USDA-ARS Fellowship in Soil Health and Production Parameters in Organic Cropping Systems

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PA-

11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.

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.

Within AMRU, our mission is to develop sustainable integrated cropping systems and livestock management technologies and disseminate useful information and technologies to customers.

An opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit (AMRU) located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The overall goal of the project is to compare the impact of different management practices in a long‑term organic crop rotation study in Eastern Nebraska. Interest in organic practices is increasing among grain producers in the Corn Belt as they seek to enhance sustainability and profitability. Organic farming systems typically incorporate manures and organic amendments, diversified crop rotations, and integrated weed management.

During this fellowship, you will have the opportunity to train in both field and laboratory settings to evaluate dynamic soil properties and crop performance in organic and conventional systems.

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will help in collecting land emissions data, soil data, and yield data from long‑term organic research experiments in the Midwest USA. You will receive training in field sampling techniques, sample processing, and a variety of laboratory analyses.

• Methods of experimental design in field and laboratory trials;
• Soil, plant, and land emission sample collection and processing;
• Laboratory methods for assessing soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters;
• Data summarization and analysis.

• Collaborative research experience with scientists from multiple disciplines within soil, plant, and environmental sciences;
• Knowledge of organic and conventional agricultural practices;
• Increasing scientific communication skills.

The mentor for this opportunity is Ariel Freidenreich (ariel.freidenreich). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

October 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

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.

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…