USDA-ARS Fellowship in Livestock Genetic Diversity

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 76,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is partnering with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Fort Collins, CO to offer a research opportunity for a doctoral candidate in Animal Breeding and Genetics. The appointment focuses on genetic diversity analysis across livestock populations, with access to tools like ADMIXTURE, TreeMix and GONe, and a one-year full-time commitment starting October 2026.

U.S.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a doctoral degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics, anticipated by 12/31/2026.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Skills

Genetic diversity analysis

Genetic uniqueness assessment

Cryopreservation genetics

Livestock genetics

Education

Doctoral degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics

Tools

ADMIXTURE

TreeMix

GONe

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-PA-2026-0357

Application Deadline

10/23/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and Location

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS), located at Fort Collins, Colorado.

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

During this appointment, you will have the opportunity to participate in projects focused on assessing the genetic diversity and how genetic diversity of pork quality changed from the 1990's to the present; determining the genetic uniqueness of chicken populations; and assessing genetic variability of cattle and swine semen samples placed under the stress of cryopreservation.

Learning objectives

• Proficiency in genetic diversity analysis and trend evaluation
• Expertise in assessing genetic uniqueness in livestock populations
• Evaluation of genetic resilience under stress conditions, such as cryopreservation
• Experience with advanced genetic assessment tools and methodologies using software programs such as ADMIXTURE, TreeMix, and GONe.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Harvey Blackburn ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

October 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 ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation

The appointment is full time.

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 [e-mail] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Animal Breeding and Genetics), anticipated to be received by 12/31/2026.

Stipend

$75,785.00 – $79,000.00 Yearly

Point of Contact

Janeen

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Animal Sciences
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.