What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Plant Breeding Internship 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), located in Pullman, Washington.
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 participate in multiple aspects of wheat breeding and genetics research with a focus on soft white and club wheat improvement. These include learning to cross wheat genotypes, growing and harvesting tissue for DNA extraction, growing and transplanting seedlings, and caring for plants in greenhouse settings. In the genetics laboratory, you will learn to extract DNA, quantify and normalize DNA, run molecular marker assays, and analyze results. You will also quantify various nutritional properties of whole-wheat flour, including fiber and mineral concentrations.
Learning Objectives:
- Learning to cross wheat genotypes, growing and harvesting tissue for DNA extraction, growing and transplanting seedlings, and caring for plants in greenhouse settings.
- Learning to extract DNA, quantify and normalize DNA, run molecular marker assays, and analyze results.
These activities fit the mission and will teach you skills for enhancement of the nutritional quality of foods and expand opportunities for American Farmers.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kim Garland-Campbell (kim.garland-campbell@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 1, 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 $4,000 - $4,200 per month.
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 : $4,000 - $4,200