USDA-ARS Fellowship in Microbiology, Food Science, or Chemistry

USDA-ARS Fellowship in Microbiology, Food Science, or Chemistry

Join the USDA-ARS Fellowship at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a research opportunity in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Submit your application by 1/30/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
. Required documents include:

• An application
• Transcript(s) – an unofficial transcript or copy of academic records printed by the applicant or by institutional systems.
• A current resume/CV with academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list.
• Two educational or professional recommendations.

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

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Research Project:
The USDA-ARS Food Science & Market Quality and Handling Research Unit investigates technologies for vegetable pickling and fermentation under Program 306. The selected candidate will work microbial roles in texture loss during processing and storage, performing microscopy with a Keyence Imaging System, enzyme kinetic assays, bioinformatic analyses, and texture measurements. You will collect and analyze data, and help develop SOPs for advanced microscopy.

Learning Objectives:
Acquire foundational lab skills, mastery of microscopy and microbial enzyme assays, food texture measurement techniques, and bioinformatics tools for microbial genomics.

Ilenys M. Perez-Diaz (ilenys.perez-diaz).

• Start Date:
  
  January 2026 (flexible).
• Length:
  One year, renewable upon recommendation and funding availability.
• Participation Level: Full time (40 hours per week).
• Stipend: $35,000 – $50,000 yearly, commensurate with educational level and experience.

U.S. citizens only.

This program is administered ORAU on behalf of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Participants are not employees of USDA, ARS, DOE, or ORISE and receive no employment benefits. Proof of health insurance is required; insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Applicants must hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in microbiology, chemistry, food science, or bioinformatics, earned within the last five years or currently being pursued.

• Experience with microscopy or enzyme kinetic measurement from microbial cultures or vegetable texture analysis.

USDA-ARS-SEA-