USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Poultry Air Quality
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A postdoctoral research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit (PPPSRU), located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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: USDA/ARS in Fayetteville, AR is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to help conduct multidisciplinary research on reducing ammonia, dust, and pathogens from the air in poultry rearing facilities using a state of art air scrubber. The successful candidate will contribute to research projects focused on the development of management practices to reduce air and water pollution from manure, while improving the fertilizer value of this important resource.
Research activities will involve studies on agronomy, atmospheric science, engineering, environmental science, microbiology, poultry science, soil science, and water quality. Projects include measurements of atmospheric ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions, airborne dust and pathogens, nutrient runoff, soil chemistry, and factors affecting poultry production. The fellowship will include research conducted in the laboratory, field and poultry houses.
The postdoctoral fellow will perform both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team, contribute to experimental design and data analysis, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in the communication of results to scientific and stakeholder audiences.
Learning Objectives: This fellowship provides opportunities to develop an independent research profile while contributing to applied solutions for improving air, soil, and water quality, while also increasing the sustainability of poultry production. Through this fellowship, the successful applicant will gain hands-on experience and develop expertise in both laboratory and applied field research. The fellow will have the opportunity to learn and refine skills in the following areas:
- Field and Laboratory Study Setup and Maintenance: The fellow will learn how to design, set up, and maintain field and laboratory experiments, gaining practical experience in managing research projects.
- Air, Manure, Plant, Soil, and Water Sample Collection and Analysis: The participant will be trained in the collection, processing, and analysis of air, manure, plant, soil, and water samples using chemical, microbiological, and physical methods. This includes measurement and quantification of ammonia, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the air; along with nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals in manure, plant, soil, and water samples.
- Preparation of Laboratory Materials: The fellow will learn to prepare test solutions, culture media, and reagents, ensuring proper laboratory protocols and procedures are followed.
- Safe Handling of Laboratory Materials: Training will include proper labeling, handling, storage, use, and disposal of solutions, biohazard and hazardous waste, emphasizing laboratory safety and compliance.
- Data Documentation and Record-Keeping: The participant will develop skills in maintaining accurate records using a laboratory notebook, learning best practices for data documentation and management.
- Summarizing and Interpreting Research Results: The fellow will gain experience in analyzing and interpreting research findings, contributing to scientific understanding and advancing their ability to communicate results effectively.
Through these activities, the fellow will expand their knowledge and skill set in agronomy, air quality, engineering, microbiology, poultry science, soil science, and data collection and analysis. This comprehensive training will prepare them for future research opportunities and careers in environmental research and agricultural sciences.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Philip Moore (philip.moore@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Preferably April 1, 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 $70,000 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.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 last four years, in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- The ideal candidate for this fellowship would be a highly motivated individual who enjoys conducting experiments and writing scientific journal articles.
Stipend
$70,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.