USDA-ARS Enhancing Malt Quality Through Evaluation of Barley and Malt Characteristics

Organization U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reference Code USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0402 How To Apply To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY. A Complete Application Consists Of An applicationTranscript(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 listTwo educational or professional recommendations All documents must be in English or include an official English translation. 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 11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone Description Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may close before the deadline. 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, WI. 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: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will help conduct research toward the improvement of the malting quality of barley lines produced in US breeding programs. Research performed will include participating in the malt quality evaluation programs for barley lines submitted by collaborating scientists, performing wet lab-based assays to collect phenotypic data from malts produced from the project and analyzing the malt quality data to assess potential gains in the brewing and distilling process that can be attributed to barley variety or processing methods. Summarized data will be disseminated to collaborating scientists located across the US. Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: describe the science of malting through the grading of raw grain, conduct processing of grain into malts using established micro malting procedures and apply the wet lab protocols including quantifying of grain protein and moisture, assessing hydrolytic enzyme activity, measuring of free amino nitrogen concentration and extract potential, and performing modified mashing procedures. Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Jason Walling (jason.walling@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s). Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as possible. 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 part time or full time. Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range per level of participation is $40k - 55k for full time and $20k - $26k for part time. 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 an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Preferred Skills Interest in pursuing careers in food science, lab quality assurance, and/or malting/brewing/distilling industries. Familiarity with routine lab procedures and feel comfortable in a laboratory environment. Able to stand for extended periods (>2hrs) and able to lift >25 pounds Stipend $20,000.00 – $55,000.00 Yearly Point of Contact Michele Eligibility Requirements">17 ) Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only Degree: Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, or Master's Degree. 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