USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Meat Science and Muscle Biology

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-2022-0121
How to Apply

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A complete application consists of:

  • An application
  • Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
  • A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
  • Two educational or professional recommendations

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

Application Deadline
6/20/2022 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be 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), U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Quality & Safety Assessment Research Unit located in Athens, Georgia. 

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.

The mission of this research unit is to determine the physical, chemical, and biological properties that influence the quality and safety of various agricultural products and to develop novel measurement technologies and methodologies for assessing these properties.  Understanding the basis of emerging poultry meat quality defects is a primary research focus of the unit.

Research Project: The postdoctoral research training opportunity is in the area of meat science and muscle biology. The participant will be part of a team conducting research project(s) to determine the biochemical and structural changes that occur in the muscle tissue of poultry exhibiting breast meat myopathies as they relate to economically important meat quality characteristics. Particular emphasis will be placed on omics-based research approaches. The overall goal of the research project is to identify the underlying mechanisms by which the physical and chemical properties of myopathic broiler muscles influence quality and processing attributes of meat products and to develop strategies to reduce the impact of breast meat myopathies.

Learning ObjectivesThe selected fellow will have the opportunity to participate in all phases of the research (experimental design, logistical planning, conducting research and laboratory work, analyzing data, and reporting results). 

Mentor(s)The mentor for this opportunity is Brian Bowker (brian.bowker@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a qualified candidate is identified.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment LengthThe appointment will initially be for 12 months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of ParticipationThe appointment is full-time.

Participant StipendThe participant will receive a yearly stipend in the range of $66,000-$72,000, commensurate with educational level and experience. 

Citizenship RequirementsThis opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. 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 InformationThis 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 end of May 2022. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

  • Knowledge and experience in basic and applied muscle biology and meat science research
  • Specific knowledge of poultry production and processing
  • Experience with laboratory techniques to assess the compositional, biochemical, and structural properties of muscle tissue and techniques for assessing meat quality
  • Experience with analytical chemistry and/or -omics based approaches
  • Ability to work independently, perform statistical analysis, and to write manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2022 11:59:00 PM.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (2 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (19 )
  • Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).
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