USDA-ARS Fellowship in Physical Soil Health for Farmers

Research Project Maintaining soil health is essential to optimizing the productivity of America’s farmland. Soil samples collected from across the U.S. will be analyzed for a suite of soil health properties. The fellow will have the opportunity to be part of a nationwide, farmer‑facing project to improve the Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (SHAPE) tool. SHAPE provides a systematic framework for evaluating soil health using measurable indicators and linking them to soil functions and management practices. Learning Objectives Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will gain hands‑on experience with laboratory methods for soil health assessment, learn how to handle and analyze soils from across the U.S., and have the opportunity to generate user‑friendly soil health reports for farmers. Mentor Kristen Veum (View email address on click.appcast.io) Appointment Details Anticipated appointment start date: May 2026 (flexible) Appointment length: 9 months, may be renewed upon recommendation and availability of funds Level of participation: full time Stipend: $3,100 – $3,300 per month Citizenship requirement: U.S. citizen only Qualifications The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields (agriculture, soil science, life science, environmental science, or a related field) within the past five years. Preferred Skills Experience with laboratory protocols and handling soil samples Eligibility Requirements Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 months Minimum overall GPA: 2.50 Disciplines: Earth and Geosciences Aeronomy Atmospheric Chemistry Atmospheric Sciences Chemical Oceanography Climate Dynamics Earth Sciences Geochemistry Geographic Information Systems Geology Geophysics Large‑scale Dynamics Meteorology Magnetospheric Physics Marine Geology Mesoscale Dynamic Meteorology Meteorology Mineralogy Paleoclimate Paleontology Physical Meteorology Planetary Science Solar – Terrestrial Environmental and Marine Sciences Ecology Environmental Science Marine Science Life Health and Medical Sciences Biology Health Sciences Age: Must be 18 years of age or older Veteran status: Veterans Preference; degree received within the last 120 months #J-18808-Ljbffr Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education