USDA-ARS Summer Internship in Applied Nursery Research

*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 McMinnville, Tennessee.

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 Horticulture Lab of the USDA-ARS Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit has two interrelated objectives: 1) evaluate and select novel or underutilized woody landscape plants to broaden the diversity of the cultivated landscape, and 2) develop new and improve existing production practices for woody ornamentals that enhance input efficiency and/or facilitate grower adoption of new plant species. We are seeking a bachelor-level fellow for a research project that aims to identify economical cultural practices for containerized nursery production that shortens crop cycles and bolsters plant health while reducing fertilizer, water, and/or pesticide applications. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will be assigned to assist with specific research areas which may include, but are not limited to, assessing root-zone heat-mitigating strategies for container crops, improving propagation techniques of underused woody plants, and evaluating nutrient-retaining container-substrate amendments.

Learning Objectives: Through this opportunity, the participant will:

• Expand their knowledge of soilless substrate chemistry, substrate-plant-water dynamics, plant nutrition, and plant propagation.
• Learn valuable skills related to nursery management, including irrigation, fertilization, substrate sampling and testing, pest and disease management, and identifying abiotic stress factors.
• Gain experience using analytical tools, including a chlorophyll meter, dataloggers, pH meters, and various environmental sensors.
• Learn how to apply the scientific method to help resolve real-world issues in horticulture.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Jacob Shreckhise (jacob.shreckhise@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 3, 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 2 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 ORISE.ARS.Northeast@orau.org  and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a high school diploma/GED with interest in one of the relevant fields, or pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: High School Diploma/GED, Associate's Degree, or Bachelor's Degree.