USDA-ARS Antimicrobial Resistance and Precision Poultry Farming Fellowship

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) located in Athens, Georgia.

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 selected participant will help perform field and laboratory research to support food safety research with the Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit. The mission of the Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit is to study how chickens acquire antibiotic resistant food borne pathogens and to develop feasible interventions to stop their spread in a broiler chicken house. The participant will be involved in collection of environmental samples such as poultry litter from chickens. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will perform microbiological/physical/chemical analysis of chicken litter and feces as needed throughout the project.

Learning Objectives: Through this opportunity, the participant will gain an understanding of the gut health of broiler chickens and identify chicken behaviors and phenotypes that are correlated with "good and bad" gut health.

Mentor(s): The mentors(s) for this opportunity is Ade Oladeinde (ade.oladeinde@usda.gov) and Micah Lewis (micah.lewis@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 2024.  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 part-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend of $2,600, commensurate with educational level and experience. 

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).

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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields. 

Preferred skillsets and mindsets:

• Knowledge and laboratory skills in biology and engineering (general and applied)
• Experience with animal studies and extraction of DNA from bacteria

Possess a lawful and valid driver's license

Willingness to research in farm environments and poultry for data acquisition and research implementation

Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written formats 

Ability to research independently as well as collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree.