Application Deadline
9/11/2026 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), at the Southern Regional Research Center located in New Orleans.
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 participant will contribute to research associated with USDA-ARS Project 6054-41000-107-00D, “Nutritional Benefits of Health-Promoting Rice and Value-Added Foods.” The participant will assist with studies focused on inducing phytoalexins and other bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, in rice, soybean, and sugarcane. Activities will include identifying phytoalexins in plant extracts using UPLC-MS (Waters QToF) and isolating individual compounds through analytical and preparative HPLC techniques.
The participant’s activities will specifically support Sub-objective 1.3, which focuses on the production of activated food products from rice for applications in human diets that promote health and nutrition.
Learning Objectives: During this appointment, the participant will learn methods for inducing phytoalexins and other bioactive compounds in rice and compare these responses with soybean and sugarcane systems to better understand strategies for developing foods enriched with beneficial compounds. They will gain experience analyzing plant extracts and food materials for phytoalexin content, polyphenolic compounds, total phenolics, soluble and insoluble fiber, and starch digestibility. They will also develop technical skills in operating HPLC and related analytical instrumentation for plant compound analysis, as well as methods for isolating individual bioactive compounds for use in in vitro cell biology studies.
Mentor(s): The mentors(s) for this opportunity is Stephen Boue (steve.boue@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 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.
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 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.Southeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or are currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in one of the relevant fields.
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree.