USDA-ARS Research Fellowship for Entomology focused on Cotton Jassid
*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), Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, located in Tifton, Georgia. Travel for field research and conference/workshop participation will be expected within the U.S., and the candidate should be able to travel occasionally.
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 USDA-Agricultural Research Service Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory is seeking a fellow to collaborate with other Unit scientists and University collaborators, performing a wide range of activities designed to solve problems related to the two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula Ishida). The selected candidate will participate with a team of researchers and will collect samples, assemble data, and analyze datasets including direct field measurements in support of research to investigate overwintering habits, alternate plant hosts (crop and non-crop) and potential predators, that could help with pest control.
The goal of this research is to investigate overwintering habits and alternate plant hosts (crop and non-crop) and potential predators, that will be useful in developing pest control strategies. Currently the only effective management solution is to apply broad-spectrum insecticides which are highly toxic to beneficial insect populations. Specific objectives include:
- Establish a seasonal crop, non-crop, and winter cover crop host monitoring program;
- Evaluate overwintering populations of two-spot cotton leafhopper adjacent to crop fields;
- Identify seasonal succession of crop and non-crop hosts of two-spot cotton leafhopper in cotton agroecosystems;
- Design and execute an experiment to evaluate trap cropping systems for control of this pest in cotton;
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will gain experience in:
- Learning about project development and project management with USDA-ARS and University collaborators.
- Developing expertise about two-spot cotton leafhopper biology, dispersal, and behavior in agroecosystems in the southeastern USA.
- Enhancing knowledge on identification of two-spot cotton leafhopper immatures.
- Developing expertise on sampling method(s) for the two-spotted cotton leafhopper in a variety of crop and non-crop habitats.
- Contributing to a fast-moving research project aimed at addressing a quickly emerging and substantial problem in American agriculture.
- Enhancing knowledge about the development of outreach strategies and materials to benefit American farmers and scientists.
Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Dr. Glynn Tillman (glynn.tillman@usda.gov) and Dr. Alisa Coffin (alisa.coffin@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.
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 $6,223.17 monthly.
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 or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years or is anticipated to be received by 6/1/2026.
Preferred skills:
- A strong understanding of agroecological systems, with knowledge of agricultural practices, including crop and pest management.
- Experience with fieldwork for data and sample collection in agricultural settings, including various methods of insect sampling.
- Knowledge of how diverse cropping systems and habitats at landscape levels can be utilized by insects for overwintering and as breeding habitat or alternative food sources.
- Be familiar with recent developments on the introduction and spread of two spot cotton leaf hoppers in cotton crops.
- Have experience with methods for data analysis and be familiar with at least one statistical package or R.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills for proposal development, scholarly papers, and scientific presentations.
- Training in entomology with experience in analytical methods, including the processing of datasets collected directly in the field.
- A strong foundation in insect biology and ecology and entomology field methods and data analysis, with a specific focus on seasonal succession of host plants.
- Additionally, knowledge of agronomy, agricultural practices, and spatial technologies (e.g., global positioning systems – GPS) would be advantageous
Stipend
$6,223.17 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 6/1/2026 12:00:00 AM.