Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Analytical Chemist)
*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), at the Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) located in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.
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: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will conduct research on targeted and non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food and food contact materials. The participant will be a part of method development, validation and application of novel methods for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food and food packaging, develop and validate new analytical methods for PFAS quantitative analysis using gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry instruments, conduct research on screening and non-targeted identification of PFAS with high resolution mass spectrometry instruments, perform sample preparation, instrumental and data analysis, and write scientific per-reviewed manuscripts and reports.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn to conduct research in the food safety arena, gain new knowledge on developing novel advanced analytical techniques for food safety monitoring; and evaluate the analytical performance aspects of different types of advanced instrumentation. This research will give the postdoctoral scientist exceptional hands-on knowledge and skills involving the use of advanced analytical tools that will be invaluable to their future career development.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yelena Sapozhnikova (yelena.sapozhnikova@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 5, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year with the possibility to extend based on funding.
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 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.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 (Analytical/Environmental Chemistry or a closely related field). Degree must have been received within the past four years.
Preferred skills:
- Knowledge and experience in operating chromatography-mass spectrometry instruments (triple quadrupole, Orbitrap)
- Experience and skills in sample preparation
- Working knowledge of statistical analysis, data handling and data analysis
- Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills – ability to be self-motivated and to perform both independently and in a team environment
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with good publication record
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 48 month(s).