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USDA-ARS Research Food Technology Fellow: pathogen control on pecan kernels (USDA-ARS-SEA-2026-0229)
USDA-ARS in Byron, Georgia, is offering a postdoctoral-level fellowship on food safety in pecan production and processing. The fellow will identify, test and validate new control methods, especially end-of-process kill steps, against Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes on pecan kernels.
- Country
- United States
- Experience
- Experience not specified
- Salary / stipend
- Stipend about USD 5,899 to 7,666 per month
- Apply by
- 01 Jan 2027
- 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
- Identify, test and validate novel control methods for foodborne pathogens on pecan kernels
- Focus on end-of-process kill-step treatments to reduce contamination
- Design, run and evaluate microbial inactivation and validation studies
- Study Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes in low-moisture foods
- Analyse microbiological data to judge treatment efficacy and practical feasibility
- Consider regulatory aspects of food safety interventions
- Translate results into applied solutions for the pecan industry
What the employer asks for
- Doctoral degree received or currently being pursued in a relevant field
- U.S. citizenship
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 xiuxiu.sun@usda.gov.
Application deadline 1 Jan 2027, 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
- Microbial inactivation and validation studies
- Foodborne pathogen microbiology (Salmonella
- E. coli
- Listeria)
- Low-moisture food safety
- Data analysis
- 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: Xiuxiu Sun (xiuxiu.sun@usda.gov). Start date flexible.
Original posting: 2026-05-29
Checked 2026-11-05 · Updated 2026-11-05
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