What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Postgraduate Research Opportunity in Soil Sciences position at Zintellect?
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southern Regional Research Center located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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 the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
Research Project: Environmental and agricultural research to develop value added products from waste biomass, including bio-fertilizer and other soil amendments. Participant will engage, under mentorship, in environmental and agricultural research to develop value-added products from waste biomass and other agricultural byproducts. Target finished products will include bio-fertilizer, bio-stimulant, and other soil amendments. Participant will gain laboratory skills to develop and characterize materials for microbial composition and physicochemical properties.
Learning Objectives: Participant will gain experimental skills including fluorescence spectrophotometry, electrochemistry, liquid chromatography, and simulated photochemical reactors to evaluate developed materials and to predict their environmental fate.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Sophie Uchimiya (sophie.uchimiya@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring 2025. 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.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation. Foreign national candidates may have a mandatory in-person requirement depending on visa status.
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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
