Postdoc Fellowship in Alfalfa Germplasm, Population Genetics and Breeding at USDA-ARS U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service in United States

Postdoctoral research opportunity in alfalfa germplasm, population genetics, plant breeding, and bioinformatics with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) in Prosser, Washington.

The project focuses on characterizing the USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System alfalfa collection (~4,100 accessions) using a 3K DArT SNP panel. The selected participant will genotype the collection, analyze genetic diversity and population structure, identify a genetically representative core subset, and support downstream phenotyping and marker-trait association work. The work includes collaboration with Breeding Insight and USDA-ARS/academic collaborators across multiple states.

Research activities include plant genetics, forage legume germplasm curation, molecular biology, data analysis, phenotyping in greenhouse and field settings, and management of genotype/phenotype data for public access. The program provides office, laboratory, greenhouse, field space, equipment, and supplies, and the participant will be mentored by team members and lead scientists.

Funding: full-time appointment for two years with an anticipated stipend of $89,508 annually, commensurate with education and experience. Health insurance is required for participation and may be obtained through ORISE. This is not an employment position and does not include employment-related benefits.

Eligibility: applicants must be U.S. citizens and currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the past four years or by the start date. Preferred experience includes agricultural plant sciences, plant genetic resources, forage legumes, plant genetics, plant breeding, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and data management.

Deadline: May 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.

How to apply: visit the Zintellect/ORISE opportunity page, scroll to the bottom, and click APPLY. Prepare an application, transcript(s), current CV/resume, and two recommendations. Use reference code USDA-ARS-HQ-2026-0031.