USGS ORISE Fellowship 2026 in Wildlife Transcriptomics and Environmental Toxicology, USA

-

Applications are now open for the USGS ORISE Fellowship 2026 in the United States. Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Laurel, Maryland, this one-year research fellowship focuses on transcriptomics, bioinformatics, wildlife toxicology, and environmental health. The fellowship offers an anticipated monthly stipend of $8,535 and provides an excellent opportunity for master's and PhD graduates to work on cutting-edge research involving PFAS, pesticides, algal toxins, and wildlife genomics.

Application Deadline: September 11, 2026

Fellowship Overview

Host Organization        U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Program        ORISE Research Fellowship
Location        Laurel, Maryland, USA
Research Area        Wildlife Transcriptomics & Environmental Toxicology
Appointment Length        1 Year (Renewable)
Start Date        August 3, 2026 (Flexible)
Application Deadline        September 11, 2026
Monthly Stipend        USD 8,535
Eligibility        U.S. Citizens & Lawful Permanent Residents

About the Fellowship

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), is offering a research fellowship for early-career scientists interested in environmental toxicology, wildlife genomics, and bioinformatics.

The fellowship is based at the USGS laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, where participants will investigate how chemical and biological contaminants affect wildlife health through changes in gene expression.

Researchers will work under the guidance of experienced USGS scientists while gaining hands-on experience with modern transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic analysis techniques.

Research Project

The fellowship focuses on understanding how environmental stressors alter gene regulation and organism health.

Major research topics include:

  • PFAS contamination

  • Pesticide exposure

  • Harmful algal toxins

  • Wildlife toxicology

  • Transcriptomics

  • Metatranscriptomics

  • Host–microbiome interactions

  • Molecular biomarkers

  • Environmental genomics

  • Ecosystem health

Researchers will investigate how these stressors influence gene expression across multiple avian species under both laboratory and field conditions.

The project aims to identify disrupted biological pathways, discover early indicators of physiological stress, and improve scientific understanding of contaminant-related health effects in wildlife.

Learning Opportunities

Participants will receive advanced training in:

  • Transcriptomic data analysis

  • Metatranscriptomics

  • Bioinformatics workflows

  • Wildlife toxicology

  • Environmental genomics

  • Multi-omics data integration

  • Computational biology

  • Molecular ecology

  • Scientific data interpretation

  • Natural resource management research

The fellowship combines laboratory research, field studies, and computational analyses to provide interdisciplinary research experience.

Mentor

The fellowship will be supervised by:

Dr. Natalie Karouna-Renier

USGS Research Mentor

Applicants with research-related questions may contact the mentor directly through the details provided in the official announcement.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

  • Monthly stipend of approximately USD 8,535

  • Full-time research appointment

  • Training in advanced transcriptomic technologies

  • Experience with state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools

  • Mentorship from USGS researchers

  • Opportunity to work on federally funded environmental research

  • Experience contributing to wildlife conservation and ecosystem health studies

Please note that ORISE participants are not considered employees of USGS or the U.S. Department of Energy and do not receive employee benefits. Proof of health insurance is required.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be currently pursuing or have completed a Master's or Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline.

  • Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

  • Have an academic background related to environmental science, life sciences, ecology, toxicology, bioinformatics, or related disciplines.

Preferred Skills

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:

  • Bioinformatics

  • Toxicology

  • Transcriptomics

  • Genomics

  • Molecular biology

  • Computational biology

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit:

  • Completed online application

  • Academic transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)

  • Current CV/Resume including:

    • Academic history

    • Employment history

    • Relevant research experience

    • Publications

  • Two educational or professional recommendations (minimum one recommendation required for mentor review)

All documents must be submitted in English or accompanied by an official English translation.

Appointment Details

  • Appointment Length: Initially one year

  • Renewal: Possible based on performance and funding availability

  • Work Schedule: Full-time

  • Location: Laurel, Maryland, USA

  • Expected Start Date: August 3, 2026 (flexible)

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship is ideal for researchers interested in:

  • Environmental Toxicology

  • Wildlife Biology

  • Molecular Ecology

  • Environmental Genomics

  • Bioinformatics

  • Transcriptomics

  • Toxicogenomics

  • Avian Biology

  • Conservation Biology

  • Environmental Health

Why Apply?

This ORISE fellowship provides an exceptional opportunity to work with the U.S. Geological Survey on nationally important environmental research. Fellows will gain expertise in cutting-edge omics technologies, collaborate with leading scientists, and contribute to research that supports wildlife conservation and science-based natural resource management.

Official Application Link


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where is this ORISE fellowship located?

The fellowship is hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Laurel, Maryland, USA.

2. What is the duration of the fellowship?

The appointment is initially for one year and may be renewed based on performance and funding availability.

3. What is the monthly stipend?

The anticipated stipend is USD 8,535 per month.

4. Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) and be currently pursuing or have completed a Master's or PhD in a relevant field.

5. Which research areas are covered?

The fellowship focuses on wildlife transcriptomics, bioinformatics, environmental toxicology, PFAS, pesticides, algal toxins, molecular ecology, and ecosystem health.

6. Is prior bioinformatics experience required?

A background in bioinformatics and toxicology is preferred but not explicitly required.

7. What documents are required?

Applicants must submit an application form, transcript, CV/resume, and two recommendations (at least one recommendation must be received for the mentor to review the application).

8. When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is September 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PhD, Postdoc, and Faculty Jobs at Uppsala University, Sweden – How to Apply?

-
Uppsala University, Sweden is currently offering multiple fully funded PhD positions, postdoctoral fellowships, faculty jobs, and research opportunities across a wide range of scientific and interdisciplinary fields for international applicants seeking academic careers in Europe. As Sweden’s oldest university and one of the top-ranked research institutions in Scandinavia, Uppsala University regularly advertises international opportunities for: PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, assistant professors, lecturers, researchers, and technical staff. The university publishes all opportunities through its official Jobs and Vacancies portal. Why Uppsala University? Uppsala University is internationally recognized for excellence in: life sciences, ecology, medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, physics, engineering and social sciences. The university combines: high-quality research, modern infrastructure, international collaboration, and strong academic funding. For internationa...
Read more

Fully Funded PhD (24) and Postdoctoral (8) Positions at University of Bonn, Germany – CRC 1780 FoodDiverse (2026)

-
The University of Bonn in Germany has announced a major international recruitment drive under the newly funded Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1780) titled “Food System Diversification for Sustainable Nutrition (FoodDiverse)” . The program offers 24 doctoral researcher positions and 8 postdoctoral researcher positions  across multiple disciplines related to sustainable food systems, agriculture, nutrition, biodiversity, economics, environmental science, epidemiology, bioinformatics, geoinformatics, and systems modeling. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), this large-scale interdisciplinary initiative aims to address one of the world’s most urgent challenges: transforming food systems to improve human health while reducing environmental degradation. Applications are open until 14 June 2026 . About CRC 1780 FoodDiverse CRC 1780 FoodDiverse is a multidisciplinary research initiative led by the University of Bonn in partnership with the University of Ghana. The project ...
Read more

Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at the University of Turin, Italy — 42nd Cycle (2026–2027)

-
If you are looking for a fully funded PhD opportunity in Europe, the University of Turin (UniTo), Italy, has opened applications for its doctoral programmes under the 42nd cycle for the 2026–2027 academic year. The university offers multiple funded PhD positions across science, technology, humanities, environmental studies, biotechnology, mathematics, and interdisciplinary research fields. The University of Turin is one of Italy’s leading public research universities and is internationally recognized for research excellence, collaborations, and strong doctoral training programs. Why Choose the University of Turin? University of Turin offers: Fully funded PhD scholarships International research environment English-taught doctoral programmes Access to European research networks Opportunities for mobility and international collaborations Research training workshops and seminars Affordable living costs compared to many European cities Italy has become increasingly attractive for internatio...
Read more