What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship on Bio-based Technologies to Combat Spotted Lanternfly 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 Columbia, Missouri.
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 Redel and Kang Laboratories at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory and Plant Genetics Research Unit are located in Columbia, Missouri, and are affiliated with the University of Missouri. The mission of our facilities is to develop novel genetics-based solutions to challenges affecting agricultural stakeholders.
Research Project: We are offering a postdoctoral fellowship that integrates genetic editing, molecular biology, and bioinformatic techniques to develop new technologies for controlling spotted lanternfly insects. The fellow will contribute to efforts to:
- Develop insect cell lines,
- Characterize gene expression across tissues, and;
- Gene editing in the insect.
Each of these components will independently advance pest control research, and together they will support the development of new bio-based technologies for managing spotted lanternfly populations.
Learning Objectives: The fellow will have opportunities to build skills in gene editing, genetics, transcriptomics, molecular biology, statistics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. The fellow will also collaborate with multiple partners, present research at professional conferences, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in professional development workshops hosted by the University of Missouri.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is David Kang (Dave.Kang@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and three 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. The anticipated stipend is $74,678 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.HQPostdoc@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Salary : $74,678