USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Enhancing Control of Invasive Tropical Fruit Fly Pests: Hawaii

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Agency

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Location

Hilo, Hawaii

Job Category

Post Doctoral Appointments

Salary

TBD

Last Date to Apply

10/31/2022

Website

https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-ARS-2022-0320

Description

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity in in applied field research on invasive pest insects and their control is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), within the Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit located in Hilo, Hawaii.

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.

Research Project: The mission of the Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit is to develop pre- and postharvest technologies and management strategies for invasive pests, and to open and maintain market access and improved quality of tropical fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown in the Pacific Basin. Our research is often applied to improving the biosecurity of the mainland US by informing measures to prevent introduction or eradicate tropical pests such as tephritid fruit flies. The postdoc will participate in the design and execution of field trials aimed at improving the effectiveness of sterile insect technique (SIT) and other techniques used to detect, control, and eradicate fruit flies, economic pests of serious concern. Specific activities will include experimental design, field work, data collection and analysis, and presentation of results to a variety of audiences. Additionally, the incumbent will have the opportunity to interact with program managers and others responsible for response programs against invasive pests.

Learning Objectives: This opportunity will provide exposure and practice with SIT, mass-rearing, and logistical planning.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Nicholas Manoukis (nicholas.manoukis@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 2022. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for two years, 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.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

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 USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Entomology, Biology, Ecology, Agriculture, Integrated Pest Management), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before the appointment start date.

Preferred Skills:

– Experience in field biology
– Background in entomology
– Knowledge of invasion biology, eradication programs
– Strong background in statistics and data analysis
– Strong interpersonal skills
– Excellent written and oral communication

Contact Person

USDA-ARS@orau.org

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