USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow in Research Entomology
*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 Byron, Georgia.
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 Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station is to enhance the production, value, and safety of pecan, peach, nectarine, and plum crops. The postdoctoral fellow will help in implementing experiments to develop novel methods of controlling economically important pests of pecan and peach. Target pests will include (but not limited to) pecan weevil, pecan aphids, hickory shuckworm, and spotted lanternfly. Methods will be focused on microbial biocontrol approaches, especially involving entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi. Innovative methods of production, formulation and application of entomopathogens will be developed. Fundamental studies to understand basic entomopathogen biology and ecology will also be investigated. The Postdoctoral Fellow will interact and collaborate with team members and stakeholders.
Learning Objectives: He/she will acquire training in advanced studies on insect pest management as well as microbial biocontrol theory and practice.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is David Shapiro-Ilan (David.Shapiro@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 20, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for two years, 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 is $6,223 monthly. A health insurance supplement will be included.
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.HQPostdoc@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Entomology or Nematology or in a related discipline such as biology).
Preferred skills:
- microbiology, plant science or agronomy.
Stipend
$6,223.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.