USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Maize Pathology

How to Apply

Submit your application by scrolling to the bottom of this opportunity and clicking APPLY.

Application package must include: an application, transcripts (an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records), a current resume/CV, and two educational or professional recommendations. All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-SEA-

5/8/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Starkville, Mississippi.

Aspergillus flavus, a common pathogen of maize globally, is especially problematic in the southeastern region of the United States. It causes ear-rot and contaminates grain with aflatoxin, a highly carcinogenic mycotoxin. Susceptibility to

A. flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation is exacerbated in the presence of biotic and abiotic stresses that commonly occur in corn production environments. Since inheritance of resistance to Aspergillus ear rot is controlled by many QTL across the genome, innovative research will be required to develop and deploy commercially valuable hybrids possessing stable resistance. The fellow will be involved in a research project to

• Screen and characterize maize germplasm from different sources to identify germplasm with resistance to Aspergillus flavus kernel infection and subsequent aflatoxin accumulation;
• Incorporate resistance to
  
  A. flavus into agronomically acceptable maize inbred lines with improved combining ability for yield, and alignment with industry heterotic patterns;
• Discover maize inbred lines that are resilient to extreme weather events and more productive under sustainable management systems.

The participant will gain skills in laboratory methodologies, experimental design, maize breeding, and data analysis. Through the course of the project, the participant will gain knowledge of current issues and the latest research at the intersection of maize pathology and breeding with a focus on Aspergillus ear rot disease through exposure to the lab's researchers and academic and industry collaborators.

Ebrahiem Babiker (ebrahiem.babiker)

April 6, 2026 (start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors).

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

Full time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Anticipated stipend range is $6,223.16 - $7,459.00 monthly.

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.Southeast and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (plant pathology, plant breeding, or related discipline).

• Experience in conducting lab, greenhouse, and field research in the areas of plant pathology and plant breeding and genetics.
• Experience in the screening of germplasm for resistance to biotic stresses and development of disease resistant germplasm.
• Experience using statistical software such as SAS or R.
• Experience in preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Team player, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Anatomy
  • Biology (General)
  • Botany
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Computational Biology
  • Entomology
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences
  • Horticulture
  • Microbiology
  • Plant Sciences
  • Virology

Sara Beth