USDA-ARS Opportunity– Fungal Population Dynamics & Mycotoxin Ecology in Corn

United States Department of Agriculture; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 54,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, located at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois, offers a multi-year research opportunity focused on mycotoxin risk in corn. The appointment is full-time, with a monthly stipend and US citizenship required.

Start date targeted for 2026, pending funding. Participate in field and laboratory work, learn microbiome sequencing, computational modeling, and communicate

Responsibilities

• Characterize population structure and succession of fungal communities across key phenological stages of corn.
• Apply molecular and microbiome sequencing approaches (ITS/TEF amplicon sequencing, qPCR, metagenomics) to track fungal communities.
• Quantify mycotoxins and link fungal ecology to toxin outcomes.
• Conduct field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate factors influencing mycotoxin risk.
• Integrate computational and statistical tools to model fungal population shifts and drivers of mycotoxin risk.
• Collaborate with plant pathologists, microbiologists and data scientists to develop predictive insights for food and feed safety.

Job description

*Applicationsare reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARSOffice/Lab and Location:

A research opportunityis currently available withthe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois.

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.

The Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Unit conducts integrated research to understand and mitigate mycotoxin contamination in U.S. corn production systems.

Research Project:

The research focuses on understanding the population dynamics of fungal communities throughout the growing season and how these dynamics influence mycotoxin contamination in corn.

You will be a part of a multi-year project aimed at:

• Characterizing fungal population structure and succession across key phenological stages of corn.
• Applying molecular and microbiome sequencing approaches (e.g., ITS/TEF amplicon sequencing, qPCR, metagenomics) to track fungal communities.
• Conducting mycotoxin quantification to link fungal ecology with toxin outcomes.
• Conducting field and greenhouse experiments to identify and evaluate the effects of factors that influence mycotoxin risk
• Integrating computational and statistical tools to model fungal population shifts and identify environmental or biological drivers of mycotoxin risk.
• Collaborating with plant pathologists, microbiologists, chemists, and data scientists to develop predictive insights that support improved food and feed safety.

Learning Objectives:

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: (a) utilize field and laboratory methods in plant pathology and fungal ecology; (b) conduct microbiome analysis, bioinformatics, and computational modeling; (b) conduct rapid mycotoxin analysis; (c) prepare scientific communication, and manuscripts; and (d) designfield and laboratory experiments that integrate agronomic, microbiome, and ecological datasets

Mentor(s):

The mentor forthis opportunity is Joseph Opoku([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 willdepend on a variety offactors.

Appointment Length:

The appointment will initially be for one year, but may berenewed uponrecommendation of ARSand 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 $4,800 -$6,430 monthly.

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.