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

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:  The position is located in the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit at Gainesville, Florida.  The mission of the unit is to develop integrated management systems for fire ants and emerging household insects.  The assignment is part of highly technical team research designed to develop new, effective, environmentally acceptable technologies and strategies for managing invasive fire ants.  Specific action plan goal addressed is development of an expression system capable of producing infectious Solenopsis invicta virus in fire ants.A major limitation for studying RNA viruses in fire ants is the lack of a cell line or infectious clone permitting generation of large quantities of these viruses.  Baculovirus expression has been recently successfully demonstrated for a related arthropod virus for the first time.  The incumbent will be expected to use and modify this methodology with the goal of expressing Solenopsis invicta viruses (SINV-1, -2 or -3) for study and development as a microbial insecticide.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Recent Ph.D. in molecular biology/virology/entomology or related disciplines appropriate to the position.   Professional knowledge in the fields of molecular biology and to a lesser extent insect pathology/virology is needed.  Previous experience in gene expression is desired.

CITIZENSHIP RESTRICTIONS APPLY:  Applicants must clearly indicate in their resume/CV their Country of citizenship.  To be employed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with ARS, applicants must be a citizen from a country listed on the following link:  http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/jobs/VISA/Countries.htm

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. Steven M. Valles
Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS-SAA
CMAVE, Imported Fire Ant & Household Insect Research Unit
1600 Southwest 23rd Dr.
Gainesville, FL  32608
Phone: 352-374-5834
Fax: 352-374-5818
E-Mail:  steven.valles@ars.usda.gov