USDA-ARS Research Fellow in Entomology/Parasitology

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Byron, Georgia.

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 mission of the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station (Byron, GA)  is to enhance the production, value, and safety of pecan, peach, nectarine, and plum crops. 

Research Project: This overall project is focused on developing small ruminant grazing systems in pecan orchards. You will gain experience in implementing experiments to develop novel methods of controlling economically important arthropod pests and gastrointestinal nematodes in goats. Methods will be focused on microbial biocontrol approaches, especially involving entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi. Innovative methods of application and delivery techniques will be developed. Fundamental studies to understand basic entomopathogen biology and ecology will also be investigated. You will interact with team members and stakeholders. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will:

• Learn about the development of integrated small ruminant grazing systems within pecan orchards.
• Gain experience implementing experiments aimed at controlling economically important arthropod pests and gastrointestinal nematodes in goats.
• Develop skills in microbial biocontrol approaches, with emphasis on entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi.
• Explore innovative application and delivery techniques for improving the effectiveness of biocontrol agents.
• Participate in fundamental studies of entomopathogen biology and ecology to better understand their mechanisms and environmental interactions.
• Collaborate with research team members and stakeholders to support applied and practical outcomes.
• Acquire advanced training in microbial biocontrol theory and practice within agricultural systems.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is David Shapiro-Ilan (David.Shapiro@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

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

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $6,000 – $6,223 monthly.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

ORISE Information: 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.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Entomology, Parasitology, Nematology, Animal Science, or in a related discipline). Degree must have been received within the past five years or be anticipated to be received by 9/7/2026.

Stipend

$6,000.00 – $6,223.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Sara Beth

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 9/7/2026 12:00:00 AM.