USDA Office of Food Safety (OFS)

Posted on October 22, 2021
USDA Office of Food Safety (OFS)
Position Title                                                                                                                                                506017_1634908179255_orisewacronred1002
Graduate Student Fellowship                                                                                                                                                                                   
 
 
Position Summary  

A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Food Safety (OFS). The appointment will be served at the selected participant's location.

 A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Food Safety (OFS). The appointment will be served at the selected participant's location.
 
OFS is the USDA mission area that houses the Under Secretary for Food Safety and is charged with carrying out the Administration’s food safety priorities. Working closely with stakeholders and food safety partners across government, OFS provides leadership and vision for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), to ensure that the nation’s supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome and properly labeled.
 
 
FSIS is a science-based agency and applies for the latest advances in food safety technologies to monitor chemical, microbiological, and physical hazards in meat, poultry, and egg products. In addition, FSIS facilitates the application of new food safety technologies to food production by industry. The Agency also uses various strategies and technologies to conduct educational outreach to consumers
 
 
FSIS has identified several food safety research priorities that support its mission. These are listed at the link: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/research-priorities
 
 
Under the guidance of a university mentor, the participant will create a project that is directly or indirectly supportive of FSIS research priorities. The participant will choose one of the topics listed on the FSIS Food Safety Research Studies page or on another project related to food safety. Acceptable projects include either laboratory studies or projects that do not have a laboratory component, for example, a data analytics proposal or a proposal to measure the effectiveness of consumer education.
 
 
The participant will collaborate with a mentor at FSIS to refine the scope of the project, to ensure it provides an appropriate educational experience and can be completed within a measurable time frame. The research will be completed at the participant's university.
 
 
This opportunity will provide the participant with an understanding of the type of research that supports FSIS decision-making. The participant will learn how science underpins decisions made by FSIS, to ensure the safety of the food supply.
 
 
The participant may have an opportunity to visit OFS and the FSIS Headquarters in Washington D.C. During this visit, the participant will shadow senior leaders and present their research findings to OFS and FSIS staff.
 
 
This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals (dependent upon immigration status).
 
 
Qualifications:
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in food science, food safety, public health, veterinary medicine, or other relevant fields, at an accredited U.S. college, university, or technical institute.
 
 
Candidates should complete a 500-word essay describing the project they wish to participate in and how it can help improve the safety of the food supply.
 
 
We encourage students from minority-serving institutions to apply to this opportunity.