USDA-APHIS Science Communication Fellowship
Application Deadline
7/3/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
APHIS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), located in Ames, Iowa or Manhattan, Kansas.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. APHIS' mission also includes addressing issues such as wildlife damage and disease management; regulation of genetically engineered crops and animal welfare; and protection of public health and safety as well as natural resources that are vulnerable to invasive pests and pathogens.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) are a collection of internationally acclaimed diagnostic laboratories that address many complex and life-threatening diseases and pathogens, affecting both animals and humans. The NVSL's scientists conduct diagnostics, produce reagents, provide national and international training and travel the world in helping solve complex veterinary disease problems. The NVSL maintains laboratories at the National Centers with Animal Health (NCAH) in Ames, Iowa; National Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas; Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) in Orient, New York; and in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The NVSL diagnostic laboratories provide scientific and technical support to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Program Units engaged in regulations enforcement and animal disease control and eradication.
Research Project: This project focuses on enhancing the National Veterinary Services Laboratories’ (NVSL) scientific communication and outreach efforts. The scope includes developing and refining scientific communications, creating and updating website content, supporting presentation development, and improving data organization and management processes to ensure accurate, accessible, and impactful dissemination of information to both internal and external audiences.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will learn how regulatory language is developed, interpreted, and applied within a federal framework, gaining practical insight into policy development processes and requirements. With the mentor’s assistance, the fellow will develop skills in crafting routine customer and organizational communications that promote clarity, engagement, and understanding of operational activities. The fellow will also learn how to responsibly and effectively use artificial intelligence and large language models to support communication strategies and policy development. Additionally, with mentorship and collaboration from scientific subject matter experts, the fellow will deepen their understanding of disease-specific communications, laboratory testing procedures, and the development of scientific publications.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Suelee Robbe-Austerman (suelee.robbe-austerman@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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 APHIS 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 $41,000 - $50,000 (bachelor's), $62,000 (master's), $75,000 (doctoral) 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 APHIS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, APHIS, 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 USDA-APHIS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (scientific communication or similar field). Degree must have been received within the past five years.
Also would consider degrees in the following, provided they have interest in communications:
- Animal Science
- Microbiology
- Clinical Science
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Pathology
Preferred Skills:
- Proficiency in technical writing, oral communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Understanding and experience with data management best practices
- Contributing to development of evidence-based recommendations for regulatory policy enhancement
- Preparation of scientific presentations
- Drafting updates to regulatory guidance documents
- Contributing to peer-reviewed publications
- Experience writing documents to communicate information to lay persons and technical persons
Stipend
$41,000.00 – $75,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026 11:59:00 PM.