USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Research Project

This research project focuses on the discovery and development of novel tools and strategies for controlling honeybee pests and pathogens. This unique opportunity mixes advanced laboratory experiments with outdoor field research to discover and develop plant-based compounds for controlling Varroa mites and their vectored pathogens. Key activities include monitoring of experimental honeybee colonies, sampling Varroa mites from live honeybee colonies, conducting bioassays to identify plant extracts/compounds that kill Varroa mites and/or their vectored pathogens without harming the bees, large-scale field experiments to test candidate treatments under real weather conditions, evaluations of how candidate treatments affect honeybee immunity, colony functions, and behavior.

Learning Objectives

• Design and conduct field and laboratory experiments.
• Sample and identify honey bee pests and pathogens.
• Isolate and purify plant compounds.
• Detail molecular characterization of honey bee health.
• Analyze complex biological datasets.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Ephantus Muturi (Ephantus.Muturi@usda.gov).

Citizenship Requirements

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

Qualifications

• The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.
• Preferred skills include experience and interest in handling honey bees, designing and conducting experiments under controlled (laboratory and greenhouse) and field conditions, hands-on experience in isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from plants, and/or molecular biology skills such as PCR, RT-qPCR, RNAi, and sequencing, basic data analysis skills, and citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only.

Contact Information

Please visit our Program Website for more information. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.