USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Natural Product Isolation and Synthesis Fellowship

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

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PWA-

8/31/2026 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 Parlier, California.

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 agroecosystems 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.

In the context of reducing pest pressures on California commodities, you will assist in a project to isolate, synthesize, and bioassay natural products that mediate plant-insect interaction. Project activities include
1) the chemical characterization of mealybug pheromones and
2) the development of “controllable” chemistries for creating and degrading linkages between bioactive semiochemicals and inactive precursory forms. This project will give you experience in bioassay-driven discovery and help develop expertise in mass spectrometry.

• Develop skills in chemical analysis, including the characterization of mealybug pheromones and related semiochemicals.
• Gain experience designing “controllable” chemical systems for linking and releasing bioactive compounds.
• Build proficiency in bioassay-driven discovery, including testing biological activity of synthesized compounds.
• Develop expertise in mass spectrometry as a tool for chemical identification and structural analysis.
• Understand applications of semiochemical chemistry in reducing pest pressure on agricultural commodities.

The mentor for this opportunity is Spencer Walse (spencer.walse). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

September 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

The appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

The appointment is full time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
The anticipated stipend range is $74,678.00 – $77,168.00 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 benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program.

Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.Pacific West and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received or currently pursing a PhD in one of the relevant fields, i.e., Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry (General), Environmental Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry. Degree must have been received within the past four (4) months or be anticipated to be received by December 31, 2026.

$74,678.00 – $77,168.00 Yearly

Janeen

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree received within the last 4 months or anticipated to be received by 12/31/2026 12:00:00 AM.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemistry (General)
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry