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USDA-ARS Internship for Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Wheat and Oat Quality

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and LocationA research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory located in Fargo, North Dakota.
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: The Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory evaluate wheat and oat genotypes for physical and biochemical traits related to oat nutritional, processing, and end-use quality. The projects identify wheat and oat lines that are of superior processing, nutritional, and end-use quality traits before they are considered for commercial release. This research will aid the release of wheat and oat cultivars with improved quality traits (including nutritionally important biochemical components), increase the market value and consumption of U.S. wheats oats, and benefit human health.
Learning ObjectivesThe appointment is designed to provide an interested individual with in-depth experience on evaluation of wheat and oat quality traits. Specifically, the candidate will have opportunities to learn techniques related to evaluation of physical, processing, and end-use quality characteristics and analytical procedures of biochemical components including protein, oil, and beta-glucan in wheat and oat. The candidate will have opportunities to learn additional analytical techniques including nitrogen-sulfur-carbon analysis, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, near infrared spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV spectroscopy.  
Mentor(s)The mentor for this opportunity is Jae Ohm (jae.ohm@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 1, 2023.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment LengthThe appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed for up to three additional years upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds. 
Level of ParticipationThe appointment is full-time.
Participant StipendThe participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship RequirementsThis opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
ORISE InformationThis 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.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.
Additionally, the qualified candidate should be able to participate in a highly dusty and noisy environment while standing for long periods of time, and be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
Preferred Skills:
  • Knowledge in the use of general laboratory equipment (e.g., analytical balances, pipettes, ovens, etc,)
  • General knowledge of analytical instrumentation pertaining to cereal quality
  • Basic knowledge in cereal processing
  • Accurate record data keeping and entry
  • General knowledge of laboratory safety
  • Highly motivated to learn
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Microsoft Office software package (Excel, Word)