USDA-ARS Research Fellowship in Crop Pest Management and Genetic Improvements

*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).

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 mission of the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory is: a) to improve genetic populations of vegetable crops by combining resistance to diseases and pests (nematodes, insects, and weeds) with favored quality characters and improved yield potentials; and b) to develop knowledge on disease and pest biology, ecology, and epidemiology that can be used as a basis for the development and implementation of new, reliable, environmentally sound integrated management systems that rely on host resistance, biocontrol, and natural compounds rather than conventional pesticides. The participant will be assigned to the project to support and help conduct experiments and data collection on food production and genetic improvement of various crops, especially vegetables and fruits, under abiotic and biotic stress in controlled environment.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will assist in laboratory, greenhouse, indoor vertical farming, and field research to include: 1) Design and implement integrated pest management on emerging and important diseases on vegetable crops under controlled environments; 2) Co-develop effective disinfectants and other treatments against plant diseases and pests for sustainable crop production in controlled environment; 3) Identify and help develop new germplasm or cultivars with resistance to emerging or important diseases or pathogen-vectors using molecular-based tools or biotechnology; 4) Co-develop plant genetic materials with resistance to emerging tobamoviruses, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in tomato and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in cucurbits.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kai-Shu Ling (kai.ling@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 2024. 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.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

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 applicant must either be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields.

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree.
• Academic Level(s): Graduate Students, Post-Bachelor's, Post-Master's, or Undergraduate Students.