What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Research Fellow Citrus Scion Breeding Program 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 Fort Pierce, Florida, at the Horticultural Research Laboratory.
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: The USDA-ARS Citrus Scion Breeding Program is at a critical juncture in addressing the most severe challenge facing the Florida citrus industry: Huanglongbing (HLB). The program’s mission is to develop, evaluate, and deliver new scion varieties with improved tolerance to HLB, while maintaining the fruit quality required for the U.S. juice and fresh fruit markets. This research underpins the sustainability of an industry that continues with HLB. Currently, the program is responsible for maintaining and evaluating more than 25,000 fruiting trees across multiple replicated field trials. These trees represent advanced breeding selections, new hybrid populations, and industry-requested comparisons that require rigorous and standardized data collection on yield, disease tolerance, fruit chemistry, and consumer traits. The candidate will receive education and training in the above citrus breeding program.
Learning Objectives: Participant will learn new procedures on plant and seed tissue culture. They will be trained in current citrus breeding methodologies and develop an understanding of plant genetics and physiology.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Matthew Mattia (Matthew.Mattia@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 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.
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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.