USDA-ARS Plant Biological Science Internship

Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-NE-2023-0450A
How to Apply

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A complete application consists of:

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

Application Deadline
5/10/2024 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and LocationA research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Kearneysville, West Virginia.

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 ProjectUnder the guidance of a mentor, the candidate will participate and collaborate in plant biology research activities focused on understanding the genetics and physiology of critical production traits in fruit trees. The opportunity will include field, greenhouse, and laboratory research activities related to tree breeding and biotechnology programs. 

Learning ObjectivesSkills learned may include nucleic acid extractions, DNA sequence analyses, plant phenotyping, genetic mapping, and tissue culture.

Mentor(s)The mentor for this opportunity is Chris Dardick (chris.dardick@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment LengthThe 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 ParticipationThe appointment is part-time or full-time.

Participant StipendThe participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. 

Citizenship RequirementsThis opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

ORISE InformationThis 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.Northeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's degree with an interest in one of the relevant fields.

Students interested in learning basic scientific laboratory techniques such as sterile technique, biotechnology, computational biology, molecular biology, genetics, and physiology are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Overall GPA: 2.80
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (18 )
  • Age: Must be 18 years of age
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