USDA ARS Crop Production Systems Research for the Mississippi Delta
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
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 Stoneville, Mississippi.
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 intern will serve as a student research participant at the USDA-ARS Crop Production System Research Unit in Stoneville, MS. The internship will involve collaborating with a USDA-ARS scientist on research programs focused, generally, on developing data-informed decision support for farmers to reduce production costs in cotton, corn, soybean, and rice-based systems. Current research includes developing no-tillage cotton production systems with varying seeding rates, planting times, and fertilizer and irrigation applications to optimize cotton yield while lowering input costs. Experiments are conducted in the field, in a greenhouse, and in specialized PGR 15 plant growth chambers. The research participant will help the USDA ARS scientist in meeting National Program milestones by (1) establishing conventional and no-tillage experiments with different planting dates, seeding rates, and water and fertilizer levels in farm-scale plots, small plots, greenhouses, and controlled growth chambers, (2) collecting soil and crop samples, measuring crop growth, soil erosion, and organizing data for analysis and interpretation.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain expertise and research skills in setting up field, greenhouse, and growth chamber experiments involving staple crops in the MS Delta.
- Gain skills in collecting and analyzing soil and crop samples and their analysis and interpretation for local, regional, and national partners/farmers.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Saseendran Anapalli (saseendran.anapalli@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 2026. 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 anticipated stipend range is $36,000 - $49,000 annually.
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 be currently pursuing or have received an associate's or bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- An undergraduate degree with experience and skills in setting up field, greenhouse, and growth chamber experiments involving staple crops in the MS Delta, as well as collecting and analyzing soil and crop samples, is desirable for gaining valuable hands-on experience in agricultural research.
- A resident of the Mississippi Delta is desirable.
Stipend
$36,000.00 – $49,000.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree.