USDA-ARS Molecular Biology Fellowship
Application Deadline
12/18/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A postdoctoral research opportunity focused on the development of novel detection methods for foodborne pathogenic bacteria is available at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens (CIFP) Research Unit 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: The mission of the CIFP research unit is to investigate multiple areas of safety-related problems associated with contamination of food by bacterial pathogens and includes: stress response, evolution/mutation, biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, intervention techniques, and rapid detection & identification. The research project in this subgroup focuses on the stress responses for specific foodborne pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes). Analysis is typically complicated by the complex nature of food matrices and the frequent need to develop virulence assays using different mammalian cell lines.
During the appointment, you will assist in research and development focused on one or more advanced areas of interest (e.g., molecular microbiology and biochemistry). This research will complement your academic education with the application of:
- BSL2 pathogen handling
- Genome sequencing, transcriptomics
- Bioinformatic analysis, Computational biology
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will:
- Learn about food-safety research focused on bacterial contamination and foodborne pathogens.
- Develop knowledge of stress-response mechanisms in pathogens such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Gain experience investigating pathogen evolution and mutation, biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence.
- Learn how food-matrix complexity affects the detection, characterization, and analysis of foodborne bacteria.
- Build skills in developing and conducting virulence assays using mammalian cell lines.
- Strengthen laboratory research, experimental-design, and data-analysis skills relevant to microbial food-safety studies.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Andrew Gehring (andrew.gehring@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 1, 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 $6,857/mo with an allowance of $691.68/mo for health insurance.
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 or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Sterile technique
- Knowledge of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- DNA/RNA isolation
- Basic molecular techniques
Stipend
$6,857.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.