USDA-ARS Research Fellowship in Plant-Microbe Interactions

Research Project

A postdoctoral fellowship is available for enthusiastic and self-directed applicants. The research fellow will help identify and evaluate plant traits that impact nitrogen cycling in the rhizosphere and detritosphere of maize. The aim of this research is to:

• Identify and develop novel sources of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity in maize.
• Evaluate the contribution of plant chemistry and root and rhizosphere traits, including BNI, to agroecosystem nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen retention and reductions in nitrous oxide flux.

The Research will be part of a Collaborative Project With An Interdisciplinary Team Of Government, University, And Industry Scientists Within The Circular Economy That Reimagines Corn Agriculture (CERCA) Project. The Vision Of CERCA Is Increase The Productivity And Sustainability Of US Grain Farmland Through Earlier Planting And Increased Uptake, Recycling And Retention Of Nitrogen And Phosphorous. Translational Research Teams Are Pursuing Three Main Objectives:

• Modeling plants, farms, environments, and economics to identify trait combinations and US environments likely to benefit from the new cropping system.
• Trait discovery through testing wild species and diverse maize germplasm with promising cold tolerance and nutrient recycling and retention capabilities.
• Trait development through stacking genetic improvements.

• Learn advanced concepts in plant–soil interactions, with emphasis on nitrogen cycling in the rhizosphere and detritosphere of maize.
• Learn to identify, characterize, and evaluate plant traits that influence nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen retention and nitrous oxide fluxes.
• Gain and improve skills in molecular microbial ecology.
• Learn to develop and pursue individual and team research questions from design to manuscript preparation.
• Learn to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team of government, university, and industry scientists focused on circular bioeconomy solutions.

The mentor for this opportunity is Bryan Emmett (bryan.emmett). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

• 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, 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 range is $45,777 - $75,284 annually.
• Citizenship requirements:
  This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

• The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (microbial ecology, soil biogeochemistry, plant-microbe interactions or related field).

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and evidence of successful publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to research independently and within a team.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have experience with nitrogen cycling microbial communities, handling of bacterial cultures and molecular microbial ecology.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only.
• Degree:
  Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Minimum overall GPA: 3.00.
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences
    • Biological Oceanography
    • Environmental Sciences
    • Environmental Studies
    • Fish and Wildlife
    • Fisheries
    • Forest Resources and Science
    • Forestry Sciences
    • Hydrologic Sciences
    • Marine Biology
    • Marine Science
    • Natural Resources
    • Oceanography
    • Soil Science
    • Wildlife Management
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics