THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:  The position is located with the Commodity Utilization Research Unit at the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, LA.  The incumbent will conduct research to identify, analyze, and characterize proteins and enzymes that produce and deliver reducing equivalents to desaturase and desaturase-related enzymes.  The incumbent will participate as a team member in the selection and development of appropriate gene vectors for introducing target genes in bacteria, yeast, and plants, as a means of assessing the quantitative and qualitative role of each enzyme in the biosynthesis of plant seed oils.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or a closely related field is required.  Knowledge and experience with molecular and cellular biology, plant lipid metabolism, lipid biochemistry, microbiology, or metabolic engineering (including associated technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and lipidomics) are preferred.

INFORMATION ON SALARY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS is available at: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html

INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Dr. Jay Shockey 
Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC)
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70124
Office: 504-286-4296
Fax:     504-286-4367
jay.shockey@ars.usda.gov