What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Summer Fellowship in Enhancing Disease Resistance in Cucurbit Crops position at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?
*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 Charleston, South Carolina.
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: This appointment is part of the “Cucurbit Coordinated Agricultural Project (CucCAP) Harnessing Genomic Resources for Disease Resistance and Management in Cucurbit Crops – Bringing the Tools to the Field” project. The project objective is to implement field phenotyping and genomic technologies to improve watermelon and melon germplasm with resistance to diseases like Fusarium wilt, powdery mildew and/or downy mildew of melon and watermelon. This project offers a unique challenge in implementing field research, phenotyping, and genomic technologies in enhancing disease resistance in melon and watermelon cultivars using germplasm collected in the wild. The participant will be assigned to the project to assist in field and greenhouse research. Activities will include field and greenhouse research in evaluating genetic populations of melon and watermelon for disease resistance and fruit qualities. The participant will learn and assist in phenotyping and collection of data useful for genomic prediction, and is expected to produce quality data suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The participant will be mentored by a plant geneticist/breeder and a plant pathologist, at USDA-ARS and the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center (CREC) in Charleston, SC.
Learning Objectives: As part of this opportunity, the participant will gain:
- Knowledge and experience in pollinating and breeding vegetable crops
- Knowledge and skills in field and greenhouse operation
- Knowledge in experimental design and analysis, statistics, computer software.
In addition, the participant will gain experience communicating within the network of the cucurbit community.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Amnon Levi (amnon.levi@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for six months, 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.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
