USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship – Food Sensory Science

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 67,210 - 82,145; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health-insurance allowance

Moving expenses assistance

Stipend

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is seeking candidates for a research fellowship located in Peoria, Illinois, with the USDA ARS. The project focuses on oleogel-based fat replacements, natural antioxidants, and coatings.

You will work with chemists, food scientists, and engineers in a state-of-the-art facility. The appointment is for one year, starting October 2026 (flexible), with a monthly stipend of $74,678 plus health-insurance allowance and moving expense support up to $3,000.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or have received a doctoral degree within the past 12 months, or by 9/30/2026.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen only.
• Discipline: Chemistry or Materials Sciences; Life Health and Medical Sciences.

Responsibilities

• Screen and train an in-house descriptive sensory panel.
• Design sensory panel tests for evaluation of food products.
• Evaluate physical, chemical, and rheological properties of oleogel-based fat replacements.
• Assess shelf life of foods with natural antioxidants.
• Analyze sensory results and correlate with analytical data.

Skills

Food chemistry

Sensory analysis

Food safety

Food engineering

Data evaluation

Education

Doctoral degree in Chemistry or Materials Sciences

Tools

GC‑MS

HPLC

Rheometer

FT‑IR

SEM

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0282

Application Deadline

9/11/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Research Project

This opportunity is located in Peoria, Illinois, at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The Functional Foods Research (FFR) unit focuses on developing bioactive food ingredients that provide health benefits and creating value-added products from low‑value agricultural resources. The project involves improving the healthfulness and shelf life of foods containing fats and oils by: 1) developing oleogels that mimic the texture of natural fats to replace saturated fats, and 2) developing natural antioxidants and coatings to prevent lipid oxidation. The work will involve collaboration with chemists, food scientists, materials scientists, plant scientists, and food engineers using a state‑of‑the‑art pilot plant, sensory laboratory, and advanced analytical instrumentation such as GC‑MS, HPLC, rheometers, FT‑IR, and SEM.

Learning Objectives

• Screen and train an in‑house descriptive sensory panel
• Design sensory panel tests for evaluation of food products
• Evaluate physical, chemical, and rheological properties of food products developed with oleogel‑based saturated fat replacements
• Assess shelf life of foods with natural antioxidants
• Analyze results of sensory evaluations and correlate with physical and chemical analyses

Mentor

Jill Moser ([e-mail])

Anticipated Start Date

October 2026 (start date flexible)

Appointment Length

Initially one year, renewal possible with funding availability

Level of Participation

Full time

Participant Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience, anticipated to be $74,678 annually, plus a monthly health‑insurance allowance and up to $3,000 for moving expenses.

Citizenship Requirements

U.S. citizens only

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields within the past year, or expected to receive the degree by 9/30/2026.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of food chemistry, sensory analysis, food microbiology/food safety, and food engineering
• Experience designing, running, and evaluating data from descriptive or consumer sensory panels
• Basic cooking/baking skills
• Experience with physical and chemical analyses relevant to food and nutrition

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral degree received within the last 12 months or currently pursuing
• Discipline(s): Chemistry and Materials Sciences (Analytical Chemistry, Bio‑organic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Chemistry (General), Materials Sciences); Life Health and Medical Sciences

Contact

Point of Contact: Sara Beth