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USFS Assisted Migration Fellowship - Partner Engagement and Planning

Employer
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Oak Ridge Participation Programs (OPP) Outreach Team
Location
Olympia, Washington State
Salary
Monthly Stipend TBD
Closing date
Sep 30, 2022

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Discipline
Interdisciplinary/Other
Career Level
Student / Graduate
Education Level
Masters
Desired Certifications
GIS Certification
Job Type
Internship
Relocation Cost
Negotiable
Sector Type
Government

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station located in Olympia, Washington. 

Research ProjectThe USDA Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station has a fellowship opportunity focused on data stewardship and stakeholder engagement around assisted migration. The fellow will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team researching strategies to integrate assisted migration during reforestation activities. The team includes researchers in silviculture and genetics that are housed both within the PNW Station and the Pacific Southwest Research Station. In collaboration with the team, the Fellow will assist in the development and initiation of a new experimental network focused on evaluation of assisted population migration and the use of novel silvicultural practices to increase reforestation success. The network is planned to span a large geographic range from northern CA to southern AK and encompass all land ownerships.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the research of the Fellow is organized around three primary objectives, which are:

  1. Coordinate and facilitate engagement and planning with project partners, and develop frameworks that will promote information sharing between managers and researchers,
  2. Develop and maintain web interfaces, databases, and data visualization tools for use by researchers and land management organization partners, and
  3. Assist with field and lab measurements for ongoing experiments related to assisted migration and climate adaptation.

The Fellow will also have an opportunity to develop or participate in new avenues of research or other interests related to natural resource management. 

Learning ObjectivesThis appointment provides an opportunity to:

  • Understand and facilitate interactions at the intersection between science and land management. The Fellow will have a tremendous opportunity to engage with a large and diverse group of stakeholders including the USDA National Forest System, the Bureau of Land Management, state natural resource agencies, tribal entities, and forest industry.
  • Learn about assisted migration and natural resource management issues in the Western United States while helping to develop networks and tools that will facilitate implementation of strategies to increase reforestation success and future climate resilience.
  • Enhance collaborative skills as a member of a scientific team through development of questions, data collection, planning and organization, and implementation of experimental treatments.
  • Gain first-hand knowledge of Forest Service Research & Development science and National Forest System management.
  • Understand and facilitate interactions at the intersection between science and land management.

The Fellow will have the opportunity to interact with scientists in Forest Service research stations, and managers in the National Forest System and other land management agencies and entities. The Fellow may explore options for future job or educational opportunities and take advantage of additional training opportunities.

MentorThe mentor for this opportunity is Robert Slesak (Robert.Slesak@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 3, 2022.  Start date is flexible and negotiable, and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment LengthThe appointment will initially be for one year, but may be extended upon recommendation of USFS and is contingent on performance and the availability of funds.

Level of ParticipationThe appointment is full-time.

Participant StipendThe stipend for this opportunity will be $60,416 per year. This appointment offers a health insurance allowance as well as a travel/training allowance. 

Citizenship RequirementsThis opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

ORISE InformationThis 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 master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Forest Ecology, Forestry, Forest Mensuration, Natural Resources), or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and work with diverse stakeholders
  • Strong quantitative skills with experience in statistical analysis and proficiency in GIS
  • Understanding of the principles and approaches to reforestation and forest management
  • Ability to develop databases, data interfaces, and data integration tools (e.g, using R Shiny)
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously
  • Capacity to work independently and prioritize activities to meet project schedules

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