Application Deadline
7/3/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
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 Athens, Georgia.
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. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
Research Project: The fellow will be located at the Quality & Safety Assessment Research Unit (QSARU) at the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Athens, GA. The mission of QSARU is to provide scientific knowledge, technologies, and strategies to address critical product quality and safety issues in various agricultural commodities. The fellow’s research will support the mission and goals of ARS National Program 108, Food Safety. The fellow will participate in research on semicarbazide in poultry. Semicarbazide is currently used as a marker for nitrofurazone, an antimicrobial banned for use in poultry production. The presence of semicarbazide on poultry meat from chickens raised without nitrofurazone usage during production has become a significant trade issue for the industry. The fellow will be part of investigating factors and conditions in poultry processing that can lead to the formation of semicarbazide on the product and developing strategies for minimizing semicarbazide formation during processing. The fellow will participate in all phases of the research including experimental design, planning, conducting trials, data analysis, and reporting results.
Learning Objectives: The fellow will receive training in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and poultry processing.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Brian Bowker (brian.bowker@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Summer 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
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 $79,000 annually, and an additional health insurance supplement will be provided.
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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. biochemistry, chemistry, food science/technology, engineering [agricultural, biological, biochemical], or a closely related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years or anticipated to be received by start of the appointment.
Preferred skills and knowledge:
- Knowledge of chemical reactions and biochemical pathways
- Experience handling biological samples preferred
- Knowledge of poultry processing practices preferred
Stipend
$79,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.
