USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow in Pear Rootstock Physiology and Genetics

*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 Wenatchee, Washington

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 Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research Unit is to expand the knowledge of deciduous tree fruit production systems in the areas of plant disease and fruit quality. Within this larger mission, one of our goals is to improve understanding of pear rootstock-related mechanisms and work towards the development of improved rootstocks for pear production.

Research Project: The overall goal of this research project is to characterize root system architecture and root developmental traits of pear root systems, both in common rootstock cultivars and in genetically distinct pear genotypes. This project is part of a larger effort to understand the interactions between rootstocks and scions. This project will focus on root system architecture phenotyping, physiology, and genetics.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will be involved in the following activities:

• Learn techniques for developing and using systems to phenotype root systems in greenhouse and field settings under the guidance of research mentors.
• Build skills in root image processing and other data analysis activities using established software tools, with opportunities to explore and evaluate emerging analytical approaches.
• Gain experience measuring physiological responses to root treatments and characterizing plant traits related to root system performance and function.
• Learn about transcriptomics, qPCR, sequencing, and related laboratory techniques by assisting in genomic and molecular research activities connecting genotypes to phenotypes.
• Build scientific communication skills through preparation and presentation of research findings for scientific conferences, stakeholder meetings, and other professional audiences.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Jessica Waite (jessica.waite@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2027. 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.

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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Salary : $74,678