What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-ARS Protein Research Fellowship position at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education?
Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-PWA-2026-0053
How To Apply
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
A Complete Application Consists Of
Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!”
Application Deadline
3/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
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: Scientists at the facility are partnering with other USDA researchers and local small businesses to develop new technologies to enhance the nutritional and functional qualities of plant-derived foods. Their research also values ingredients from novel food sources and agricultural by-products. The projects the fellow will participate in will focus on the extraction of proteins, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. The participants will collaborate on this project under the guidance of the food technologist. They will take part in the research and analysis of protein extraction and characterization in relation to food quality and safety.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn to incorporate their scientific and technical knowledge into food quality evaluation and food safety research. They will learn to set up, develop, and optimize protein extraction methods suitable for proteins with various properties. They will further process and characterize extracted protein samples by spectrophotometric, biochemical, and immunological methods. The participant will also have the opportunity to interact with our collaborators and present their research to a wide range of audiences.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yixiang Xu (yixiang.xu@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 1, 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 $55,897 - $80,384 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.PacificWest@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.
Preferred Skills
$55,897.00 – $80,384.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Janeen
Eligibility Requirements">8 )
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Reference Code
USDA-ARS-PWA-2026-0053
How To Apply
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
A Complete Application Consists Of
- An application
- Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations
Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!”
Application Deadline
3/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
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: Scientists at the facility are partnering with other USDA researchers and local small businesses to develop new technologies to enhance the nutritional and functional qualities of plant-derived foods. Their research also values ingredients from novel food sources and agricultural by-products. The projects the fellow will participate in will focus on the extraction of proteins, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. The participants will collaborate on this project under the guidance of the food technologist. They will take part in the research and analysis of protein extraction and characterization in relation to food quality and safety.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn to incorporate their scientific and technical knowledge into food quality evaluation and food safety research. They will learn to set up, develop, and optimize protein extraction methods suitable for proteins with various properties. They will further process and characterize extracted protein samples by spectrophotometric, biochemical, and immunological methods. The participant will also have the opportunity to interact with our collaborators and present their research to a wide range of audiences.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Yixiang Xu (yixiang.xu@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 1, 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 $55,897 - $80,384 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.PacificWest@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.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in food processing engineering
- Experience in food science and technology
- Excellent written and oral communication
$55,897.00 – $80,384.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Janeen
Eligibility Requirements">8 )
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
- Discipline(s):
- Life Health and Medical Sciences (
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Salary : $55,897 - $80,384