USDA-ARS Research Participant in Soil Conservation
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
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. 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.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Morris, Minnesota.
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.
Research Project: The North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory (NCSCRL) is a leader well known for its research and development of new and alternative oilseed crops and cropping systems for the Midwestern United States. The candidate chosen for this opportunity will join an exciting, driven, and diverse research team focused on developing new oilseed crops and cropping systems.
Learning Objectives: The intern will receive hands-on experience in a variety of activities that include: planting, fertilizing, and harvesting crops; collecting plant and soil samples for laboratory analysis; conducting, processing, and analyzing plant and soil samples, such as analyzing seed oil and protein content using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Near Infrared spectrometry (NIR); helping maintain integrity of field research plots; learning how to and performing a range of techniques (e.g., evaluating plant photosynthetic performance and measuring gas emissions from soil) using a variety of specialized equipment (e.g., porometer/fluorometer and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) gas analyzer); learning to maintain and calibrate specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures; and maintaining detailed records of experimental data and summarizing data using personal computers and software packages.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Russ Gesch (russ.gesch@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 1, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment 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 appointment is full time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $4,205 - $5,144 monthly.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.
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 ORISE.ARS.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. biology, chemistry, mathematics, botany, horticulture, entomology, agronomy, agriculture, or environmental science).
Preferred skills:
- Ability to learn new procedures rapidly and apply them precisely
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge and/or experience in how to conduct replicated field or laboratory research
- Good mathematical skills
- Knowledge or experience in a laboratory setting
- Good field and laboratory safety etiquette
- Experience and ability to collaborate in a diverse team setting
- Skill at using word processing and spreadsheet software
- Good note taking and recording of scientific data skills
- Experience performing a variety of standardized or routine duties in a lab, field, or greenhouse
- Ability to perform outdoors for long hours sometimes in harsh environmental conditions
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Practical working knowledge or experience in farming/agriculture
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