USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genomics and Bioinformatics: Small Fruit Breeding

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this opportunity will remain open until filled.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A postdoctoral research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit (HCPGIRU) located in Corvallis, Oregon.

The ARS is the USDA's chief in-house scientific 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. 

USDA-ARS-HCPGIRU offices and laboratories are located on Oregon State University (OSU) campus and the mission of our unit is to develop fundamental and applied knowledge used to enhance plant health and quality, environmental stewardship, and economic sustainability for the efficient production of horticultural crops. We focus on the Pacific Northwest small fruit and nursery industries using multi-disciplinary approaches to research and cultivar development. The participant will be involved with the small fruits plant breeding programs and will focus on caneberries (blackberry and raspberry).

Research Project: The primary research focus will be developing genomic tools for small fruit with a focus on blackberry and raspberry, and using these tools to explore the genetic control of traits that are targets for selection in USDA-ARS-HCPGIRU breeding program. Specifically, this opportunity will involve 1) assisting in assembly, annotation, and comparative analysis of Rubus plant genome sequences; 2) generating and analyzing high-throughput sequence or genome-wide molecular marker data for physically and genetically mapping traits of interest; 3) interacting with the Breeding Insight team to coordinate trait measurements, DNA marker genotyping, and genomic prediction for target traits; 4) assist in other small fruit breeding efforts at USDA-ARS-HCPGIRU. The postdoctoral researcher will be advised by Dr. Michael Hardigan (Research Geneticist and caneberry breeder) and have opportunities to develop skills in applied breeding, genetics, and bioinformatics by participating in or designing studies, publishing peer-reviewed papers, collaborating with scientists at the USDA-ARS, OSU, and other institutions nationally and internationally, and attending and presenting research at professional meetings.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this program, expected learning outcomes are: expertise researching with polyploid plant genomes, comparative genomic analysis of Rubus species, implementation of genome-wide association and genomic prediction in caneberry breeding populations, and share scientific results through presentations and publications.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Michael Hardigan (michael.hardigan@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a qualified candidate is identified.  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 an additional year 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 participant will receive an annual stipend of $78.044.  

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.PacificWest@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, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by May 30, 2024. Degree must have been received within the last five years.

Preferred skills:

• Experience in design, conduct, and statistical analysis of experiments and management of large datasets
• Demonstrated scientific writing skills via publication record
• Background in genomics and bioinformatics:
  • Experience handling and analyzing sequence and molecular marker data
  • Basic coding in R and Python/Perl
  • Familiarity with current bioinformatic and statistical genetic software packages
  • Ability to access and perform data analysis on remote computing clusters
• Experience with phenotypic evaluation and recording of plant traits
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Ability to research independently and as part of a team with diverse perspectives
• Demonstrated organizational skills and project management experience including field trials and laboratory based projects

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/30/2024 11:59:00 PM.