USDA-ARS Cotton Fiber Processing and Characterization Postdoctoral Research Opportunity

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-SEA-

10/23/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

Under the guidance of experienced mentors, you will participate in an educational research opportunity focused on advancing the understanding of cotton fiber characteristics that influence dye uptake and color consistency in fabrics. Activities will include examining fiber properties such as crystallinity, pore size distribution, fiber surface content, and metal ion composition, as well as conducting laboratory-scale dye uptake trials with selected reactive dyes.

Dye uptake is a critical aspect of textile coloration because it affects color uniformity, shade consistency, and the appearance of defects such as barré-key.

You will also apply statistical and machine-learning tools to explore how physical and chemical fiber parameters relate to dye uptake behavior, dyebath exhaustion, color strength, and dye fixation. These tools may help identify which traits are most influential and whether some of them may be linked to underlying plant genetics, supporting broader efforts to understand how cotton fiber structure affects coloration.

You will engage with a multidisciplinary team spanning chemistry, plant science, textile technology, engineering, and data science. This team is dedicated to improving methods for evaluating cotton fiber quality and identifying characteristics that promote reliable, predictable dye uptake. Through this experience, you will gain hands‑on exposure to analytical instrumentation, quantitative analysis, and modern modeling approaches that help connect fiber properties to fabric performance.

• Develop an understanding of cotton fiber characteristics that influence dye uptake and color consistency.
• Learn how to analyze fiber properties such as crystallinity, pore size distribution, surface content, and metal ion composition.
• Understand how to conduct laboratory-scale dye uptake experiments using selected reactive dyes.
• Learn how to evaluate how dye uptake affects color uniformity, shade consistency, and defect formation (e.g., barré).
• Gain experience applying statistical and machine-learning tools to identify relationships between fiber properties and dyeing outcomes such as dyebath exhaustion, color strength, and dye fixation.
• Understand how to determine which fiber traits most strongly influence dye behavior and explore potential links to plant genetics.
• Understand how to engage effectively within a multidisciplinary team spanning chemistry, plant science, textile technology, engineering, and data science.
• Gain hands‑on experience with analytical instrumentation and quantitative measurement techniques used in fiber characterization.
• Learn and apply modern modeling approaches for connecting fiber structure to fabric performance.
• Strengthen skills in interpreting research data to support improvements in cotton fiber quality evaluation and prediction of dye uptake reliability.

The mentor for this opportunity is Michael Santiago (michael.santiago). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment

Start Date:

November 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 will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

$71,678.04 – $74,678.04 Yearly

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…