To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

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
• A copy of an abstract or reprint of an article

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

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*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 at USDA ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit, Mississippi State, in Starkville, Mississippi.

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 long-term objective of the research unit is to identify and develop corn germplasm with resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and the subsequent accumulation of aflatoxin and resistance to insect damage using both conventional breeding methods and marker assisted breeding. 

Learning Objectives: The participant will partner with the mentor to learn more about:

• Conducting phenotype trials related to maize breeding and genetics.
• Marker-trait association analysis and RNA-Seq analysis to identify genetic variations associated with desirable traits
• Preparation of data for scientific technical reports and manuscripts.
• Current scientific advancement by reading literature and attending supervisor approved meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Ebrahiem Babiker (ebrahiem.babiker@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 2025. 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 will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend is approximately $72,000 annually with a health insurance supplement.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens 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.

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

• In-depth professional knowledge and expertise in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, plant pathology, agronomy, and statistical analysis.
• Experience in conducting plant breeding and genetics research that results in publications in peer reviewed journals.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (7 )
• Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).