What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Biology in Barley and Oat Pre-breeding position at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?
*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), Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit, located in Aberdeen, Idaho.
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 Project: You will join the barley and oat research group and collaborate closely with other team members to conduct collaborative research for improving yield, disease and pest resistance, abiotic tolerance and other important traits in barley and oats.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will:
- Gain experience collecting, preparing, evaluating, and verifying greenhouse and field samples and research records.
- Develop skills in maintaining research documentation and compiling scientific data from multiple sources.
- Learn to tabulate, statistically analyze, and summarize data related to disease responses and grain quality using research software and analytical tools.
- Build technical experience maintaining, calibrating, and modifying specialized laboratory and research equipment to support scientific studies.
- Gain exposure to adapting and developing research procedures that support barley and oat genetic improvement efforts.
- Learn about advanced agricultural research through participation in projects involving genomics, bioinformatics, and gene-editing of cereal crops.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Dongying Gao (dongying.gao@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: November 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.
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.
Salary : $38,000 - $41,000