USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Fruit and Microgreens

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-2020-0205
How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

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Application Deadline
2/15/2021 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.

ARS Office/Lab and LocationA research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Food Quality Laboratory located in Beltsville, Maryland.

Research ProjectThroughout the course of this research project, the participant will contribute to the design and implementation of experiments in the laboratory and greenhouse analyzing fruit and microgreens (young leafy vegetables) growth, quality and phytochemical accumulation after physical or chemical treatments/stresses and underlying gene changes in response to the stresses. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will: 1) contribute to the diligent and timely design and implementation of experiments; 2) complete data analysis and interpretation; 3) prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

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 the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.

Learning ObjectivesThe participant will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills in areas including molecular biology, biochemistry and plant physiology.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Tianbao Yang (tianbao.yang@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 1, 2021.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant(s) 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). Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

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 USDA-ARS@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, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

  • Hands-on experience with analytical chemistry such as HPLC, as well as horticulture techniques
  • Additional experience working in molecular biology and bioinformatics 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work well in a collaborative research atmosphere
Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 1/1/2021 11:59:00 PM.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (8 )
  • Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).