USDA-ARS Advancing Novel Solutions to Control Varroa Destructor in Managed Honey Bee Colonies

How to Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

• An application
• Transcript(s) – An unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Detailed information about acceptable transcripts is available.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations

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

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5/8/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Davis, California.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the USDA’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 delivers 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 Pollinator Health Laboratory in Davis, CA is located in the heart of the Central Valley and surrounded by agricultural lands, providing easy access to commercial beekeepers and realistic field settings to maintain experimental apiaries. Simultaneously, the facility contains state‑of‑the‑art instruments and equipment for performing complex arthropod bioassays as well as physiological and molecular analyses.

The Pollinator Health Laboratory is developing and testing novel tools and strategies to control Varroa destructor, a highly destructive parasite of honey bee colonies. The participant will perform bioassays on Varroa mites and honey bees, record data, collect samples, and conduct various molecular analyses on the collected samples, both in the laboratory and field using modern molecular techniques.

The participant will develop the ability to evaluate and enhance the health of honey bees and their colonies by performing a range of relevant tests and activities. They will evaluate and modify methods and procedures to best meet specific research goals, plan, implement, and maintain laboratory bioassays involving honey bees at various developmental stages and Varroa mites obtained from field colonies, adapt and apply techniques to study the physiological and biochemical responses of honey bees and Varroa mites to different treatments, and analyze samples collected from both field and laboratory experiments.

The mentor is Julia Fine (julia.fine). For questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

May 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on various factors.

The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Full time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $5,000 – $5,702 per month.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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…