*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 Albany, CA.
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: This research project will involve reviving agro strains from various collections and characterizing the strains for antibiotic resistance. Agro strains that do not show antibiotic resistance to kanamycin, gentamicin and spectinomycin will be sent out for whole genome sequencing and alignment. Genomic information will be collected for potentially disarming the virulence genes. Research will continue by testing the antibiotic sensitive agro strains for the ability to be transformed with a binary vector, to form gall tissue on various plant species/cultivars, and the ability to facilitate transfer the T-DNA from the binary vector introduced. This research project will focus on citrus and grape cultivars. Strains that can produce gall tissue will be evaluated for rate of tissue growth and homogeneity of T-DNA/tissue expression. Time permitting successful agro strains will be disarmed and genome modified with GAANTRY technology.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn about agrobacterium, and its lifecycle, genetics, and application towards biotechnology.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is James Thomson (james.thomson@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a candidate is identified. 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 range is $50,000 – 65,000 annually.
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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field within the past 36 months.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with sterile microbiology techniques
- Experience with microbe manipulation (i.e. culturing, transforming, freezing)
- Familiarity with molecular biology techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR, and plasmid cloning
Stipend
$50,000.00 – $65,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree received within the last 36 month(s).