USDA-ARS Small Grains Summer Intern
*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 Aberdeen, Idaho.
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.
The Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, Idaho develops and releases improved varieties of barley, oat and potato germplasm with disease, pest and stress resistance. It also houses the National Small Grains Collection, a component of the National Plant Germplasm System, that maintains genetically diverse collections of wheat, barley, oat, rice, rye and other small grains.
Research Project: The participant will join a barley and oat improvement project, whose goals are to enhance barley and oat productivity, quality, and stress resistance by combining traditional, molecular, and genomics methods. The participant will be part of the research effort in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field environment, and will be involved in creating experimental designs and treatments, collecting experimental data, and analyzing and interpreting results. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will be given the opportunity to hybridize barley and oat plants, evaluate germplasm for phenotypic characteristics, perform DNA extractions and run PCR assays, create and validate molecular genetic markers, and analyze data using various statistical software packages. Attending mentor-approved meetings and workshops will be encouraged.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn the theory, methods, and skills to:
- Prepare and maintain plants for greenhouse and field research in small grains genetics.
- Design and validate PCR-based assays for single nucleotide polymorphisms using sequence data.
- Take greenhouse and field measurements of agronomically important traits.
- Evaluate treatment effects using appropriate statistical methods and to make inferences across experiments.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kathy Esvelt Klos (kathy.klos@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 18, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for three months, 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 $3,490 - $4,536.
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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Relevant coursework in Biology.
- Relevant coursework and knowledge of basic statistics.
- Experience with molecular biology laboratory research.
- Willingness to conduct field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments.
- Strong communication skills for collaborative experimental design and reporting results.
Stipend
$3,490.00 – $4,536.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.