What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Fellowship on Physiological Tolerances of Beneficial and/or Pest Insects position at Zintellect?
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory located in Brookings, South Dakota.
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: Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will have the opportunity to perform fundamental and applied research to better understand the physiological tolerances of beneficial and/or pest insects. Specifically, the project aims to determine how abiotic factors affect the survival of beneficial/pest insects under, and in response to, varying abiotic conditions to better predict changes in their spatial distribution across agricultural and ecological landscapes. The selected applicant will contribute in our effort to:
- Quantify thermal tolerance and desiccation resistance of beneficial and/or pest insects,
- Measure microclimate of managed and natural ecosystems throughout the growing season, and
- Assess how multiple stressors impact insects in the lab and field.
The selected applicant will also have the opportunity to interact with a multidisciplinary team within the North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Brookings, SD.
Learning Objectives: The selected applicant will develop or enhance their knowledge and skills to evaluate how insects respond to environmental stress. Activities may include:
- Physiological assays to measure thermal tolerance and/or desiccation resistance
- Methods development for quantifying thermal microclimates using sensors, data loggers, and thermal images
- Lab experiments examining how nutrition affects performance and physiological traits
- Field experiments quantifying behavior of insects
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Karl Roeder (karl.roeder@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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 $50,959 annually.
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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Salary : $50,959