USDA-ARS Mitigating Vomitoxin Contamination in Corn Fellowship
Application Deadline
7/2/2027 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A Postdoctoral Research opportunity is currently available in the Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology (MPM) Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), Peoria, Illinois.
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.
The goal of the Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology (MPM) Research Unit is to enhance food safety by conducting research to develop strategies to control fungal disease in cereal crops and eliminate the risk of harmful fungal contaminants in food and feed.
Research Project: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology (MPM) Research Unit conducts research in genetics, microbiology, chemistry and plant pathology to produce information and technologies to enhance food safety and crop production in the U.S. and around the world. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with this team of scientists specifically on research aimed at mitigating vomitoxin contamination in corn. You will be involved in evaluating how abiotic factors contribute to increased corn susceptibility, conducting field and greenhouse inoculation studies, and the identification and application of mitigation strategies.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to:
- Describe interdisciplinary research approaches in genetics, microbiology, chemistry, and plant pathology to enhance food safety and crop production.
- Collaborate with scientists in the Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology (MPM) Research Unit on efforts to mitigate vomitoxin contamination in corn.
- Evaluate the impact of abiotic factors on corn susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination.
- Conduct field and greenhouse inoculation studies to assess disease development and toxin accumulation.
- Identify the application of mitigation strategies aimed at reducing vomitoxin levels in corn and improving crop resilience.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Martha Vaughan (martha.vaughan@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 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 $6,000 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.Midwest@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 one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- General microbiology techniques
- General molecular biology techniques
- Experience with fungal pathogens
- Experience in conducting plant- pathogen disease assays
Stipend
$6,000.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.