USDA-ARS Biological Science Fellowship
*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 Poplarville, Mississippi.
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: One of the primary objectives of the Current Research program at USDA-ARS Southern Horticultural Laboratory is to develop germplasm and new cultivars that enable improved plant quality, increased productivity, improved profitability for small fruit and ornamental producers in the Southeast U.S. For ornamental plants, although traditional breeding techniques are the most appropriate and cost effective for cultivar improvement, leveraging newer techniques such as ploidy manipulations, marker-assisted breeding, and plant transformation can accelerate the development of improved cultivars. A research opportunity is currently available at the Southern Horticultural Laboratory. Under the guidance of a mentor, selected candidate will help conduct both basic and applied genetic/ breeding research on horticultural crops to improve their climatic adaptation, landscape utility, consumer appeal and pest resistance. Methodology used in the development of enhanced plant materials encompasses field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments to identify accessions and germplasm possessing traits desirable for use in generating breeding lines and ultimately new and improved cultivars.
Specifically, the participant will be involved in research activities indicated below:
- In the greenhouse and field, the candidate will collaborate in maintaining and caring for hibiscus, blueberry, and muscadine plants, conducting hybridization and plant evaluations, and collecting and recording morphological data.
- In the laboratory, the participant will help with muscadine and blueberry fruit quality analysis, ploidy manipulation, chromosome analysis, tissue culture and transformation.
- Help maintain and care for plants in greenhouse and field.
- Conduct hybridization in horticultural plants.
- Conduct research in ploidy manipulation using antimitotic agents.
- Performs plant tissue culture and transformation.
- Observes and evaluates horticultural plants and breeding populations for morphological, physical, and flower and fruit traits, and stress resistance in field and greenhouse.
- Helps conduct blueberry and muscadine fruit quality analysis.
- Searches scientific literature for principles, methods, and procedures and selects the most appropriate for research goals and fiscal resources.
- Maintains official laboratory notebooks, recording methods and procedures used, and any procedural modifications, observations, and results obtained.
- Collects and organizes experimental data and progress and presents results in the form suitable for oral presentation or posters for scientific meetings.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop skills in plant breeding including hybridization techniques.
- Become familiar with ploidy manipulation techniques and analysis using flow cytometry, microscopy, and conventional chromosome analysis techniques.
- Become familiar with blueberry and muscadine fruit quality analysis techniques.
- Develop skills in plant tissue analysis and transformation.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Hamidou Sakhanokho (Hamidou.Sakhanokho@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 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 $55,000 - $65,000 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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. biological sciences, molecular biology, plant breeding/genetics, plant tissue culture and transformation, botany, physiology, or a related discipline). Degree must have been received within the past four years, or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026.
Preferred skills:
- Experience in molecular biology techniques and tissue culture and transformation is preferred.
- Willingness to conduct laboratory and field experiments.
- Strong oral and written communication skills for reporting research results.
Stipend
$55,000.00 – $65,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 48 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026 12:00:00 AM.