USDA-ARS Studies at the Interface of Agriculture and Nutrition
*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 Ithaca, New York.
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 project will conduct research on the nutritional quality of staple food crops and food products. This research will seek to improve the nutritional security of both domestic and food systems for the essential micronutrient iron. To do so, the project will utilize techniques from plant breeding, agricultural practices, nutritional science and food science. During the project, you will help investigate nutritional factors and agricultural practices that influence the nutritional quality of iron in staple food crops and food products. You will also be part of the mentor’s team conducting research on the nutritional quality of iron in staple food crops and food products.
Learning Objectives: You will be trained in state-of-the-art methods for assessing iron bioavailability from foods and apply those methods to address stakeholder needs. You will also be trained in techniques of liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-ES), for the analysis of phytochemicals and minerals relevant to the research problem.
During the appointment, you will gain valuable, highly marketable skills in nutritional and agricultural sciences. Techniques and application of models learned in this opportunity will enable the applicant to be highly competitive for future research at the interface of agriculture and nutrition.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Raymond Glahn (raymond.glahn@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 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 is $74,678 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.Northeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. nutritional sciences, agricultural sciences, or food sciences). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026.
Preferred skills:
- Specific skills in analytical chemistry such as LC-MS are highly desirable.
- A background in nutrition and dietetics will be highly useful for this opportunity.
- Knowledge of agricultural practices and plant breeding is also valuable.
Stipend
$74,678.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026 12:00:00 AM.