*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 St. Paul, Minnesota.
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: The Forage Agroecosystems Lab in the USDA-Plant Science Research Unit focuses on the development and evaluation of cropping systems that include alfalfa and other perennial crops that are designed to improve soil health, increase productivity and efficiency, and build resilience. This project will focus on evaluating how alfalfa-grass interactions influence biological nitrogen fixation, soil health, and soil organic matter dynamics in mixed species forage production systems.
Learning Objectives: The participant will gain experience in the laboratory conducting assays to estimate biological nitrogen fixation in unique alfalfa populations using natural abundance and isotope dilution methodologies and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The participant will also gain experience with field-based eddy covariance (EC) systems to evaluate carbon dioxide and water vapor flux in multispecies forage production systems. They will have the opportunity to learn how to program and maintain field based infrared gas analyzers, how to assess data quality, and to post-process, and analyze high-frequency EC data. These research opportunities will provide technical skill development in plant ecophysiology, and nitrogen, carbon, and water cycling in agricultural systems.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Joshua Gamble (joshua.gamble@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; 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 is $66,624 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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be pursuing a master’s degree in one of the relevant fields.
Stipend
$66,624.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master’s Degree.