USDA-ARS Mineral Sorption Impact on Nutrient and Contaminant Cycling in Agricultural Systems
Application Deadline
7/3/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*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 Beltsville, Maryland.
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 Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), located in Beltsville, MD, is the USDA's largest and most influential agricultural research installation, founded in 1910. It operates under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to enhance food security, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition. The Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab determines principles and practices integral to the development of sustainable agricultural systems. Multidisciplinary research investigates agroecological processes underlying the functioning of sustainable systems. Emphasis is also on the molecular biology of soil–root interactions, developing biologics to suppress soil-borne plant pathogens, and molecular biotechnology to produce nutrient-rich and long-lasting crops. Communication with the agricultural community and consumers who value sustainable agriculture is integral to defining research problems and transferring technology.
Research Project: The Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab uses laboratory- and field-based science to provide fundamental and applied knowledge that advances the management and sustainability of agricultural systems. This fellow will investigate how soil minerals control nutrient and contaminant cycling in agricultural systems through a variety of laboratory based techniques and specialized instrumentation. The fellow will contribute to fundamental geochemical knowledge by determining the mechanisms behind mineral sorption of common contaminants and nutrients, which is essential for understanding contaminant and nutrient fate and mobility into human food systems and contributes to reduced fertilizer costs for U.S. farmers.
Learning Objectives: They will receive training on several analytical instruments (total organic carbon and nitrogen analyzer, surface area analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), in addition to training in experimental setup and execution, as well as mentoring in manuscript composition. The fellow will also have the opportunity to attend scientific meetings to network with scientists, producers, and industry, and to present scientific advances from this fellowship.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Matthew Fischel (matthew.fischel@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 15, 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 - $60,000 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.Northeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields ( agricultural/soil science, environmental chemistry, or a related field).
Preferred skills:
- Experience in an analytical laboratory, running scientific instrumentation, and designing experiments.
- Experience with statistical analysis of experimental data and interpreting results to develop a results and discussion section.
- Experience collecting soil and plant samples from greenhouse or field experiments.
Stipend
$55,000.00 – $60,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master's Degree.