USDA-ARS Plant Health and Production Fellowship

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit (FNPRU), the research division of the US National Arboretum. 

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 Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository (WLPGR) is the USDA-ARS designated gene bank for over 200 genera of temperate trees, shrubs, and lianas. The WLPGR is responsible for the collection, characterization, maintenance, regeneration, and distribution of germplasm and associated information in order to benefit plant conservation and the broader scientific community. The selected participant will primarily be involved in the propagation, production, maintenance, and management of woody plant germplasm. Propagation will include seed, vegetative, and in vitro techniques as required for a diverse array of wild species and clonal germplasm accessions. Plant production and maintenance will utilize glasshouses, poly-tunnels, cold frames, and field plantings to manage a dynamic inventory serving the US National Arboretum living collections and plant distributions to external stakeholders in research, conservation, and plant breeding fields. The participant will interact with the entire germplasm repository team to fulfil collaborative research and conservation goals including the recovery of cryopreserved propagules, asexual propagation of important genotypes, and phenotypic evaluation of select crops. 

Learning Objectives: The participant will receive training in the propagation and production of temperate woody plants from around the world using seed and asexual techniques including cuttings, grafting, and tissue culture. The participant will improve their skills in plant identification and conducting horticultural and conservation-focused research. As part of the program, the participant will learn broad skills in managing plant germplasm as part of a genebank, including the use of GRIN-Global databases; seed testing, processing, and storage; data collection and analysis; and horticultural techniques including pruning, planting, and scouting.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Todd Rounsaville (Todd.Rounsaville@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2023.  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.

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 USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion by June 1, 2023. Most recent degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred Skills: