USDA-ARS Biochemistry and Food Protein Fellowship

How To Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

• 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.  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.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PWA-

4/24/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located 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.

Scientists at the facility are partnering with other USDA researchers and local small businesses to develop new technologies that enhance the nutritional and functional qualities of plant‑derived foods and to develop novel methods to detect contaminants and contents in foods that affect food safety and quality. The projects the fellow participates in will focus on the production, extraction, purification, and characterization of natural and recombinant proteins important for food research.

The participant will collaborate on this project under the mentor’s guidance, participate in research and analysis of results, and evaluate their relevance to food quality and safety.

The participant will learn to incorporate their scientific and technical knowledge into food quality evaluation and food safety research; design, develop, and optimize protein extraction and purification methods for proteins with diverse properties; and further characterize proteins by spectrophotometric, biochemical, and immunological methods. The participant will also have the opportunity to interact with collaborators and present their research to a wide range of audiences.

The mentor for this opportunity is Yuzhu Zhang (yuzhu.zhang). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated start date:
As soon as possible, 2026. The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds. The appointment is full time. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $5,500 – $6,200 monthly.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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.

Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.Pacific West and include the reference code for this opportunity.

• Degree:
  Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in a relevant field received within the past five years.
• Discipline(s):
  Life Health and Medical Sciences, Basic Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology (General), Biophysics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Food Sciences and Technology, Immunology, Microbiology, Structural Biology.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree:
  Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months.
• Veteran Status:
  Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 months.

Janeen