USDA-ARS Postgraduate Research Opportunity for Adding Value to Cotton Seed
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A postgraduate research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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 collaborate with a research team to conduct basic and applied studies on cottonseed utilization. The research areas include, but are not limited to: preparation, formulation, characterization, and testing of cottonseed raw material and products, such as cottonseed kernel, defatted cottonseed meal, cottonseed proteins fractions, washed cottonseed-meal-based wood adhesives, and food products. Portions of the research may incorporate methods to alter the fatty acid composition of cottonseed and Arabidopsis seed lipids. This may include traditional breeding or new molecular approaches. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will be conducting research experiments, performing chemical and physical analyses, tabulating and evaluating data, performing statistical tests, and writing technical reports of the results.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn research techniques and approaches used in both basic and applied research that focuses on product development. The participant will be exposed to the latest innovations in this area of research. They will interact with highly trained professional staff on a routine basis. This opportunity will serve participants well and will prepare them for a future in a research and product development environment.
Mentor(s): The mentors(s) for this opportunity is Kjell Klasson (thomas.klasson@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 2023. 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. The current stipend for this opportunity is equal to $37,696 - $69,107 per year plus a Health Insurance Stipend of $452 per month.
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 ORISE.ARS.Southeast@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. Degree must have been received within the past five years.