USDA-ARS Postharvest Research Opportunity
*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 the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, 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.
The San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center is part of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) which is the research branch of the United States Department of Agriculture. The facility was completed in 2000 on a 130-acre tract of land which includes 100 acres of agricultural land that is used for research. The center is located in the San Joaquin Valley of California, which is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/parlier/sjvasc/
Research Project: Our laboratory focuses on postharvest plant pathology in tree fruit. The goal of our research is to develop effective strategies for controlling postharvest diseases while maintaining fruit quality during storage and transport. The participant will contribute to ongoing research evaluating the efficacy of various postharvest treatments, including chemical, biological, and physical measures to mitigate fruit decay caused by fungal pathogens. The main activities of this opportunity include, but are not limited to:
- Pathogen isolation and identification: Collect fruit samples exhibiting decay symptoms and isolate fungal pathogens using standard microbiological techniques. Identification is conducted based on both morphological and molecular methods. Prepare fungal specimens for long-term storage at -80°C.
- Fungicide sensitivity assays: Examine the sensitivity of fungal pathogens to various fungicides using in vitro and in vivo assays.
- Efficacy trials: Apply postharvest treatments to fruit and monitor disease incidence, lesion development, and overall fruit quality after storage.
- Data collection and analysis: Record experimental data, perform statistical analyses, and contribute to the interpretation of results.
Learning Objectives: The participant will be provided with opportunities to receive hands-on experience in research involving in plant pathology and mycology studies, including fungal isolation, culture media preparation, culture maintenance and storage, fungal species identification using PCR-based methods, fungicide sensitivity assays, and evaluation of the effects of various postharvest treatments on disease control and fruit quality.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Seiya Saito (seiya.saito@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 2025. 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 range is $39,688.00 - $49,163.00 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 be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields (Plant Pathology, Mycology, Biology, or a related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or be currently pursuing.
Stipend
$39,688.00 – $49,163.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.