USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship - PFAS Alternatives
Description
*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 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.
The Bio-Oils Research Unit (BOR) at the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois, focuses on developing bio-based products and technologies from both new and existing plant oils that are technically and economically competitive with or superior to petroleum-derived equivalents. The unit’s mission is to increase agricultural utilization, especially vegetable oils, to enhance rural economies and strengthen American agriculture. Research areas include new industrial vegetable oils, lubricants, biofuels, polymers, composites, adhesives, coatings, and hydrogels. This research is conducted in support of ARS National Program 306 objectives (https://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrition-food-safetyquality/product-quality-and-new-uses/). Please visit https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/peoria-il/national-center-for-agricultural-utilization-research/bio-oils-research/ for more information about the BOR unit.
Research Project: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of nonrenewable synthetic compounds that contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. PFAS exhibit outstanding biological, chemical, thermal, and physical stability. However, their durable, persistent, and mobile natures enable PFAS to accumulate virtually everywhere, including agricultural fields and crops, surface and groundwater supplies, wastewater treatment facilities, indoor air and dust, polar regions devoid of human activity, and marine and terrestrial ecosystems. As a result, these “forever chemicals” have been identified in humans, livestock, game animals, and other marine and terrestrial wildlife. Negative health effects associated with PFAS exposure include altered immune and thyroid function, liver and kidney diseases, increased serum cholesterol, obesity, insulin dysregulation, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, negative cardiovascular effects, depression, and various cancers. Therefore, safer and sustainable alternatives derived from agricultural materials are needed to address the colossal human health and environmental problems associated with PFAS production, exposure, and contamination.
A fellow will join a research project that seeks to develop new bio-based, nontoxic, and biodegradable PFAS replacements from agricultural materials for food packaging and surfactant applications, among others. Interdisciplinary collaborations and stakeholder engagement will be leveraged to maximize research impact. Outcomes from this project may improve public and ecological health by replacing persistent and toxic materials with safer alternatives. Under the guidance of a mentor, aspects of the opportunity will include:
- Review existing literature to identify gaps in knowledge in need of addressing.
- Conduct research on development of agriculturally-derived replacements for PFAS.
- Collaborate with other scientists to accomplish research objectives.
- Contribute to the development of new research ideas and hypotheses.
- Develop and/or expand skills in synthesis, polymerization, characterization, product testing, and interpretation of research findings.
- Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals.
- Present research results at scientific conferences.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will have the opportunity to:
- Understand the chemistry, environmental behavior, and toxicological impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including their persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation in agricultural and ecological systems.
- Design and synthesize bio-based, nontoxic, and biodegradable alternatives to PFAS derived from agricultural materials.
- Apply principles of materials science, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry to develop functional replacements for food packaging, surfactant, and related applications.
- Characterize material performance, stability, degradability, and safety using advanced analytical and engineering methods.
- Integrate sustainability considerations, including life-cycle thinking and green chemistry principles, into material development.
- Collaborate across disciplines and engage stakeholders to ensure research relevance, scalability, and real-world impact.
- Translate scientific innovation into practical solutions that improve public and ecological health by replacing persistent and toxic PFAS with safer alternatives.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Bryan Moser (Bryan.Moser@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 2026. 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 is $74,678 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 currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (chemistry, materials science, or engineering). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or is anticipated to receive by 8/1/2026.
Favorable skills and experiences include:
- Familiar with the design, synthesis, and evaluation of new products and materials for industrial applications.
- Synthesis (small molecule and polymerization) techniques
- Chromatographic (e.g., HPLC and GPC) and spectroscopic characterization of products (FTIR, NMR)
- Viscoelastic properties (dynamic mechanical analysis)
- Mechanical properties (tensile testing)
- Thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis)
- Coatings properties (hardness, contact angle, etc.)
- Tensiometric properties (surface tension, interfacial tension, surface energy, CMC, dynamic contact angle)
Stipend
$74,678.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 8/1/2026 11:59:00 PM.