What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Bachelor's Fellowship in Gut Microbiota of Dairy Cattle position at Zintellect?
*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 Madison, WI.
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: Sustainable dairy systems require animals that efficiently utilize nutrients, produce high milk yields, remain resilient to disease, and exhibit long productive lifespans (longevity) within the herd. These traits are strongly influenced by the microbial populations that colonize the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the forestomach, of ruminant species such as dairy cows.
During this fellowship, the participant will have the opportunity to be involved in the following aspects of the project: Characterization of factors that affect early-life microbial colonization; Identification of microbial biomarkers or endotypes linked to health and performance; and Development of strategies to manipulate the heifer microbiome for more efficient and environmentally sustainable milk production.
Learning Objectives: The selected participant will gain knowledge in DNA sequencing technologies and computational biology approaches. Hands-on experiences will include sample processing, DNA/RNA extraction, nucleic acid quality control, and sequencing assays. In addition, the participant will receive training in computational biology and statistical analyses using sequencing data generated from these activities. Opportunities to collaborate with other researchers, prepare presentations, and develop educational materials will further enhance learning.
These activities are designed to provide practical experience that complement the participant’s background while supporting the mission of the Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research Unit to improve production capacity, efficiency, product quality, and sustainability in integrated dairy systems.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Juliana Young (juliana.young@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 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 $45,000 - 55,000 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.
Salary : $45,000 - $55,000