USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Natural Product Isolation and Synthesis Fellowship

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 Parlier, California. 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.

About the role

In the context of reducing pest pressures on California commodities, you will assist in a project to isolate, synthesize, and bioassay natural products that mediate plant-insect interaction. Project activities include:

• The chemical characterization of mealybug pheromones
• The development of “controllable” chemistries for creating and degrading linkages between bioactive semiochemicals and inactive precursory forms

This project will give you experience in bioassay-driven discovery and help develop expertise in mass spectrometry.

Learning Objectives

• Develop skills in chemical analysis, including the characterization of mealybug pheromones and related semiochemicals
• Gain experience designing “controllable” chemical systems for linking and releasing bioactive compounds
• Build proficiency in bioassay-driven discovery, including testing biological activity of synthesized compounds
• Develop expertise in mass spectrometry as a tool for chemical identification and structural analysis
• Understand applications of semiochemical chemistry in reducing pest pressure on agricultural commodities

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Spencer Walse (spencer.walse@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Appointment Details

Anticipated appointment start date: September 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

The appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

The appointment is full time.

Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend ranging from $74,678.00 to $77,168.00 yearly, commensurate with educational level and experience.

Requirements

• The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry (General), Environmental Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry
• Degree must have been received within the past four months or be anticipated to be received by December 31, 2026
• U.S. citizenship is required