USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Plant Pathology & Insect Vector Biology

How to Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted.  for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list.
• Two educational or professional recommendations.
• A copy of an abstract or reprint of an article.

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

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-MWA-

2/13/2026 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 Wooster, OH.

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.

The USDA-ARS Corn & Soybean Virus Lab investigates virus and vector‑borne diseases of maize and soybean towards the development of effective management solutions. Corn stunt disease is a re‑emerging problem in the U.S. and is a devastating disease of maize caused by infection with any of three pathogens: a spiroplasma, a phytoplasma, and/or a virus. The goal of this project is to further our understanding of the corn stunt disease complex and provide information needed to inform management of the disease.

Specific areas of investigation will be based upon the participant’s expertise and interest.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will receive excellent training in the many disciplines needed to tackle such a multi‑faceted disease problem, such as genetics, molecular biology, plant pathology, entomology, vector biology, ecology, and bioinformatics. The participant will also receive training in experimental design, data analysis, preparation of technical and non‑technical presentations, manuscript and grant writing, as well as opportunities to network with university and industry collaborators and attend and present at national conferences.

The mentor for this opportunity is Jennifer Wilson (jennifer.wilson3). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

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.

The appointment is full‑time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $60,000 – 70,000 annually.

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…