USDA-ARS Internship

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Madison (WI)

On-site

USD 30,000 - 33,000

Full time

25 hours ago

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Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education invites applications for a mentored research opportunity with USDA ARS in Madison, Wisconsin. The program spans plant pathology, microbial ecology, and plant biology, with projects adaptable to interests and education requirements.

The appointment is full-time, with a stipend range of $2,655 to $3,000 per month and a January 2027 start date. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and health insurance is available through ORISE.

Qualifications

Associates or bachelor’s degree in a relevant science field with recent completion.
At least one semester of lab-based microbiology and one semester of lab-based research.

Responsibilities

Conduct microbiology and cell culture of fungi and bacteria.
Extract nucleic acids from plant or soil samples and analyze sequence data.
Apply gene expression analysis in microbes or plants.
Inoculate cereals with plant pathogens and rate disease symptoms.

Skills

Lab-based microbiology

Lab-based research experience

Micropipettes

Microbial culturing

Education

Associates or Bachelor's degree

Tools

Micropipettes

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0336

Application Deadline

10/9/2026 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), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Madison, Wisconsin.

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

This mentored research opportunity exists at the intersections of plant pathology, microbial ecology, and plant biology. Several ongoing projects are available and are adaptable to your interests and educational requirements: (1) classifying microbiome response in rhizosphere and phyllosphere to plants subjected to abiotic stress and/or pathogen infection, (2) understanding the role of host cell wall and carbohydrate composition in microbial community assembly, (3) developing and/or testing of biological control strains, (4) identifying mechanisms of biological control strains.

Learning Objectives

(a) Conduct microbiology, and cell culture of fungi and/or bacteria, microscopy and cellular staining techniques
(b) Complete nucleic acid extraction of plant and/or soil samples, amplification of barcode genes formicrobiome analysis, analysis of DNA sequence data
(c) Apply gene expression analysis in microbes and/or plants
(d) Understand inoculation of cereals with plant pathogens, rating disease symptoms, maintenance and care of plants in growth chamber and greenhouse settings

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Kristy MacCready (k.gdanetzmaccready@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

January 2027. 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.

Participant Stipend

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

The anticipated stipend range is $2,655 - $3,000 monthly.

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 ORISE.ARS.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing an associates or bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past one year and six months, or is anticipated to be received by 12/31/2026.

Preferred Qualifications