USDA-ARS Plant Pathology 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 improved disease and pest 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 combing 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.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the intern will be given the opportunity to participate in preparing plant bacterial colonies of Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens (Xtt), evaluating barley, oat and wheat germplasm for bacterial leaf streak infection, creating and validating molecular markers specific to Xtt, quantifying bacterial DNA in infected host tissues, and correlating bacterial DNA content with bacterial colonies, all of which will enhance the participant's training and skills. Attending mentor-approved meetings and workshops will be encouraged.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Belayneh Yimer (belayneh.yimer@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 4, 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 $4,800 - $5,600 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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or has received a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 5/1/2026.
Preferred skills:
- Relevant coursework in Biology and agricultural sciences.
- Experience with molecular biology techniques.
- Experience with microorganisms.
- Willingness to conduct field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments.
- Strong communication skills for collaborative experimental design and reporting results.
Stipend
$4,800.00 – $5,600.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/1/2026 11:59:00 PM.