*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency with a mission to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
Research Project: The USDA-ARS Nematology Laboratory located at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina conducts research to develop new management tools to help U.S. growers manage nematode pests of vegetable crops. We are seeking a post-doctoral research fellow to help conduct research experiments that will contribute to the identification and development of new tools to manage the invasive Guava Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii). The participant will have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from a multidisciplinary team of geneticists, pathologists, chemists, and bioinformaticians in both laboratory and field settings. In so doing, the postdoc will research new mechanisms of resistance against root-knot nematodes in diverse host crops, research and test new phenotyping and detection tools to accelerate vegetable breeding efforts, and explore fundamental biological questions regarding the invasive nature of M. enterolobii.
Learning Objectives: The post-doctoral fellow will have opportunities to develop scientific writing skills by helping to write manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals. Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will:
- Learn and apply new techniques for phenotyping and evaluating vegetable germplasm for resistance to root-knot nematodes.
- Learn and apply techniques for genotyping plant germplasm, mapping phenotypes, and developing genetic markers.
- Learn and apply new techniques for detecting nematodes in commercial nursery stocks.
- Learn and apply new techniques for evaluating the efficacy of nematicides against root-knot nematodes.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is William Rutter (William.Rutter@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2024, when soonest available. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 6 months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full time or part time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.
ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and ARS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.
Depending on the research project objectives, the selected candidate may need to operate a government owned vehicle (GOV) and will be required to show proof of a valid U.S. State Driver’s License and provide proof of an active U.S. auto insurance policy.
Preferred skills:
- Preferred qualifications include experience and/or education in the fields of nematology and/or plant protection.
- A history of authorship on peer-reviewed publications.
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.