USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship – Evaluating the Epidemiology of Ramularia crupinae

*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 Frederick, Maryland.

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: This postdoctoral fellow will investigate host-pathogen interactions, seed colonization potential, and field dispersal patterns of the recently released biological control agent, Ramularia crupinae, targeting the invasive weed common crupina (Crupina vulgaris). The fellow will collaborate with a multistate research group (federal agencies, universities, and tribal nations) that are currently performing field trials in the western United States.

Learning Objectives: The participant will learn advanced laboratory procedures related to plant pathology, weed science, and biological control; understand the purpose and use of biological control methods; participate in hands-on research with microbial-based weed biological control agents; and collaborate with a team of scientists and technical support staff to achieve group goals.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Matthew Tancos (matthew.tancos@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 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.Northeast@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. 

Preferred skills:

• Experience in molecular biology, qPCR, and effective communication skills.
• Experience with fungal transformation and microscopy is beneficial.

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.