*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), US Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) located in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.

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 the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.

The US Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) is an ARS research institution whose mission is providing dairy industry solutions for food security, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. USDFRC scientists build uniquely valuable, science-based research initiatives focused on improving dairy production systems, soil ecology, forage production, forage quality, nutrient management, and ecosystem services.

Research Project: We are seeking a participant to train with our FarmLab research initiative. FarmLab is a farm-scale research platform that facilitates exploration of agricultural production and ecosystem services outcomes associated with land cover and land management practices. The participant will join our FarmLab research team, and have the opportunity to participate in intensive field measurements and analyses associated with farm greenhouse gas modeling, soil health metrics, and cropping system sustainability assessments.

Learning Objectives: As an ORISE fellow participating in FarmLab research, the fellow will:

• Develop hands-on familiarity with instruments and field techniques used to measure or assess farm greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, and net primary productivity of plant communities
• Refine skills associated with best practices in data collection, data entry and analyses, and development of hypotheses and experimental design
• Gain experience with implementation of plot-scale research trials and land stewardship practices applied in integrated dairy-crop livestock systems
• Participate in literature review and discussions about sustainability and ecosystem services in dairy agriculture systems

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Alison Duff (Alison.duff@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2021. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for nine months, 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.

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 USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.