USDA-ARS Plant Molecular Biology

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Albany (CA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) invites you to join Albany, California for a one-year, full-time research opportunity administered by ORISE. The project focuses on genetic engineering of wheat and potentially other plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and CRISPR components.

Under a mentor, you'll learn plasmid vector design, GAANTRY gene stacking, genome editing, and transgenic plant characterization. Start Fall 2026; appointment may be renewed, funds permitting; U.S.

Qualifications

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

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Job description

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-PWA-2026-0390

Application Deadline

12/4/2026 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), in Albany, California.

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 research project is focused on performing genetic engineering of wheat and potentially other plants with the goal of producing plants with novel desirable traits. Agrobacterium mediated transformation techniques will be developed, improved and utilized to introduce constructs of interest and CRISPR editing components to make transgenic plants. New technologies and approaches that improve the efficiency of performing plant genome engineering may also potentially be developed.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn and gain hands on experience using multiple molecular biology and plant biotechnology related tools and techniques including plasmid vector design and assembly, GAANTRY gene stacking, plant genetic engineering, genome editing and transgenic plant characterization techniques.

Mentor(s)

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

Fall 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 master's degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Stipend

$5,000.00 – $6,000.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Janeen

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Biology (General)
  • Botany
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences
  • Plant Sciences

Application Requirements

• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations

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