USDA-ARS Fellowship in Soil Health and Production Parameters in Organic Cropping Systems

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 43,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the USDA Agricultural Research Service invite applications for a full-time fellowship in Lincoln, Nebraska. The AMRU project focuses on comparing long-term organic crop rotations, with training in field sampling and laboratory analyses.

You will collect soil, land emissions and yield data under a mentor, gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, data handling and reporting across field and lab settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree earned within the last five years in one of the eligible disciplines.
• Experience in a laboratory, field, farm or greenhouse environment.
• Basic ability to tabulate data and perform statistical analyses using software packages.
• Experience in optimization of specialized equipment and automated test procedures.

Responsibilities

• Participate in field and laboratory activities to evaluate soil properties and crop performance in organic and conventional systems.
• Collect land emissions data, soil data, and yield data under mentorship.
• Receive training in sampling techniques, sample processing and lab analyses.
• Develop skills in experimental design, data summarization and reporting.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Data analysis

Automation optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in eligible disciplines

Tools

Statistical software

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-PA-2026-0348

Application Deadline

11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

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.

Within AMRU, our mission is to develop sustainable integrated cropping systems and livestock management technologies and disseminate useful information and technologies to customers.

ARS Office/Lab and Location

An opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit (AMRU) located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Research Project

The overall goal of the project is to compare the impact of different management practices in a long‑term organic crop rotation study in Eastern Nebraska. Interest in organic practices is increasing among grain producers in the Corn Belt as they seek to enhance sustainability and profitability. Organic farming systems typically incorporate manures and organic amendments, diversified crop rotations, and integrated weed management. During this fellowship, you will have the opportunity to train in both field and laboratory settings to evaluate dynamic soil properties and crop performance in organic and conventional systems.

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will help in collecting land emissions data, soil data, and yield data from long‑term organic research experiments in the Midwest USA. You will receive training in field sampling techniques, sample processing, and a variety of laboratory analyses.

Learning Objectives

• Methods of experimental design in field and laboratory trials;
• Soil, plant, and land emission sample collection and processing;
• Laboratory methods for assessing soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters;
• Data summarization and analysis.

This Opportunity Will Provide Opportunities For

• Collaborative research experience with scientists from multiple disciplines within soil, plant, and environmental sciences;
• Knowledge of organic and conventional agricultural practices;
• Increasing scientific communication skills.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Ariel Freidenreich ([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 have received a bachelor's degree in any of the disciplines listed in the opportunity’s eligibility criteria. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in a laboratory, field, farm or greenhouse environment
• Basic understanding of data tabulation and statistically analysis using computers and software packages
• Experience in optimization of specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures

Stipend

$3,865.00 – $4,098.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Janeen

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 65 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Biological Oceanography
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fish and Wildlife
  • Fisheries
  • Forest Resources and Science
  • Forestry Sciences
  • Hydrologic Sciences
  • Marine Biology
  • Marine Science
  • Natural Resources
  • Oceanography
  • Soil Science
  • Wildlife Management
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )