The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute Research Fellow (Precision Aquaculture

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA-ARS-NEA-

8/28/2026 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 Shepherdstown, West Virginia. 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 TCF Freshwater Institute has led research and innovation in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for four decades, with the goal of improving RAS sustainability and economic viability. Our team of scientists, biologists, and engineers continues to refine RAS technologies, develop and test novel solutions, and publish findings as open-access articles to benefit the growing RAS industry. To learn more about the Freshwater Institute, visit https://

To learn more about The Conservation Fund, visit https://.

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will contribute to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) cooperative research project, “Innovating New Technologies that Improve Efficiencies of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems.” This fellowship will focus on investigating the use of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, olfactory sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor fish health and welfare in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). You will have the opportunity to participate in the Precision Aquaculture initiative to gain skills and experiences assigned by the lead Research Scientist.

Learning activities will include integrating sensors and developing prototypes to collect multispectral, hyperspectral, and volatile compound data in challenging aquaculture environments; helping to develop AI-driven data processing pipelines for fish health and welfare monitoring; and supporting the development of decision-support tools and robotic solutions for RAS.

• Gain experience participating in multidisciplinary research activities supporting the Precision Aquaculture initiative.
• Learn to develop, integrate, and validate sensor systems and prototype devices for imaging and chemical sensing applications in aquaculture.
• Build skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision by contributing to tools that monitor fish health and welfare.
• Strengthen research skills through experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Enhance scientific communication abilities with technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and collaborations with industry partners.

The mentor for this opportunity is Dr. Rakesh Ranjan ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

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.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
The anticipated stipend range is $75,000 to $82,000 annually, plus an additional supplement toward the cost of health insurance.

This opportunity is available…