USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Management and Characterization Training

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 Pullman, Washington. 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.

About the role

The Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) maintained in the USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) genebank in Pullman, WA (called the Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research Unit, PGITRU) represent the raw genetic diversity used to create new varieties of crop plants for US farmers. The PGITRU has over 100,000 accessions of beans, horticultural crops, grasses, pulses, and forages.

Training and research into the best protocols to store and regenerate these accessions to ensure they are genetically pure and disease free, and how to genetically and phenotypically characterize them, are the main objectives of this training opportunity. The crops and native species maintained in the PGITRU are those of economic and ecological importance to the Western US.

Responsibilities

• Research seed viability testing, regeneration protocols including breaking dormancy of crop wild relative species, and more efficient long-term seed storage conditions.
• Learn and apply high-throughput genomics and phenomics tools to characterize PGITRU accessions.
• Learn and apply methods to test for and remove disease organisms in genebank accessions.
• Learn about data collected, including storage and retrieval.
• Collaborate closely with USDA ARS crop plant curators and PGITRU unit members while learning and conducting research.
• Handle and analyze genotypic data including filtering, storage, querying, and analyzing to answer questions about genetic identity, relationships, and diversity.
• Learn pathology tools such as ELISA or PCR to determine the presence of pathogens.
• Learn high-throughput analyses of agronomic traits and seed nutritional traits.
• Interact with unit collaborators to upload genotypic and phenotypic data directly into the GRIN-Global database or link all data via an external public platform for access.

Expected Results

• Data that curators can use to develop new protocols to ensure the most efficient maintenance of genetically pure, disease-free accessions.
• Genetic and phenotypic characterization data that curators can use to improve collection management and promote its efficient use.
• Genetically and phenotypically characterized PGR collections can be used to identify the best accessions for in-house and stakeholder breeding efforts, allowing US breeders to create new varieties that are more nutritious, require fewer chemical or irrigation inputs, and be more resistant to new insect, disease, or environmental threats, thus increasing farmer profits.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this opportunity, you will gain experience in:

• The role gene banks play in preserving genetic diversity for crop improvement and agricultural sustainability.
• How to measure, analyze, and use the genetic diversity in the USDA National Plant Germplasm System collections.
• The use of phenomics and phenotyping approaches in greenhouse and field experiments.
• Genotyping plant species.
• The maintenance of PGR in in-situ collections.
• Communication skills (writing, presenting, etc.), collaboration, and conducting scientific research.

These skills and experiences will be gained as part of a Master’s project, and you will be a graduate student at Washington State University, where the PGITRU is co-located. Learn about plant genetic resources (PGR) conservation and management within the USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS).

Requirements

• The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields.

Skills

• Interest in learning about plant genetic resources, their maintenance, characterization, and use.
• Capacity for curiosity, excitement, and teamwork, with the willingness and ability to learn and seek answers to questions.
• Willingness to take on a master's degree program and project at Washington State University.

Mentor

The mentor for this opportunity is Marilyn Warburton (marilyn.warburton@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Appointment Details

• Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 17, 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 part time.
• Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

Pay

$2,530.00 – $2,534.00 Monthly