*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) within the Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNWRS) located in Olympia, Washington.

At the heart of the U.S. Forest Service’s mission is their purpose. Everything they do is intended to help sustain forests and grasslands for present and future generations. Why? Because their stewardship work supports nature in sustaining life. This is the purpose that drives the agency’s mission and motivates their work across the agency. It’s been there from the agency’s very beginning, and it still drives them. To advance the mission and serve their purpose, the U.S. Forest Service balances the short and long-term needs of people and nature by: working in collaboration with communities and our partners; providing access to resources and experiences that promote economic, ecological, and social vitality; connecting people to the land and one another; and delivering world-class science, technology and land management.

Research Project: The Olympia Forestry Sciences Laboratory is known for a strong tradition in wildlife ecology, expanding knowledge of hallmark Pacific Northwest species like the marbled murrelet, spotted owl, wolverine, and their habitats. With over 80 years of research, the Oly Lab has accumulated a wealth of data that is currently stored in hard copy form. The fellow will collaborate with scientists at the lab to organize these files/data and develop (and maintain) an electronic database that will be queryable for future use.   

Learning Objectives: This participant will gain hands-on research experience while developing and maintaining electronic databases centered on wildlife ecology. Specific appointment objectives include:

• Learn how to develop and maintain electronic wildlife and map databases;
• Learn how to convert hard copy data forms into queryable electronic forms;
• Follow protocols to organize, document, and translate files; and
• Collaborate with a large and diverse team of scientists, managers, and biological technicians.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Adam Duarte (adam.duarte@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.