What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Ecology of Fruit Flies position at Zintellect?
*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 Hilo, Hawaii.
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 mission of the Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit at USDA-ARS in Hilo, Hawaii is to develop pre- and postharvest technologies and management strategies for invasive pests, and to open and maintain market access and improved quality of tropical fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown in the Pacific Basin.
Research Project: The postdoctoral research associate will participate in team research to identify novel attractants of tropical fruit flies in Bactrocera, Zeugodacus, Ceratitis and Anastrepha species complex. The main focus will be on improving the efficacy of currently used male lures by identifying co-attractive chemicals and developing novel female lures based on host fruit, protein food, and microbial volatiles. Specific activities will include (1) collection and identification potential behavior modifying chemicals using GC-EAD and GC-MS, (2) confirmation of behavioral activity using laboratory behavior assays and field trapping, and (3) implementation of enhanced male annihilation technique and female suppression at an operational level.
Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral fellow will gain experience in and learn about planning, experimental design, method development, collection and analysis of data, field implementation, and manuscript writing. This opportunity will provide exposure to cutting-edge techniques in chemical ecology, insect behavior, and insect-microbe interaction research, as well as experience with grant writing, providing the participant with excellent training in these areas.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Dong Cha (dong.cha@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: February 2025. 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.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation. Foreign national candidates may have a mandatory in-person requirement depending on visa status.
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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
