USDA-ARS Biorisk Management Fellowship
Application Deadline
9/11/2026 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 Beltsville, Maryland.
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: You will collaborate closely with the Agency Biosafety Officer and other National Program Leaders to gain experience supporting a geographically dispersed life science research organization. Through this fellowship, you will learn about U.S. Government policies related to topics such as Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), gain-of-function research oversight, and NIH biosafety policy. You will also gain exposure to how ARS headquarters staff develop scientific review, approval, and tracking processes for biosafety and research oversight activities.
You will have opportunities to be a part of the development of biosafety training materials and to present training sessions within ARS as well as at local and national conferences, including ABSA International and the ARS International Biosafety and Biocontainment Symposium. In collaboration with biosafety professionals and national program leaders, you will participate in the review of research projects to assess potential biosafety and biorisk concerns.
Through participation in these activities, you will develop an understanding of how to balance open science principles with evolving federal priorities related to research security, controlled access, and risk-informed decision-making. You will also have opportunities to participate in site visits to agricultural research facilities during biorisk assessments, apply assessment checklists, and contribute to reports, follow-up activities, and evaluation of corrective actions.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will:
- Learn about biosafety and research oversight within a geographically dispersed life science research organization.
- Collaborate with the Agency Biosafety Officer and National Program Leaders to support biosafety and biorisk management activities across ARS research programs.
- Gain exposure to U.S. Government policies and frameworks related to Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), gain-of-function research oversight, NIH biosafety policy, and research security.
- Develop an understanding of scientific review, approval, and tracking processes used for biosafety and research oversight activities.
- Participate in research project reviews to evaluate potential biosafety and biorisk concerns in collaboration with biosafety professionals and program leaders.
- Gain experience balancing open science principles with federal priorities related to controlled access, research security, and risk-informed decision-making.
- Gain experience with biorisk assessment site visits to agricultural research facilities, including application of assessment checklists, preparation of reports, follow-up activities, and evaluation of corrective actions.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Joseph Kozlovac (joseph.kozlovac@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 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 $9,200 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 USDA-ARS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Previous life science, veterinary or agricultural science background with knowledge or experience in life science policy, risk assessment, and project management.
- Previous exposure to biorisk management tenets (biosafety, biosecurity, etc) relative to laboratory or animal research, greenhouse/headhouse facilities.
- Ability to wear PPE, if necessary.
Stipend
$9,200.00 Monthly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree.