USDA-ARS Research Opportunity for Undergraduate or Graduate Student
*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) located in Manhattan, Kansas.
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 mission of the Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research unit is to protect the United States from zoonotic and emerging diseases of the highest consequence to animal and public health, through performance of basic and applied research to understand disease pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions. This appointment is for undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate school or students already enrolled in graduate school interested in animal science, public health, virology and emerging diseases.
Learning Objectives: As a result of this training, the participant will gain an understanding of the complexities and challenges of working inside a biocontainment laboratory. They will advance their knowledge of agricultural science and zoonotic and emerging diseases. Participants will improve their skills in communication (oral and written) and basic laboratory skills.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Lisa Hensley (lisa.hensley@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 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 for up to two additional years 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, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion before June 1, 2025. Degree must have been received within three years of the appointment start date.
Ideal undergraduate candidates should be seeking to pursue a graduate degree.