USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Associate Microbial Ecology in Insect-Plant-Microbe Interactions

How to Apply

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

• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, 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.  for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Contact information of two educational or professional recommendations

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

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PWA-

3/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) located in Hilo, Hawaii.

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 mission of the Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit at USDA‑ARS in Hilo, Hawaii is to develop pre‑ and postharvest technologies and management strategies for invasive pests, and to open and maintain market access and improved quality of tropical fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown in the Pacific Basin.

The postdoctoral research fellow will participate in team research on the microbial ecology of Bactrocera fruit flies, with the goal of understanding how associated microbes shape ecology, foraging behavior, and reproduction of fruit flies. The project emphasizes ecological and experimental approaches to insect‑microbe interactions, including manipulation of specific microbes or microbial communities to test causal relationships between microbes and insect behavior.

Specific activities will include the isolation and characterization of microbes from fruit flies and host plants, manipulation of the fly microbiome using axenic flies and antibiotic treatments, and behavioral assays to assess microbial effects on insect performance and preference. Chemical ecology tools, including profiling of microbe‑derived volatiles, will be used as complementary methods to help link microbial communities with behavioral responses.

The postdoctoral fellow will participate in planning, experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.

This opportunity will provide exposure to cutting‑edge techniques in microbial ecology, insect‑microbe interactions, and experimental ecology, with additional exposure to chemical ecology methods and scientific writing, preparing the researcher for independent research in ecological and pest management sciences.

The mentor for this opportunity is Dong Cha (dong.cha). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

As soon as a suitable candidate is selected. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of 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.

The appointment is full time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

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

This program, administered by ORAU through its…