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Veterinary Research Institute: Career Opportunities for 2026

The Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) is embarking on a transformative five-year strategic plan, positioning 2026 as a pivotal year for expansion and scientific recruitment. Our institute, with its century-long legacy in combating diseases like Rift Valley Fever and developing critical diagnostics for avian influenza, is scaling its operations to address contemporary challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and climate-impacted zoonoses. This growth is directly fueled by new federal funding initiatives aimed at bolstering national biosecurity and livestock sustainability, creating a dynamic landscape for veterinary research careers.

Our 2026 career initiatives are designed to build integrated, cross-disciplinary teams. We are moving beyond traditional silos to establish new programs in One Health analytics, molecular epidemiology, and advanced therapeutics. This means we are not just hiring for existing vacancies but strategically creating new roles that blend field epidemiology with data science, and clinical veterinary medicine with genomics. Professionals joining us in this phase will be foundational members of these initiatives, with opportunities to contribute to grant writing, project design, and the establishment of new laboratory protocols from the ground up.

Anticipated Job Openings in 2026

Based on approved budgetary allocations and projected grant funding, we anticipate a significant wave of Veterinary Research Institute job opportunities in the latter half of 2025 and throughout 2026. A primary focus will be on our new Zoonotic Spillover Prediction Unit, which will require senior epidemiologists with geospatial modeling experience and field technicians skilled in wildlife sampling and biocontainment procedures. Concurrently, our vaccine development program is seeking virologists and immunologists proficient in reverse genetics and adjuvant formulation to advance our pipeline for livestock coronaviruses.

Furthermore, to support our core diagnostic and surveillance mandate, we will be recruiting for several permanent and contract positions. These include molecular diagnosticians to operate next-generation sequencing platforms, quality assurance officers to maintain ISO 17025 accreditation across our regional labs, and veterinary pathologists for detailed disease investigation. We also foresee openings for science communicators and project managers to bridge the gap between research findings and stakeholder implementation, ensuring our work directly informs policy and on-farm practice. All prospective candidates are encouraged to regularly check our official careers portal, as these Veterinary Research Institute vacancies will be posted there with detailed qualification requirements and application procedures.