USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Fermentation
Application Deadline
6/5/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*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 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: The Healthy Processed Foods Research (HPFR) unit is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to assist in research regarding fermentation science and engineering. The goal of the project is to transform agricultural crops and their by-products into value-added food ingredients and enhance their functional, nutritional, and sensory properties through fermentation technologies. The long-term vision is to enable the development of health-oriented food products formulated with health-promoting ingredients. In collaboration with the Food Technologists and Flavor Chemist, you will assist in research focused on topic areas such as precision fermentation, food processing, and process engineering to design and improve processes that improve food ingredient functionality and create unique flavor profiles and remove the off flavors.
Learning Objectives: During the appointment, you will be able to learn from multi-disciplinary researchers from universities and ARS through collaborative research projects. Establishing collaborations with food technologists, chemists, and agricultural engineers will help you train and grow as an expert in the field. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn to:
- Develop expertise in designing and conducting experiments involving bioconversion of feedstock and/or agricultural waste
- Acquire skills needed to improve efficiency, yield, and performance in advanced fermentation processes
- Build proficiency in operating and utilizing processing equipment used in food production, such as in alternative protein production
- Gain scientific communication skills through publications and presentation of research findings
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yixiang Xu (yixiang.xu@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Mid May, 2026. 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 $87,803 annually.
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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, etc.). Degree must have been earned in the past five years.
Preferred skills:
- Demonstrated ability to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals
- Experience in bioprocess optimization and scale-up
- Ability to research independently, troubleshoot complex biological systems, and communicate clearly in a collaborative environment
Stipend
$87,803.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).