USDA-ARS Entomology Museum Internship

*Applications may be 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 Washington, D.C.

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: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will gain education and training experience in arthropod collection curation techniques. 

Learning Objectives: Through this opportunity, the participant will gain experience in:

• Insect identification
• Macro-and micro- photographic techniques
• Specimen dissection and preparation
• Database development
• Insect illustration techniques on a broad array of insects of agricultural importance

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Michael Gates (michael.gates@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Summer 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for three months 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 and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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 pursuing or have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Biology, Entomology, Physics). Degree must be received within the last 5 years or be currently pursuing.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, general knowledge of insect morphology and taxonomy, and knowledge of scientific nomenclature.
• Experience with botany, insect collecting techniques, and data input is helpful.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree.