USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention

USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention

Join to apply for the USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention role at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of the opportunity and click APPLY. All required documents must be in English or contain an official English translation.

• Application
• Transcript(s) (unofficial transcript or copy of academic records; detailed information on acceptable transcripts is provided)
• Current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations
• Copy of an abstract or reprint of an article

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PA-

7/3/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Research opportunity located in College Station, Texas. The Responsive Agricultural Food Systems Research Unit (RAFSRU) at Texas A&M University provides training in prevention of diet‑related chronic diseases.

Current nutrition‑centered pre‑clinical and clinical studies aim to understand the effects of maternal diet, obesity, and other malnutrition forms, as well as environmental factors, on chronic disease. Studies focus on developmental programming of obesity and metabolic health and interventions to mitigate these. The postdoctoral fellow will develop hypotheses and experimental studies under a mentor to investigate the health impacts of diet and food‑based interventions (e.g., anthocyanin‑enriched staples) on metabolic dysfunction and inflammation.

• Develop hypothesis‑driven studies to examine dietary effects using pre‑clinical or clinical approaches.
• Conduct mechanistic studies in the context of pregnancy and nutrition.
• Receive training in molecular and
  -omic methods.
• Learn advanced statistical and bioinformatic analysis of bulk and single‑cell transcriptomic data.
• Develop methods to link food nutrition environment with health outcomes.
• Learn and develop skills related to manuscript preparation and grant writing.

Dr. Kartik Shankar (kartik.shankar)

2026 (flexible)

One year, may be renewed upon recommendation and funding.

Full time

Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level; anticipated range: $68,000–$75,000 yearly.

U.S. citizen only.

Program administered by ORAU under a contract with DOE. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, DOE or program administrator and receive no employment‑related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required; insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Contact ORISE: ORISE.ARS.Plains; include reference code.

Doctoral degree in a relevant field received within the last five years or currently pursuing.

• Hands‑on experience with animal models of diet‑induced obesity, metabolic syndrome, or cardiovascular disease, with nutritional interventions.
• Expertise in human nutrition studies, cohort analyses, controlled feeding trials, dietary intake assessment, or food systems analysis.
• Familiarity with precision nutrition approaches, including
  -omic analyses.

• Citizenship: U.S. citizen only.
• Degree:
  Doctoral degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Disciplines include:
  Animal Sciences, Basic Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology (General), Cellular and Molecular Biology, Comparative Medicine and Laboratory Animal Medicine, Computational Biology, Developmental Biology, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Food Sciences and Technology, Genetics, Immunology, Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology, Medicine, Microbiology, Neurosciences, Nutritional Sciences, Pharmacology, Physiology, Public Health, Toxicology, Veterinary Sciences.
• Veteran Status:
  Veterans Preference; degree received within the last 120 months.

Janeen