{"id":57451,"date":"2026-01-06T13:15:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T21:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/mesweekly\/?p=57451"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:15:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T21:15:32","slug":"job-usda-fs-measuring-live-wildland-fuel-characteristics-fellowship-u-s-department-of-agriculture-missoula-mt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/mesweekly\/job-usda-fs-measuring-live-wildland-fuel-characteristics-fellowship-u-s-department-of-agriculture-missoula-mt\/","title":{"rendered":"Job: USDA FS Measuring Live Wildland Fuel Characteristics Fellowship, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Missoula, MT)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)<\/p>\n

Missoula, Montana<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Job Type<\/td>\nPaid Internship<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Salary<\/td>\nThe anticipated stipend range is $1,100 – $1,273 monthly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deadline<\/td>\nJan 30, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.<\/p>\n

USDA Forest Service\u00a0Office\/Lab and Location:<\/strong>\u00a0A fellowship opportunity is available\u00a0with the US\u00a0Department of Agriculture (USDA)\u00a0Forest Service (FS) within the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS)\u00a0located in\u00a0Missoula, Montana.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the USDA 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\u2019s mission and motivates their work across the agency. It\u2019s been there from the agency\u2019s very beginning, and it still drives them. To advance the mission and serve their purpose, the USDA 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.<\/p>\n

Research Project:<\/strong>\u00a0This project involves the exploration of the thermal, physical and chemical characteristics of live fuels and the\u00a0characterization of their seasonal variations across the grasses, shrubs and trees of the\u00a0 Intermountain\u00a0Western United States. It will leverage field and laboratory measurements to develop novel characterizations\u00a0of the thermal degradation of live fuels in a format that is suitable\u00a0for\u00a0inclusion into kinetic models and\u00a0computation fluid dynamics-based fire behavior simulators. Ultimately, this new knowledge will guide the\u00a0implementation of new characterizations of live fuels in fire behavior models and this information can improve\u00a0our ability to predict the spread and intensity of wildfires and prescribed fires.<\/p>\n

Learning Objectives<\/strong>:\u00a0The program participant will learn a variety of new skills to measure live wildland fuel characteristics in the field and in the laboratory. These measurements will include: live fuel moisture content, specific leaf area, relative water content, crude fat analysis, non-structural carbohydrates, water potential, and hydraulics. The participant will also learn how to prepare samples for microscopy to resolve surface area to volume relationships. Additionally, they will receive instruction in the use of thermal characterization test equipment such as thermal gravimetric analysis and oxygen bomb calorimetry. The participant will be introduced to modern techniques used to characterize the thermal degradation of live wildland fuels in fire behavior models. They will also have opportunities to strengthen their data management, statistical analysis, and technical writing skills by summarizing results for peer reviewed publications.<\/p>\n

Mentor<\/strong>:\u00a0The mentor for this opportunity\u00a0is Matt\u00a0Jolly\u00a0(william.jolly@usda.gov<\/a>).\u00a0If you have questions about the nature of the research,\u00a0please contact the mentor.<\/p>\n

Anticipated Appointment Start Date:<\/strong> January 2026.\u00a0\u00a0Start date is flexible and will\u00a0depend on a variety of\u00a0factors.<\/p>\n

Appointment Length:<\/strong>\u00a0The appointment will initially be for six months but may be\u00a0extended\u00a0upon\u00a0recommendation of\u00a0USDA Forest Service\u00a0and is contingent on the availability of funds.<\/p>\n

Level of Participation:\u00a0<\/strong>The appointment is part time.<\/p>\n

Participant Stipend:<\/strong>\u00a0The participant will receive a monthly\u00a0stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.\u00a0The anticipated stipend range is\u00a0$1,100\u00a0–\u00a0$1,273\u00a0monthly.<\/p>\n

Citizenship Requirements:\u00a0<\/strong>This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens,\u00a0Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals.\u00a0Non-U.S.\u00a0citizen applicants should refer to the\u00a0Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page\u00a0<\/a>of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation. Foreign national candidates may have a mandatory in-person requirement depending on visa status.<\/p>\n

ORISE Information:\u00a0<\/strong>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 USDA Forest Service.\u00a0Participants do not become employees of USDA, USDA Forest Service, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.\u00a0Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.<\/p>\n

Questions:<\/strong>\u00a0Please visit our\u00a0Program Website<\/a>. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email\u00a0ORISE.USFS.RMRS@orau.org<\/a>\u00a0and include the reference code for this opportunity.<\/p>\n

Qualifications<\/strong><\/p>\n

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing\u00a0a bachelor’s degree in the one of the relevant fields.<\/p>\n

Preferred skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n