USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Plant-Pathogen-Vector Interactions

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-HQ-

3/27/2026 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 Wapato, Washington. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the USDA’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 delivers 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. The selected participant will be hosted at the Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit (TTFVRU). The TTFVRU conducts research in three areas:
1) biology and management of pests and pathogens of tree fruits,
2) biology and management of pests and pathogens of potato, and
3) potato germplasm improvement. The Research Unit maintains strong collaborations with Washington State University, Oregon State University, and University of Idaho. https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

The postdoctoral fellow will engage in innovative research on symbiont technology—a cutting‑edge approach that uses Agrobacterium to deliver antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) into plant phloem, aiming to combat fastidious phloem‑limited pathogens such as ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum.’ This research addresses critical challenges in plant health and sustainable agriculture. Research will span multiple disciplines, including plant pathology, entomology, plant biology, and molecular biology. The fellow will design and execute experiments in both laboratory and greenhouse settings, analyze complex datasets, and contribute to collaborative projects involving USDA-ARS Research Units and partner institutions.

In addition to hands‑on research, the fellow will have opportunities to present findings at regional and national scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings, publish results in high‑impact, peer‑reviewed journals, and engage with a multidisciplinary team to learn about solutions for major agricultural threats.

• Designing, conducting, and analyzing greenhouse experiments
• Molecular engineering of Agrobacterium‑induced galls
• Biology and behavior of insect vectors of plant pathogens
• Molecular diagnosis of fastidious insect‑vectored and phloem‑limited plant pathogens, including Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum and Ca. Phytoplasma pruni
• Collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary and multi‑institutional team
• Preparing and submitting manuscripts to peer‑reviewed journals
• Preparing and presenting presentations at scientific and stakeholder meetings

Rodney Cooper (rodney.cooper)

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

Two years

Full time

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $6,000 - $7,000 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.

Ple…