Job Type: Student / postdoc
Salary Details: $59,000 to 69,000/year
Deadline: Jul 07, 2023

This fellowship is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service’s (USFS) Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station located in Corvallis, Oregon.

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 selected Fellow will collaborate with a team of PNWRS scientists to develop a deeper understanding of post-fire regeneration across California, Oregon, and Washington. Forests in California, Oregon, and Washington have experienced increases in high-severity fire in recent decades, including exceptional fire events in the last five years. High-severity fires are a major catalyst for ecological change in the region, and though disturbance has always been a major driver for change and played an important role in the evolution of most species, shifts in fire regimes towards conditions outside of the historical range of variability is a threat to forest persistence in many parts of the western United States. Thus, a quantitative knowledge base is needed to guide management decisions around restoration and adaptation strategies for land managers. The mission of the fellow is to collaborate with the PNWRS team listed above to quantify patterns of postfire regeneration and characterize trajectories of post-fire development.

Learning Objectives: The participant will conduct research with data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) to examine post-fire vegetation patterns and trajectories of change, as well as develop restoration strategies through a co-production framework with scientists, forest managers, and other key partners at governmental and non-governmental agencies. There is a broad range of activities including: 1) managing and developing large forest inventory data sets 2) statistical analysis predicting post-fire regeneration of trees species based on spatial data on burn severity and climate, 3) engagement with and science delivery to key partners in collaborative environments to support restoration efforts and develop tools to facilitate adaptive management to climate change. The participant will share research findings with a wide range of scientific, agency, and public audiences to support efforts dealing with forest restoration and climate change adaptation in the Pacific Northwest.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Matthew Reilly (matthew.reilly@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 2023.  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 extended upon recommendation of USFS 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. 

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 USFS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, 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 USForestService@orise.orau.gov and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Natural Resources, Forestry), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred Skills:

  • Demonstrated competence with forest inventory data and statistical analysis.
  • Modeling post-fire regeneration and working with large forest inventory databases, as well as knowledge of post-fire restoration and silvicultural strategies.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Overall GPA: 3.20
  • Discipline(s):
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences 
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences 
  • Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).

HOW TO APPLY
A complete application package consists of:

  • An application
  • Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. 
  • A current resume/CV, including Cover Letter (please upload with CV/resume)
  • Two educational or professional recommendations. At least one recommendation must be submitted in order for the mentor to view your application.

For more information and to apply: https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-USFS-2023-0289