USDA-ARS Crop Germplasm Research Internship
A complete application consists of:
- 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. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
- 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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*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: Two research opportunities are currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) located in Geneva, New York.
Research Project: The mission of the PGRU is the preservation of germplasm of selected crop plants and the breeding and improvement of apples. Specific activities include acquisition, documentation, maintenance, characterization, breeding, enhancement and distribution of the assigned crops. Under the guidance of a mentor, the selected participants will contribute to curating and characterizing crop genetic resources. One opportunity will focus on the genetic resources of industrial hemp and selected vegetables and will support greenhouse, field, and lab activities in curating and characterizing genetic and phenotypic diversities of industrial hemp and selected vegetable germplasm. The participant for the opportunity must be able to pass random drug tests. The other opportunity will involve research regarding the genetic resources of grapes and apples with a particular focus on characterization of fruit quality and its related secondary metabolites by using genomic, bioinformatic, and metabolic analysis tools.
Learning Objectives: These participants will have opportunities to interact with PGRU scientists in the unit and gain contemporary research knowledge and skills in crop germplasm characterization and management.
Mentor(s): The mentor for these opportunities is Gan-Yuan Zhong (ganyuan.zhong@ars.usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 2020. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment(s) will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointments are full-time.
Participant Stipend: The participant(s) will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
ORISE Information: 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 program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Knowledge, experience, and skills in genetic diversity studies of crop genetic resources
- Experience using various horticultural, genetic, genomic, bioinformatic, and/or metabolic tools
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