USDA-ARS Alfalfa Protease Activity and Amino Acid Content Postdoctoral Opportunity

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 67,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) invites applications for a research opportunity with Christina Arther’s lab at the Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The candidate should hold a doctoral degree (or be pursuing) in Life Health and Medical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Biology, or related fields. The appointment is full-time, starts in 2026 (flexible) for one year with possible renewal.

Qualifications

• The candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree.
• Degree must have been received within the past five years, or be currently pursuing.

Responsibilities

• Engage in a subset of ARS research projects on alfalfa nutrition and protease activity.
• Collaborate with other researchers and mentor, and possibly develop independent projects.

Education

Doctoral degree in Life Health and Medical Sciences / Agricultural Sciences / Biology

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0350

Application Deadline

11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

ARS Office/Lab and Location

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Christina Arther’s lab at the Dairy Forage Research Center, located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Research Project

The Arther lab researches alfalfa as both a dairy forage and a potential new food for humans. We implement various tools to understand and improve alfalfa nutrition for both humans and animals. Two current projects center around elucidating proteases and protease activity in order to reduce protein breakdown after harvest and improving the amino acid profile of protein in the leaves. You will participate in a subset of these projects, will have opportunities to collaborate with other researchers, and possibly develop projects of your own.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: (a) execute experimental design; and (b) apply biochemistry and molecular biology techniques, long‑read sequencing, plant growth and maintenance, common forage quality measurements, plant‑microbe interaction, and ion‑exchange chromatography.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Christina Arther ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

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.

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 [e-mail] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years, or be currently pursuing.

Stipend

$6,000.00 – $7,000.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Michele

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Biology (General)
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences
  • Horticulture
  • Plant Sciences