USDA-ARS Forage Legume Breeder

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-

Final date to receive applications

11/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may close before the deadline.

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 Madison, Wisconsin.

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

This opportunity will provide you a hands-on experience in forage legume breeding. You will have the opportunity to collaborate within a national plant breeding network. You will also have the opportunity to conduct breeding data analysis using phenotypic and genotypic data. You will participate in breeding cover crops such as hairy vetch, crimson clover, and Austrian winter pea.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: describe aspects of forage breeding including phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of plants, plant pollination and seed production, research plot establishment and evaluation, and greenhouse activities associated with plant breeding.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Heathcliffe Riday (heathcliffe.riday). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

December 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.

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 and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

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

Preferred Skills

• Foundational education and/or skills in plant breeding, small plot agricultural research, and/or farming.
• Capacity to analyze data and handle and manipulate large data sets with proficiency in python, R, and/or SAS.
• Capacity to operate, handle, and transport small scale agricultural equipment such as tractors and harvesters
• Basic knowledge of agricultural land management such as tillage, pest and weed management, and/or equipment trouble shooting.
• Skills in practical remote sensing such as drone operations, image acquisition and processing, equipment fabrication and testing, and/or data analysis and summarization.
• Skills in DNA marker assisted breeding such as GWAS, GBLUP, and/or DNA data processing and analysis.

Stipend

$4,000.00 – $6,250.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Michele

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree:
  Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  Life Health and Medical Sciences (
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences
  • Plant Sciences