Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Description

ARS Office/Lab and Location: Four student research internship opportunities are currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture (NCCCWA), located in Leetown, West Virginia.

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...

The National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture (NCCCWA) is located in Leetown, West Virginia. The mission of the NCCCWA is to enhance the nation's aquaculture production of cool and cold-water fish species by developing improved germplasm and technologies that increase farm efficiency, product quality, and environmental sustainability. Research encompasses genetics, genomics, physiology, aquatic animal health, microbiology, and aquaculture engineering.

Research Project

The participant will be involved in processes to improve fish health and the efficiency of aquaculture production.

Learning Objectives

The selected participants will receive training and participate in hands-on research activities at the ARS NCCCWA including fish health, microbiology, animal husbandry and welfare, fish hatchery rearing protocols, fish physiology, molecular biology, genetics and genomics.

Mentor(s)

The mentors for this opportunity are Yniv Palti (yniv.palti@ars.usda.gov), Tim Welch (tim.welch@usda.gov), Beth Cleveland (beth.cleveland@usda.gov) and Mark Hostuttler (mark.hostuttler@usda.gov).

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 six months or less, without renewal.

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 is $355.60 - $711.20 weekly.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a high school diploma or GED and be enrolled in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past two years, or is currently pursuing.