What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow in Evaluating Fish Responses to Conservation Practices position at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education?
Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0071
How To Apply
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
A Complete Application Consists Of
Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!”
Application Deadline
4/10/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
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 Soil Drainage Research Unit is located on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio (https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/columbus-oh/soil-drainage-research/). Management of excess water on agricultural lands, to reduce or prevent detrimental on-site and off-site impacts, is the most serious production problem facing agriculture in the cool, humid region of the U.S. The mission of the Soil Drainage Research Unit is to develop integrated water, land, and crop management systems and conservation practices that support profitable agriculture and environmental protection within this region. Research being conducted by Unit scientists is part of the USDA ARS Water Availability and Watershed Management National Program (NP 211).
Research Project: The postdoctoral research fellow will have the opportunity to conduct research and statistical analyses to document the effects of multiple conservation practices on fish communities in agricultural streams and rivers in the United States as part of the USDA ARS’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project.
Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral research fellow will learn new skills related to the management of large databases and the statistical analyses of fish community responses to multiple environmental factors (i.e., hydrologic conditions, water chemistry, watershed characteristics). Additionally, the postdoctoral research fellow will gain experience writing peer review papers and presenting research findings at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Peter "Rocky" Smiley (rocky.smiley@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as possible. 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 $78,000 - $80,376 annually.
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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Doctoral degree must have been received within the past five years or is anticipated to be receive by/in Summer 2026.
Preferred Skills
$78,000.00 – $80,376.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Sara Beth
Eligibility Requirements">5 )
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0071
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, publication list, and list of list of scientific presentations (i.e., scientific conference presentations, departmental seminars, stakeholder meeting presentations, etc.)
- Three educational or professional recommendations
- Two copies of reprints of two peer review articles
Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!”
Application Deadline
4/10/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
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 Soil Drainage Research Unit is located on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio (https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/columbus-oh/soil-drainage-research/). Management of excess water on agricultural lands, to reduce or prevent detrimental on-site and off-site impacts, is the most serious production problem facing agriculture in the cool, humid region of the U.S. The mission of the Soil Drainage Research Unit is to develop integrated water, land, and crop management systems and conservation practices that support profitable agriculture and environmental protection within this region. Research being conducted by Unit scientists is part of the USDA ARS Water Availability and Watershed Management National Program (NP 211).
Research Project: The postdoctoral research fellow will have the opportunity to conduct research and statistical analyses to document the effects of multiple conservation practices on fish communities in agricultural streams and rivers in the United States as part of the USDA ARS’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project.
Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral research fellow will learn new skills related to the management of large databases and the statistical analyses of fish community responses to multiple environmental factors (i.e., hydrologic conditions, water chemistry, watershed characteristics). Additionally, the postdoctoral research fellow will gain experience writing peer review papers and presenting research findings at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Peter "Rocky" Smiley (rocky.smiley@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as possible. 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 $78,000 - $80,376 annually.
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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Doctoral degree must have been received within the past five years or is anticipated to be receive by/in Summer 2026.
Preferred Skills
- Strong interest in fish ecology, stream ecology, and the application of research results to guide the management of natural resources within agricultural streams and rivers
- Experience with collecting fishes and measuring hydrological, water chemistry, and other types of physical habitat data from agricultural streams and rivers
- Experience with designing field studies to evaluate the effects of management practices on fishes and habitat within agricultural streams and rivers
- Experience conducting statistical analyses of field data collected to evaluate the effects of specific management practices and/or the effects of multiple environmental factors on fishes within agricultural streams and rivers
- Experience with scientific writing, giving scientific presentations, and management of large databases
$78,000.00 – $80,376.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Sara Beth
Eligibility Requirements">5 )
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
- Discipline(s):
- Environmental and Marine Sciences (
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Salary : $78,000 - $80,376