USDA-ARS Opportunity in Data Science and AI for use in Cropping Systems Research
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
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 Columbia, Missouri.
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 fellowship will collaborate in partnership with scientists at the Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit in developing and evaluating cropping systems that boost the productivity and economic viability of grain farmers in the Midwest and Midsouth US.
Learning Objectives: During this appointment, the participant will learn the following: processing, formatting, analyzing, and curating agronomic, environmental, and management datasets related to multiple ongoing research projects. Additional opportunities will be the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to maximize information retrieval from geospatial and temporal datasets. The participant will also help create datasets and metadata for public archiving and will develop skills in summarizing and presenting research findings.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Curtis Ransom (Curtis.Ransom@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: February 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.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $60,000 - $85,000 annually.
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@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Data processing and statistical analysis, application of artificial intelligence or machine learning methods, and development of reproducible data workflows.
- Experience with agricultural, environmental, or geospatial data is desirable.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to perform collaboratively across multiple research projects are preferred.
Stipend
$60,000.00 – $85,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree.