USDA-ARS Fellowship to Reduce Mycotoxin Contamination in Crops
*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), Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology (MPM) Research Unit, located in 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.
Research Project: Mycotoxins produced by fungi can cause diseases and grain contamination. The mission for the MPM research unit is to enhance food safety and crop production in the U.S. and around the world. Under the guidance of a mentor, the specific research project for this opportunity will be to conduct research in characterization of plant-fungal interaction and application of RNA interference (RNAi) to reduce mycotoxin contamination and diseases in cereal crops.
Learning Objectives: This project will offer training and experience in a variety of molecular biology techniques used in studying plant-pathogen interactions. The candidate will learn to design experiments, growing fungal pathogen, DNA and RNA isolation, gene cloning and construction, growing plants and performing disease evaluation, collecting samples and conducting molecular analysis.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Guixia Hao (guixia.hao@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2025, as soon as filled. 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 $45,000 - $55,000 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.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Plant Pathology, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or be currently pursuing.
Preferred skills:
- Knowledge of molecular biology is highly desired as well as lab experience with basic molecular techniques such as DNA and RNA isolation, PCR amplification and cloning
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to communicate effectively in English
Stipend
$45,000.00 – $55,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree.