USDA Research Collaboration Opportunity with Dr. Jia Dong

Overview

This listing represents a collaboration opportunity with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a federal executive department with a robust applied research and development enterprise. USDA operates a nationwide network of laboratories, field stations, and specialized repositories that support real-world evaluation and scale-up of agricultural and food technologies. Industry partners can engage with USDA scientists, including Dr. Jia Dong, through multiple partnership mechanisms designed to accelerate innovation from concept to adoption.

USDA's research enterprise is co-located with university sites and research farms, enabling seamless integration of laboratory research with field-scale validation. The department actively collaborates with industry through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), material transfer agreements, and cooperative field trials. A dedicated technology transfer office manages intellectual property, licensing, and public-private agreements, streamlining the path from discovery to commercialization.

Technical specifications

Available collaboration models:

• Sponsored Research — funded research collaborations where partners sponsor specific research work aligned with USDA capabilities
• Co-Development — joint R&D efforts leveraging USDA's applied research expertise and partner resources
• Licensing — access to USDA-developed intellectual property, patents, and technology rights through the tech transfer office
• Co-Applicant / Subaward — participation in grant applications as a co-applicant or funded grant participant

USDA infrastructure and capabilities:

• Pilot-scale processing lines for real-world technology evaluation
• Testbeds at co-located university sites and research farms
• Specialized repositories for biological and agricultural materials
• Cooperative Extension System partnerships to speed adoption of new technologies
• Federal appropriations support with additional interagency and competitively funded programs

Technology readiness level

USDA's research enterprise spans the full technology readiness spectrum, from early-stage applied research through pilot-scale validation and field deployment. The department's network of facilities enables technologies to be tested under real-world conditions before commercial scale-up. Engagement models are well-established, with streamlined processes through the technology transfer office for IP management, licensing, and public-private partnership agreements.