What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Biochemistry and Food Protein Fellowship 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 Albany, California.
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: Scientists at the facility are partnering with other USDA researchers and local small businesses to develop new technologies that enhance the nutritional and functional qualities of plant-derived foods and to develop novel methods to detect contaminants and contents in foods that affect food safety and quality. The projects the fellow participates in will focus on the production, extraction, purification, and characterization of natural and recombinant proteins important for food research. The participants will collaborate on this project under the mentor's guidance. They will participate in research and analysis of results and evaluate their relevance to food quality and safety.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn to incorporate their scientific and technical knowledge into food quality evaluation and food safety research. They will learn to design, develop, and optimize protein extraction and purification methods for proteins with diverse properties. They will further characterize proteins by spectrophotometric, biochemical, and immunological methods. The participant will also have the opportunity to interact with our collaborators and present their research to a wide range of audiences.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yuzhu Zhang (yuzhu.zhang@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, 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 $5,500 - $6,200 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.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Salary : $5,500 - $6,200