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USDA-ARS Postdoc: mass spectrometry of peanut and tree nut allergens (USDA-ARS-SEA-2026-0301)
The USDA-ARS Food Processing and Sensory Quality unit in New Orleans is offering a postdoctoral fellowship on food allergens. The fellow will use protein chemistry, mass spectrometry and molecular biology to characterise peanut and tree nut allergens and how they bind IgE antibodies, including how processing changes allergen structure.
- Country
- United States
- Experience
- Experience not specified
- Salary / stipend
- Stipend USD 74,678 per year
- 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 within the past 5 years) in molecular biology, biochemistry, cellular biology or a related field
Review the original notice to confirm the requirements. Related degrees are not automatically equivalent; the recruiting organisation decides eligibility.
What you’ll do
- Characterise the sequence and structure of peanut and tree nut allergens
- Use mass spectrometry to identify unique allergen features and detection targets
- Study how food processing alters allergen structure, function and potency
- Apply molecular biology to characterise IgE binding to food allergens
- Contribute to analytical methods for allergen detection and characterisation
- Work within a research team on basic and applied allergen research
What the employer asks for
- Doctoral degree in molecular biology, biochemistry or cellular biology received within the past 5 years
- Equal consideration for doctorates in chemical biology, chemical computing, computational biology or protein engineering with hands-on cell culture, protein engineering, molecular or cell biology or biochemistry experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Preferred: demonstrated experience in mass spectrometry, molecular biology, protein engineering and/or protein chemistry
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
- 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 chris.mattison@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
- Mass spectrometry
- Protein chemistry
- Protein engineering
- Molecular biology
- Immunoassays (IgE binding)
- Mammalian cell culture
- Postdoctoral
- Junior Research Fellow
- JRF
- Senior Research Fellow
- SRF
- PhD
- Research Associate
- Food Technology research
- GATE XL
- ICAR NET
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: Chris Mattison (chris.mattison@usda.gov). Start 2026/2027, flexible.
Original posting: 2026-07-29
Checked 2026-11-05 · Updated 2026-11-05
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