USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Food Engineering & Food Science

Research Project

The USDA-ARS Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit in Manhattan, Kansas is seeking a Postdoctoral Research fellow to undertake research developing new approaches to improve and optimize nutritional quality of ingredients from grain crops. It is envisioned that improved ingredients can be incorporated into a greater diversity of food products to improve nutritional quality and human health while maintaining palatability. The goal of the research is to advance the concept of healthy foods with healthful ingredients.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about integrating grain quality/properties and process engineering in developing improved nutritional ingredients from cereal grain crops that can be incorporated into foods or animal feed to improve nutritional quality and health condition while maintaining palatability by employing such processing operations as size reduction and separation.
• Learn to independently identify and pursue research that addresses the broad goal of the project – “healthy foods with healthful ingredients” - in preparation for their future goals in independent faculty or industry roles.

Mentor(s)

Lester Pordesimo (lester.pordesimo@usda.gov)

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

June 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length

The appointment will be for two years.

Level of Participation

The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend is $6,224 monthly.

Citizenship Requirements

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

ORISE Information

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and ARS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions

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

Qualification Requirements

• The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Agricultural/Biological Engineering, Food Science, or related field).
• Degree must have been received within the past four years, or anticipated to be received by 5/29/2026.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge in agricultural and food process engineering including food engineering unit operations.