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USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship: detection and stress responses of foodborne pathogens (USDA-ARS-NEA-2026-0397)
The USDA-ARS Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, is offering a postdoctoral fellowship in its foodborne pathogens research unit. The fellow will work on new detection methods and on stress responses of pathogens such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in complex food matrices.
- Country
- United States
- Experience
- Experience not specified
- Salary / stipend
- Stipend about USD 6,857 per month, plus USD 691.68 per month health insurance allowance
- Apply by
- 18 Dec 2026
- Job type
- Fellowship
- Work mode
- On-site
- Function
- Research
- Openings
- 1
Contact for this vacancy
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Doctoral degree (received or in progress) in a relevant life science field
Review the original notice to confirm the requirements. Related degrees are not automatically equivalent; the recruiting organisation decides eligibility.
What you’ll do
- Carry out research on stress-response mechanisms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
- Help develop novel detection methods for foodborne pathogenic bacteria
- Study pathogen evolution and mutation, biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance and virulence
- Develop and run virulence assays using mammalian cell lines
- Work with BSL-2 pathogens
- Use genome sequencing, transcriptomics and bioinformatic analysis
- Account for food-matrix complexity in detection and characterisation work
What the employer asks for
- Doctoral degree received or currently being pursued in a relevant field
- U.S. citizenship
- Preferred: sterile technique
- Preferred: PCR
- Preferred: DNA/RNA isolation and basic molecular techniques
Selection process
- Online application through Zintellect
- Rolling review by ARS mentor
- Offer through ORISE
Documents to keep ready
- Online application form on Zintellect
- CV or resume
- Academic transcripts
- Recommendation(s) as requested in the application
Pay, benefits and perks
- Health insurance allowance USD 691.68 per month
- Participants are ORISE fellows, not USDA employees; no employment-related benefits
- Proof of health insurance required (available through ORISE)
- Appointment initially one year, renewable subject to funding
About the employer
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief in-house scientific research agency; this fellowship is run through the ORISE programme managed by ORAU for the U.S. Department of Energy.
How to apply
Apply by email to orise.ars.northeast@orau.org or andrew.gehring@usda.gov.
Application deadline 18 Dec 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern; rolling review
Skills for this role
What employers ask for in Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. named in this notice
- BSL-2 pathogen handling
- PCR
- DNA/RNA isolation
- Genome sequencing and transcriptomics
- Bioinformatics
- Mammalian cell-line virulence assays
- Postdoctoral
- Junior Research Fellow
- JRF
- Senior Research Fellow
- SRF
- PhD
- Research Associate
- Food Technology research
- GATE XL
- ICAR NET
Pay on similar vacancies
From 3 Research & Academia vacancies on FSD in the same role family that publish pay. Monthly, before deductions.
Prepare for the interview
Questions commonly asked for Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. Practise answers with an example and a number.
- Summarise your dissertation or main research project in two minutes for a non-specialist panel.
- Why this group or lab, and how does your experience fit the project described in the call?
- How did you design your experiments and choose the statistical analysis?
- Which analytical techniques have you used hands-on, and what were their limitations?
- What would be the first three months of work on this project if you were selected?
- Tell us about a result that did not work and what you did next.
Before you apply
- Read the original notice end to endDates, eligibility and the application route are decided by the employer, not by FSD.
- Tailor your resume to this vacancyMatch the keywords in the requirements. Resume Studio shows what is missing.
- Prepare a short research statementOne page on your project experience and why this group or call fits.
- Line up refereesMost calls ask for two or three referees; tell them in advance.
- Check the funding termsFellowship amount, duration, HRA and eligibility (NET / GATE) differ between calls.
Source & editorial check
U.S. citizens only. Mentor: Andrew Gehring (andrew.gehring@usda.gov). Anticipated start 1 Dec 2026 (flexible). Application questions: ORISE.ARS.Northeast@orau.org.
Original posting: 2026-10-12
Checked 2026-11-05 · Updated 2026-11-05
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