Application Deadline
6/19/2026 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 Ames, Iowa.
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 project, as part of the Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, seeks to identify methods to reduce Salmonella in tissues and macrophages of food animals (pigs and cattle) to improve food safety. Under the guidance of a mentor, the project for the participant would include assessing infectivity of cells by Salmonella, assessing immune responses, and testing different compounds for their ability to limit Salmonella infectivity and/or growth. Participants may also participate in animal trials as part of their learning experience.
Learning Objectives: The participant will have the opportunity to learn how to derive and isolate different macrophages, gaining experience in cell culture. The participant may also learn how to perform Salmonella infectivity assays, gaining experience in microbiology techniques. The participant may improve their assessment ability of immune responses through ELISA and real-time PCR. Lastly, the participant will have the opportunity to learn immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques to assess Salmonella colonization in tissues and the subsequent immune response. The participant may learn how to develop written protocols for lab assays, collect relevant data, interpret results, and scientific communications of research findings.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Crystal Loving (crystal.loving@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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. The anticipated stipend range is $3,414 – $3,814 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 be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor’s degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past two years, or anticipated to be received by 6/15/2026.
Preferred skills:
- Coursework, training opportunities, or gained experience with basic laboratory techniques (making buffers, pipetting, glassware preparation), basic microbiology, or immunology techniques.
- These could include culture of bacteria, isolation of nuclei acids, and preparation of bacterial growth media.
- Experience with basic immunology techniques, including isolation of primary immune cells, culturing of cells, and performance of PCR and/or ELISA
Stipend
$3,414.00 – $3,814.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree received within the last 24 months or currently pursuing.