USDA-FS Fellow: Ecosystem Vulnerability for the Eastern Region
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USDA Forest Service Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) within the Forest Service Northern Research Station (NRS), Northern Forest Climate Hub (NFCH) located in Houghton, Michigan.
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’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 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.
Research Project: A fellowship opportunity is available with the USDA Northern Forest Climate Hub (NFCH) to provide useable science and technology on climate change impacts, adaptation, and mitigation responses to meet the needs of communities and natural resources professionals across the Midwest and Northeast US. The primary focus of this fellowship is to create an ecosystem vulnerability assessment for priority terrestrial ecosystems across the Midwest and Northeast US. The assessment will synthesize current information from ecosystem models, published research, Indigenous Knowledge, and land managers, building on previous efforts and adopting contemporary approaches for accessibility and use. The assessment will serve as a synthesis of the best available science on climate change impacts and the vulnerability of ecosystems in the Midwest and Northeast US (20-state area corresponding to the FS Eastern Region). This information will be prepared for professional land managers, forest practitioners, land stewards, and others seeking information to integrate climate change considerations into planning and management. Notable applications include National Forest and Grassland Management Plans, State Forest Action Plans, and project-level ecosystem management.
The fellow will be a part of a team of NFCH to prepare the assessment. The fellow will also collaborate with partners across other agencies and institutions, including federal, state, tribal, conservation organizations, forest sector, and universities. It will be essential for the fellow to balance multiple responsibilities, to clearly communicate with team members, and to be flexible to shifting priorities. The primary learning experience for the fellow will be to review literature and help write major portions of the vulnerability assessment. The fellow will be a lead author for multiple assessment chapters. Supplemental learning opportunities for the fellow will include analyzing data, developing web tools, facilitating meetings, delivering presentations, and designing outreach materials.
Learning Objectives:
- The participant will learn scientific and technical knowledge related to climate change trends, projections, ecosystem impacts, management implications, ecosystem vulnerability, and various implications to society. The participant will gather and apply information across a 20-state region of the Midwest and Northeast US.
- The participant will learn best practices for communicating technical scientific information to a professional audience, including preparing a large assessment for publication as a Forest Service General Technical Report, developing companion online tools and outreach products, and delivering presentations to diverse audiences.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Maria Janowiak (maria.janowiak@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 2025. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and four months but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service 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. The anticipated stipend is $66,036 annually.
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 USDA Forest Service. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USDA Forest Service, 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 ORISE.USFS.NRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.
Preferred skills:
- Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks
- Demonstrated ability to function effectively as part of a team
- Experience with scientific literature review and writing for a technical or professional audience
- Familiarity with climate change impact models and knowledge related to climate change effects on natural ecosystems
- Familiarity with GIS, citation management programs, and basic programming languages
Stipend
$66,036.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).