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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. 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.

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

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Western Regional Research Center (WRRC) located in Albany, California.

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: Food allergy prevalence is increasing rapidly, and the problem affects not only allergic patients and their families but also the general public. The negative impact of food allergy on the agriculture and food industry is becoming increasingly severe. Thus, there is a need to define, characterize, and mitigate food allergens.

The participant(s) will be stationed in a laboratory at the WRRC and carry on a project that includes 1) identification of new allergens; 2) producing/purifying and characterizing food allergens.

Learning Objectives: In the mentor's laboratory, the selected candidate(s) will have the opportunity to practice cloning, expression and purification of recombinant food allergens, and develop methods for allergen detection and characterization.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yuzhu Zhang (yuzhu.zhang@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2022. Start date subject to change based on a variety of reasons, and start date may be flexible to accommodate the needs of a qualified candidate. 

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

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-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, 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 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.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Candidates with hands-on experience in protein chemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, and small animal care are encouraged to apply.  

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (5 )