USDA-ARS Fellowship: Nutritional Transcriptomics in Dairy Cattle
*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 Madison, 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 of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
Research Project: The mission of the research facility is to develop Strategies to Improve Dairy Cow Performance and Nutrient Use Efficiency through advances in Nutrition, Genetics, and Microbiology. The specific project the participant will be involved with is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying dairy cattle metabolic and enteric diseases. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will perform RNA extraction, quality control, RNA sequencing library preparation using both bulk and single cell RNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics data analysis.
Learning Objectives:
- The participant will have the opportunity to learn large animal trial management, bioinformatics techniques required for metagenomics and metatranscriptomics analysis.
- The participant will have the opportunity to develop scientific networking, management and career development skills through participation in scientific meetings, and ample opportunity to interact with academic and industry stakeholders.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Wenli Li (wenli.li@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 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.
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.Midwest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or 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 or be currently pursuing.
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.