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

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:   The position is located in the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit, Frederick, Maryland. The incumbent will study soybean rust, caused by the obligate fungal pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and other molecular-based methodologies to identify and characterize genes associated with defense signaling networks required for resistance.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:   Recent Ph.D. in Plant Pathology or a closely related field is required. Knowledge of plant pathology and experience with nucleotide and protein database analysis, recombinant DNA techniques, PCR, cDNA library construction, DNA sequencing, and protein expression is desirable.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:  Portions of the research project are performed in a biocontainment facility (BSL-3).  This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation.  Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check.  Retention in the position is based upon a favorable adjudication of the background investigation.

CITIZENSHIP RESTRICTIONS APPLY:  Applicants must clearly indicate in their resume/CV their country of citizenship.  To be employed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with ARS, applicants must be a citizen from a country listed on the following link:  http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/jobs/VISA/countries.htm

INFORMATION ON 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. Kerry F. Pedley   
USDA/ARS
Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit
1301 Ditto Avenue
Phone: 301-619-1668
Fax: 301-619-2880
Email: kerry.pedley@ars.usda.gov