USDA-ARS Sustainable Water and Soil Management Internship
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 Parlier, California.
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.
The San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center's mission is to conduct innovative research to increase productivity, quality, and marketability of crops by solving agricultural problems in an environmentally sustainable manner (https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/parlier/sjvasc/). The center is located in the San Joaquin Valley of California on a 130-acre tract of land which includes 100 acres of agricultural land that is used for research. San Joaquin Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. Water Management Research is one of three major units at the center and has the mission to develop management strategies that use water efficiently, improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, and protect water quality in irrigated agriculture.
The training opportunity is provided by Water Management Research unit, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Research Project: The participant will receive structured, mentored training in agricultural and environmental research within the USDA-ARS Water Management Research Unit in Parlier, CA. Under the guidance of ARS scientists, the participant will learn field and laboratory research methods that support sustainable water and soil management in the San Joaquin Valley. Training will include establishing and maintaining field crop experiments; conducting plant physiological and soil measurements; operating soil respiration, moisture, and related instrumentation; and helping with irrigation system setup and maintenance. The participant will also gain experience in collecting, preparing, and processing plant, soil, and water samples, and will learn standard laboratory procedures, data organization practices, and introductory analysis techniques.
Learning Objectives: Additional training will cover research safety, equipment operation, and accurate documentation of scientific activities. Through collaboration with multiple research teams, the participant will develop practical technical skills, strengthen their understanding of agricultural and environmental science, and build a strong foundation for future academic or professional pathways in water management, soil health, and crop research.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Sultan Begna (Sultan.Begna@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 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 $3,200 - $3,418 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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past one year, or anticipated to be received by 6/30/2026.
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