USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sugarcane Integrated Pest Management
*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 Houma, Louisiana at the Sugarcane Research Unit (SRU). The primary research location will be the research facility and farm at SRU’s Schriever, Louisiana location.
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.
SRU utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to develop improved varieties and environmentally friendly production strategies that will ensure industry profitability, expand the cropping range, and combat a constantly evolving pest complex that includes diseases, insects, and weeds.
Research Project: Under the guidance of a mentor, the postdoctoral research fellow will participate in collaborative research to evaluate sugarcane varieties for insect pest resistance, with particular emphasis on Lepidopteran stem borers. Areas of research will include evaluating how both insect pests and natural enemies interact with different plant traits to inform resistance levels, impacts on crop yield, and interactions with agronomic practices. Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will conduct independent research in field, laboratory, and greenhouse settings as well as participate in muti-disciplinary, multi-institutional team-based research efforts to select new varieties and assess developing pest issues. The fellow will have the opportunity to analyze and present their data at conferences and stakeholder events. Additionally, the fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate on related research including eDNA detection methods and mapping populations across the growing region.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will gain experience in:
- Cooperating with ARS, University, and industry scientists to evaluate varietal resistance
- Conducting independent research aimed at assessing plant traits and trophic interactions underlying insect pest resistance
- Performing in a multidisciplinary group to evaluate integrated pest management at a system level
- Participating in studies aimed at managing stem borers at a landscape scale
- Preparing and submitting peer-reviewed publications
- Preparing and presenting presentations at scientific and stakeholder meetings
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Dr. Hannah J. Penn (hannah.penn@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as possible. 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 $73,939 yearly.
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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.
Preferred skills:
- Experience in scientific writing and being in both a laboratory and field setting
- Knowledge of statistical analyses such as those conducted in R, JMP, ARM, or SAS
- Knowledge of laboratory methods and machinery such as using a pipette, stereo microscope, centrifuge, electronic balance, hot plate, etc.
- Experience with DNA extraction and amplification or GIS (for work on related research)
Stipend
$73,939.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.