Description
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 Riverside, California. 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 participant will join an active and productive genebank responsible for citrus and date germplasm conservation. Conservation and research activities involve laboratory, greenhouse, and field site activities. The participant will primarily focus on integrating digital data management and acquisition strategies within the genebank. The fellowship will include curation and upload of historical data on over 1,800 accessions of Citrus and Date to a BrAPI-compliant database system, integration of image-based fruit quality and yield phenotyping for cataloging and characterization of citrus and date germplasm currently housed at the repository, and publication of results and methodology of data management and collection strategies for use by other U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) genebanks. The participant will collaborate with members of the Digital Agricultural Systems Hub (DASH) team, a USDA initiative focused on integrating advanced breeding technologies into USDA breeding programs.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will gain experience in: Genebank management Documentation of genetic resources
Requirements
PhD in Bioinformatics, Botany, Genetics, Horticulture, Information Technology, or related field, conferred within 5 years
US Citizenship
Applicants must apply through Zintellect website, referencing opportunity USDA-ARS-HQ-2026-0121: https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-ARS-HQ-2026-0121
A complete application consists of:
- An application
- Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted.
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations
- All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
