP fellows will receive the following for a maximum of five years:

  • Full tuition and supplementary support to complete a master's, doctorate, or DVM/Ph.D. program in target laboratory-based fields of study such as microbiology, virology, molecular biology, diagnostics, and bioinformatics.

  • A stipend of $50,000 annually for Ph.D. or DVM/Ph.D. students; $35,000 annually for MS students and health benefits — Kansas Board of Regents graduate research assistant health insurance plan.

  • Materials and supplies — $20,000 annually.

  • Travel support — $5,000 annually.

  • Publication costs — $1,000 annually.

Successful candidates must be U.S. citizens and satisfy the following requirements:

  • Meet all requirements of the University graduate program and have been accepted into an approved graduate training program — master's, doctoral, DVM/Ph.D. at time of application to NSTP.

  • Identify a faculty mentor supportive of enrollment in NSTP.

  • Exhibit a strong interest in emerging, zoonotic and/or foreign animal diseases.

  • Be willing to commit to working at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas after degree completion for the specified time for the degree completed. Failure to complete the service commitment will require fellow to repay funding received.

Applications for NBAF Student Training Program

Applications for Fall 2022 enrollment will be due by 5 p.m. on June 10, 2022 to Miranda Schremmer, K-State Graduate School at mquint@k-state.edu.

Each student application should include:

  • A completed NSTP application form — be sure to include estimated graduation date.
  • Current CV.
  • Letter of interest written by the student — this should address applicant’s suitability for the APHIS mission specifically.
  • 3 letters of recommendation.

K-State will review the applications prior to their submission to USDA APHIS FADDL by June 15, 2022.

Download the full terms and conditions, requirements, and service commitment (PDF)

Download the application (DOCX)

Please direct questions to:

Frank Blecha, associate dean, College of Veterinary Medicine; fblecha@vet.ksu.edu

Beth Montelone, senior associate vice president for research; bethmont@k-state.edu