THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:  The position is located in the US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS, Madison, Wisconsin. The incumbent is responsible for enhancing research on the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of forages and improvement of forage utilization by dairy cattle.  Research assignment includes conducting and reporting results from animal trials to measure intake and digestibility; in vitro experiments to measure digestibility, indigestible residues and digestion kinetics; and measurements of chemical, physical and spectral properties of forages that are related to fiber digestion. Incumbent will develop research plans and conduct experiments to address some aspects of the following objectives: (1) evaluate forage genotypes and identify forage characteristics and dietary interactions that alter nutrient digestibility by lactating dairy cattle and (2) improve accuracy, reproducibility, and ease of measuring/estimating feed digestibility and validate the usefulness of in vitro, in situ, or small ruminant digestibility in predicting the utilization of nutrients by high-producing lactating dairy cows, or (3) assess the effects of level of intake and digestion kinetics on diet component digestibility by high-producing lactating dairy cows.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in animal or dairy nutrition or in a related field with a strong background in forage evaluation is required.  Background in laboratory methods and experience with animal evaluation of forages will be needed to meet research objectives.

INFORMATION ON SALARY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS is available at: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html

INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Dr. David R. Mertens
US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS
1925 Linden Drive West
Madison, WI 53706-1108
Phone: 608-890-0066
Fax: 608-890-0076
Email: David.Mertens@ARS.USDA.GOV