USDA - ARS Fellowship in Agricultural Data Science

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-ARS-MWA-2026-0219

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

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

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Application Deadline

7/17/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• 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 Columbia, Missouri.

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: This opportunity will be located in Columbia, Missouri, where the participant will participate within an ongoing research project integrating spatial and temporal agricultural data from multiple sources, such as remote sensing, water quality, soil health, and crop yield data, to contribute to the development and improvement of tools to help farmers optimize production and profit on their farms. The participant will interact with scientists from diverse agricultural specialties, including hydrology, soil science, and agronomy.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will have the opportunity to learn about compiling and analyzing different types of data with different levels of spatial and temporal support, and providing understanding of the research process from start to finish (data collection to data analysis).

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kristen Veum (***email_hidden***). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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 $5,500 - $6,000 monthly.

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 [email protected] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past two years, or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2027.

Preferred Skills

• Experience handling large datasets
• Performing quality checks and validation procedures to ensure data integrity

Stipend

$5,500.00 – $6,000.00 Monthly

Point of Contact

Sara Beth

Eligibility Requirements

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• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 24 months or currently pursuing.
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.00
• Discipline(s):
• Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (<a href="#" data-bs-toggle="popover" tabindex="0" role="button" data-bs-title="Computer, Information, and Data Sciences" data-bs-content="
  • Artificial Intelligence (including Robotics, Computer Vision, Human Language Processing, and Machine Learning)
  • Computer Architecture and Grids
  • Computer Science - Languages and Systems
  • Computer Science - Theoretical Foundations
  • Computer Science (general)
  • Computer Systems Analysis
  • Computer Systems Design (including Signal Processing)
  • Data Science
  • Databases, Information Retrieval, and Web Search
  • Graphics and Visualization
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Information Science and Technology
  • Information Security and Assurance
  • Networks and Communications
  • Operating Systems and Middleware
  • Scientific Computing and Informatics
  • Software Engineering
• Engineering (29 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
      • Age: Must be 18 years of age