USDA-ARS Research Fellowship in Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-

How to Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY. You must submit the following documents:

• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted.  for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

Final date to receive applications

5/8/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Office / Lab and Location

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Ames, Iowa.

Agency

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 agroecystems 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.

Mission of National Animal Disease Center

The mission of National Animal Disease Center is to conduct basic and applied research on selected diseases of economic importance to the U.S. livestock and poultry industries.

Research Project

The educational opportunity involves performing research, under the mentorship of a USDA scientist, on human foodborne pathogens, including Shiga toxin‑producing E. coli
, Salmonella
, and Campylobacter
. The goal of this project is to better understand how these foodborne pathogens successfully colonize and survive within the gastrointestinal tract of livestock and use this information to develop intervention strategies against these foodborne pathogens that will benefit animal health and food safety.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn and conduct bacteriological, molecular, and computational analyses to investigate foodborne pathogen colonization, develop and assess interventions to reduce pathogen burden in livestock, and identify and evaluate foodborne pathogens in various sample types. Additionally, the participant will gain experience using various methods, including genomics and MALDI-ToF, to identify and differentiate foodborne pathogens found in pre‑and post‑harvest specimens.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Joel Maki (joel.maki). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Announced Appointment Start Date

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

Full time.

Participant Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $40,000 - $60,000 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…