USDA-ARS Nutrition Fellowship

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-NEA-2026-0146

How To Apply

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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Application Deadline

6/5/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• 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 Beltsville, Maryland.

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 mission of the Food Surveys Research Group (FSRG) is to monitor and assess the food consumption patterns and related behaviors of the U.S. population to deliver critical insights through surveys that support food and nutrition-related programs, public policy decisions, and national health priorities.

Research Project

Under guidance of the mentor, you will help provide input into research proposals, reports, manuscripts, and other survey-related methodology research aimed at improving USDA dietary intake surveys and assessment instruments.

During The Appointment You Will Help In

• Conducting research in modernizing options the USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method (AMPM) and development of databases used within the instrument during operation.
• Reviewing and optimizing currency of foods, food components, and food portions in such databases.
• Preparing research report documents and scientific manuscripts.
• Contributing to modernizing the AMPM.
  
  

You will have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with BHNRC and USDA scientists, federal and local agencies, and other nutrition researchers to evaluate the adequacy of the U.S. population's diets and to develop and provide responses to issues in food and nutrition.

Learning Objectives

You will enhance your expertise and skills in national dietary intake data collection by learning:

• How to conduct research aimed at modernizing existing systems, such as the USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method (AMPM), and the steps involved in developing operational databases.
• Techniques for reviewing, validating, and optimizing databases, including ensuring the accuracy and currency of information related to foods, food components, and food portions.
• Skills in preparing professional research reports and scientific manuscripts, including structuring, formatting, and presenting findings in a clear and impactful manner.
• Understanding strategies and approaches for contributing to the modernization of complex systems, focusing on improving efficiency and functionality.
  
  

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Alanna Moshfegh (alanna.moshfegh@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 8, 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 $84,000 - $85,000

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields, anticipated to be received by 6/8/2026.

Point of Contact

Janeen

Eligibility Requirements">3 )

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree to be received by 6/8/2026 12:00:00 AM.
• Discipline(s):
• Life Health and Medical Sciences ( Show more