USDA-ARS Postgraduate Research Opportunity in Oat Quality
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at 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 the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
The Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory evaluates oat genotypes for physical and biochemical traits related to oat nutritional, processing, and end-use quality.
Research Project: These projects identify oat lines that are of superior processing, nutritional, and end-use quality traits before they are considered for commercial release. This effort will aid the release of oat cultivars with improved quality traits (including nutritionally important biochemical components), increase the market value and consumption of U.S. oats, and benefit human health.
Learning Objectives: The research opportunity is designed to provide the selected participant with in-depth experience on evaluation of oat quality traits. Specifically, the participant 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 participant 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. The participant must be able to conduct research in a highly dusty and noisy environment and must also be able to stand for long periods of time. The participant must also be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Jae-Bom Ohm (jae.ohm@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring 2021. 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.
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 (USDA-ARS-2021-0032).