Through this program, graduate students with strong, applied skills in data science, computer science, and related fields will join and contribute their skills to ARS research teams working on data-intensive research problems. Modern agricultural research is a highly multidisciplinary enterprise that increasingly requires sophisticated computational and statistical methods to analyze datasets that are rapidly expanding in size, scope, and complexity. As such, agricultural science often benefits from an interdisciplinary team approach that brings together deep domain expertise and strong data science and analytics skills.

Program Details

• Paid, hands-on, real-world research opportunities, scientific domain expertise, and mentoring from ARS scientists.
• Learn about agricultural research as a rewarding career path for data and computer scientists
• 10-week internship, 40 hrs/wk
• $12,800 stipend plus travel allowance for a 2-week visit to the host/mentor site during internship (stipends are paid by UC Davis; interns are not USDA-ARS employees)
• Internship is primarily remote, but the intern does need to remain in the US or its territories for the duration of the internship.
• Interns will give a 10-minute presentation on their internship work during a virtual symposium in the fall

Who Should Apply

• Graduate students enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program at an accredited U.S. university
• Preferred areas of study: computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, statistics
• Interest in applying skills to agricultural research, but no agricultural background necessary

Research Project Placement Opportunities

There are dozens of internship opportunities at USDA-ARS locations around the country. Interns accepted into the program will choose their top projects and will be placed according to their priorities and the needs of the program. Topics include crop improvement, genomics, animal health, genetics, plant reding, landscape ecology, insect pest forecasting, remote sensing, nutrient management, soil science, root phenotyping, precision agriculture, nutrition, aquaculture, lipidomics, food science, and hydrologic modeling.

Program Timeline

Applications close at 11:59pm Pacific on February 5, 2024

February 23: notification of award

February 26: Selected interns will be sent an interest-ranking form and descriptions of internship opportunities

Early March: All students and mentors will be notified of pairings

10-week internship starting May/June 2023 (flexible start date depending on student schedule)