*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 Geneva, New York.

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.

The USDA - ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU), located on the Geneva, NY Campus of Cornell University, is a component of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The PGRU was formed in 1986 by merging the Northeast Regional Plant Introduction Station (NERPIS) and the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Apple, Tart Cherry and Grape (NGR). The two missions of the PGRU are the preservation of germplasm of selected crop plants and the breeding and improvement of apples.  Specific activities include acquisition, documentation, maintenance, characterization, breeding, enhancement and distribution of the assigned crops.  PGRU maintains approximately 20,000 different accessions, representing over 300 species. 

https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/docs/about-pgru/

Research Project: Participants will have the opportunity to explore genetic variation and investigate the mechanisms underlying key agronomic and disease-related traits across multiple crop species. Research will focus on hemp, onion, tomato, squash, apples, cherries, and grapes, with evaluations conducted in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments. One project will investigate the collection and storage of hemp pollen. 

Learning Objectives: Throughout the project, participants will gain hands-on experience and foundational knowledge in:

• USDA plant germplasm collections
• Plant phenomics and genomics
• Analytical chemistry techniques
• Plant propagation and tissue culture techniques

Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Zach Stansell (zachary.stansell@usda.gov), and Tyler Gordon (tyler.gordon@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 4, 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 $41,021 - $75,202 annually.

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.Northeast@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

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

Preferred skills:

• Previous experience with plants in a lab, greenhouse, and field would be beneficial.