USDA-ARS Pastureland Conservation Outcomes Postdoctoral Research

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Temple (TX); On-site; USD 89,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend: $8,000–$10,000 monthly

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Temple, Texas, invites applications for a one-year research opportunity with the USDA-ARS Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory. The fellow will conduct field and laboratory studies, apply models, and contribute to conservation outcomes in pastureland systems. The stipend ranges from $8,000 to $10,000 monthly, with a December 2026 start date.

U.S. citizenship is required; appointment is full-time and supported by ORISE with agency

Qualifications

• The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field and laboratory research on pastureland conservation outcomes.
• Implement management treatments in ranch-scale experiments.
• Apply processing-based models and coding to analyze soil and water resources dynamics.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-PA-2026-0375

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

Application Deadline

11/20/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may 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), located in Temple, Texas.

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 project supports the mission of the USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory by advancing technologies and approaches that improve the efficient use of soil and water resources while promoting sustainable forage and crop production. You will have the opportunity to contribute to a ranch‑scale, long‑term research effort focused on evaluating conservation outcomes in pastureland systems. This will include field and laboratory research, implementation of management treatments, and the use of coding and process‑based models to analyze natural resource dynamics.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will build experience in plant and soil assessment, hydrologic monitoring, remote sensing, GIS applications, and processed‑based model calibration. The program is designed to develop you into an independent researcher capable of assessing pastureland conservation outcomes using advanced analytical and field‑based techniques. In addition, you will gain professional experience through collaboration across federal and university partners, involvement in large research teams, and opportunities to engage with scientific societies and contribute to peer‑reviewed publications.

Mentor(s)

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

December 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 or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Stipend

$8,000.00 – $10,000.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Janeen

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences
    • Analytical Chemistry
    • Bio-inorganic Chemistry
    • Bio-organic Chemistry
    • Biophysical Chemistry
    • Chemistry (General)
    • Environmental Chemistry
    • Inorganic Chemistry
    • Materials Sciences
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Physical Chemistry
    • Polymer Chemistry
    • Theoretical Chemistry
  • Engineering (4 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (4 )
      • Life Health and Medical Sciences (11 )
        • Mathematics and Statistics (3 )