What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemistry 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 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: This research primarily focuses on developing value-added products from low value biomass. Biomass can include plant or animal residues or any other waste materials such as food or municipal waste. The research involves extraction and modification of low value waste materials and their derivatives. Physical, chemical and instrumental analysis of raw materials and finished products are used to determine the structural characteristic and properties of the compounds. Under the guidance of a mentor, you will be involved in identification and quantification of the extracted and/or synthesis of modified products with the determination of structural integrity of the compounds. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), GC-MS, HPLC will be used as the primary tools for structure determination and quantitative analysis of the compounds. In collaboration with the mentor, you will have considerable input on how the project goals will be achieved. The research is primarily laboratory based, but pilot plant experiments are also conducted.
Learning Objectives: During this appointment, you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn to conduct research focused on developing value-added products from low-value biomass, including plant and animal residues, food waste, and municipal waste.
- Gain experience in extracting and modifying biomass-derived materials to create functional derivatives and new products.
- Develop skills in performing physical, chemical, and instrumental analyses to characterize raw materials and finished products.
- Gain hands-on experience with advanced analytical techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), GC-MS, and HPLC for structural determination and quantitative analysis.
- Participate in both laboratory-scale and pilot plant experiments.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Majher Sarker (majher.sarker@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 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 range is $6,000 - $6,500 monthly.
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.
Salary : $6,000 - $6,500