What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Project Baseline Seed Viability Internship position at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education?
Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-PA-2026-0256
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
8/28/2026 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.
This opportunity will occur at ARS's National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) which preserves germplasm of crops and wild species needed to support agriculture and sustain US landscapes. Most of the germplasm is in the form of seeds.
Research Project: ARS's National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) is tasked with preserving viability of seeds and other germplasm in perpetuity. NLGRP participates in collaborative research projects with groups interested in storing seeds for conservation or evolutionary biology studies and need an understanding of how long seeds survive in storage. One such study is Project Baseline that was initiated in 2010. Seeds have now been stored for about 15 years and it is time to assess if viability has changed over that time. This opportunity will assess viability by the speed and completeness that seeds in the study germinate. This data will be compared to the same measurements made in 2010-2012.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn the basics of curation of seed collections and gene banking, particularly as it relates to seed preservation and seed longevity. In addition, you will be exposed to about 100 species of seeds native to the US and will be able to identify species based on morphological characteristics. Through the viability evaluation, you will learn important skills in assessing how seeds germinate and understanding and providing germination requirements to dormant seeds. There will be some opportunity to evaluate symptoms of seed aging such as RNA integrity and thermal properties of seed oils.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Christina Walters (Christina.Walters@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for three months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is part time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $1,000 - $1,200 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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The candidate should be pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in any plant science discipline.
Preferred Skills
$1,000.00 – $1,200.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Janeen
Eligibility Requirements">6 )
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-PA-2026-0256
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
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
8/28/2026 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.
This opportunity will occur at ARS's National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) which preserves germplasm of crops and wild species needed to support agriculture and sustain US landscapes. Most of the germplasm is in the form of seeds.
Research Project: ARS's National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) is tasked with preserving viability of seeds and other germplasm in perpetuity. NLGRP participates in collaborative research projects with groups interested in storing seeds for conservation or evolutionary biology studies and need an understanding of how long seeds survive in storage. One such study is Project Baseline that was initiated in 2010. Seeds have now been stored for about 15 years and it is time to assess if viability has changed over that time. This opportunity will assess viability by the speed and completeness that seeds in the study germinate. This data will be compared to the same measurements made in 2010-2012.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn the basics of curation of seed collections and gene banking, particularly as it relates to seed preservation and seed longevity. In addition, you will be exposed to about 100 species of seeds native to the US and will be able to identify species based on morphological characteristics. Through the viability evaluation, you will learn important skills in assessing how seeds germinate and understanding and providing germination requirements to dormant seeds. There will be some opportunity to evaluate symptoms of seed aging such as RNA integrity and thermal properties of seed oils.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Christina Walters (Christina.Walters@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for three months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is part time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $1,000 - $1,200 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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The candidate should be pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in any plant science discipline.
Preferred Skills
- Interest in seed morphology and physiology.
- Detail oriented with data collection.
$1,000.00 – $1,200.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Janeen
Eligibility Requirements">6 )
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
- Discipline(s):
- Life Health and Medical Sciences (
Show more
Salary : $1,000 - $1,200