USDA-APHIS History & Science Writing Fellowship
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
APHIS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), located in Manhattan, Kansas.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. APHIS' mission also includes addressing issues such as wildlife damage and disease management; regulation of genetically engineered crops and animal welfare; and protection of public health and safety as well as natural resources that are vulnerable to invasive pests and pathogens.
Research Project: The Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) was established at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) in 1984 and has continued to provide 24/7 diagnostic support to protect the United States against high-consequence, transboundary animal diseases. The mission of FADDL is transferring from PIADC to the newly established National Bio an Agro Defense Facility (NBAF). Over the decades, FADDL's mission has grown and adapted to address global threats to animal health. Although FADDL's history is full of accomplishments and successes, FADDL's story has not been told in its entirety. The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive historical review of FADDL's scientific mission.
Learning Objectives: Opportunities in this project include but are not limited to learning to review and analyze historical records of FADDL's scientific activities, interviewing current and former staff to identify major milestones and organizational changes, establishing historical timelines of FADDL's scientific mission, collecting and analyzing historical diagnostic test data, and documenting scientific achievements and analyzing the impact of those accomplishments. The fellow will learn and further develop project organizational skills, interviewing skills, and writing skills as well as interacting with scientists who have played a critical role in protecting the USA from transboundary disease incursion.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Robin Holland (Robin.Holland@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 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 APHIS 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 annual stipend rate for this appointment for a person with a Bachelor’s degree will be $35,000, Master’s degree will be $54,000 and with a Ph.D. degree will be $65,000. Candidates will be eligible to receive a health insurance allowance. Additionally, a travel allowance of $3,000 will be available to attend relevant trainings and conferences to present research findings.
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 APHIS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, APHIS, 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 USDA-APHIS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (in the humanities or biological sciences). Degree must have been received within the past one year.
Stipend
$35,000.00 – $65,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 12 month(s).