USDA-ARS Field and Lab Fellowship

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-PA-

11/20/2026 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), Agriculture Research Service (ARS), located at Temple, Texas.

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 Grassland, Soil & Water Research Laboratory in Temple, TX conducts research on how to improve agronomic and economic efficiencies for row crops and grazing lands that will also reduce the producer's environmental impact. This opportunity is in support of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project that evaluates conservation practices with special emphasis on water quality and soil health.

During this fellowship, you will have the opportunity to be involved in research that supports the Conservation Effects Assessment Project that evaluates conservation practices in row crops and grazing lands with special emphasis on water quality and soil health. You will gain knowledge of common field and laboratory experimental procedures and how to operate equipment in both the field and lab environment.

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to participate in field research that may include collecting soil, plant or water samples, making treatments for field experiments (e.g., planting seed or applying fertilizer). Field equipment may include tractors, planters and hay equipment. Please note that field research may occur during adverse weather (e.g., extreme heat or cold, during rainfall events).

Laboratory activities may include processing soil, plant or water samples for analysis, performing standardized analyses or running laboratory equipment to analyze chemical constituents of soil, plant and water samples.

• Learn how conservation practices in row-crop and grazing land systems affect water quality and soil health.
• Gain hands‑on experience with common field and laboratory experimental procedures used in agricultural and environmental research.
• Develop skills in collecting soil, plant, and water samples under field conditions.
• Learn to establish and maintain field experiments, including planting seed, applying fertilizer, and implementing other experimental treatments.
• Become familiar with agricultural field equipment, including tractors, planters, hay equipment, and precision‑agriculture monitoring systems.
• Gain experience researching safely and effectively in varied field conditions, including heat, cold, and rainfall events.
• Learn how precision‑agriculture data are collected, managed, and used to support research in conservation practices.
• Develop laboratory skills for processing soil, plant, and water samples for chemical and physical analysis.
• Gain experience conducting standardized laboratory analyses and operating instruments that measure chemical constituents in environmental and agricultural samples.

The mentor for this opportunity is Douglas Smith (douglas.r.smith). If you have…