USDA-ARS Chemical Analysis of Fungal Metabolites Used to Detect and Mitigate Mycotoxins in Food

How to Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

• 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

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-SEA-

8/14/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The sponsoring agency is the USDA-ARS, and the participant will collaborate with other researchers in the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit (FFSRU) at the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) located in New Orleans, Louisiana: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

The participant will experience ongoing research pertaining to safeguarding essential U.S. agricultural commodities (e.g., corn) from aflatoxin contamination using a multidisciplinary approach. This project proposes a novel approach using GC-MS to assess various fungal volatilized organic compounds (VOCs) for use in detection and mitigation strategies. Additionally, the participant will use LC-MS to identify soluble fungal metabolites and quantify various mycotoxins produced by these fungi.

There will be opportunities to interact and collaborate with a diverse group of scientists within the Southern Regional Research Center, as well as externally with university and other USDA-ARS scientists. The ORISE participant will interact closely with their mentors to document and share quality research results through open-access, peer-reviewed journals, as well as update stakeholders on key findings.

Under the guidance of the mentors, the ORISE participant will learn to conduct in vitro and in planta experiments that help to advance early detection and mitigation strategies related to aflatoxin-producing fungi; care and maintain GC-MS and LC-MS instruments; develop and care of laboratory/greenhouse/field experiments; extract fungal metabolites from various matrices; conduct metabolite analyses; collect, analyze and quantify metabolites produced during fungal growth, as well as during fungus-fungus and fungus-plant interactions;

present research progress to collaborators; prepare publishable research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Dr. Geromy G. Moore (geromy.moore) and Dr. Matthew

D. Lebar (matthew.lebar). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

• Anticipated Appointment
  
  Start Date:
  
  2026 or 2027. 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.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $74,678 annually.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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.

Candidate should have received a doctoral degree from within the broad…