USDA-ARS Postgraduate Research Opportunity in Coffee Leaf Rust Monitoring and IPM development

Application Deadline

4/26/2024 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 Hilo, Hawaii.

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 postgraduate will participate in research on coffee leaf rust, a devastating fungal pathogen of coffee that has recently arrived in Hawaii. Data collected on CLR incidence and severity, farm management practices, weather variables and spore dispersal will be used to determine optimal IPM strategies for CLR in Hawaii and assist in the development of predictive models to assist coffee growers in disease management and the production of high-quality coffee. Additionally, the postgraduate will participate in experimental design, data collection, and summary for a project aiming to improve plant and soil health on coffee farms using local and sustainable inputs.

Learning Objectives:  The participant will develop skills in project planning, experimental design, development of methods, field data collection, summary and analysis of data, and presentation of findings. This opportunity will provide the postgraduate with knowledge of Hawaii's unique and economically important coffee industry, as well as experience in the areas of tropical agriculture, plant and soil health, plant pathology, and integrated pest management. This opportunity will provide the training necessary to prepare the postgraduate for an exciting career in agricultural research.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Melissa Johnson (melissa.johnson@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2024. 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.

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 one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past two years.

Preferred skills:

• Experience in field data collection, particularly with mobile electronic applications.
• Independent research experience in biological sciences.
• Data entry and summarization using Excel.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of coffee agriculture, invasion biology, and disease management.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 24 month(s).