USDA-FS Fellowship for Mature and Old-growth Forest Carbon Resilience to Disturbance

*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 Southern Research Station (SRS) located in Knoxville Tennessee, but may be remote.

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.

The Southern Research Station represents FS R&D in the states of the southeastern US. This region spans a range of forest ecosystems from the coastal plains and bottomland forests to the uplands and mountains of the Southern Appalachians and contains the highest biodiversity in the continental US. The station’s research priorities include restoration, forest health, fire, water, and markets as well as forest genetics and effects of climate change.

For more information, see our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/srs

Research Project: The fellow will engage with SRS scientists to conduct research, and to synthesize and communicate results related to mature and old-growth forests, forest carbon sequestration, and how they are affected by forest disturbances. This research is a priority of USDA and the Forest Service, and the fellow will have the opportunity to make contributions in a developing scientific area.

The fellow will engage with Forest Service staff to:

• Develop and analyze forest structure data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and the national Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program to assess forest membership in mature or old-growth forest categories and measure change over time.
• Engage with Forest Service scientists to quantify relationships between forest inventory measures of forest structure and change to remotely sensed measures of forest disturbance from satellites and airborne sensors and/or to eddy-flux measurements of carbon sequestration.
• Conduct research related to the sensitivity of mature and old-growth forest structure and carbon dynamics to disturbances in forest systems.
• Synthesize research results into written manuscripts and presentations for publication and communication to diverse audiences.

Learning Objectives: 

• Learn about the science of mature and old-growth forests, their structural definitions, forest carbon and natural resource management issues in disturbed forest across the US at forested NEON sites, and methods to conduct the full cycle of scientific research.
• Gain first-hand knowledge of Forest Service Research & Development science, National Forest System management, and other USDA agencies.
• The participant 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 participant may explore options for future job or educational opportunities and take advantage of additional training opportunities. There will be opportunities for professional development, including training and travel.

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 1, 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year through September 2025 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, experience and based on location within the range of $69,000 - $82,000 per year.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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.SRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years or is currently pursuing.

Preferred skills:

• Experience applying scientific analyses and results to resource management issues
• Extensive knowledge related to forest structure, carbon storage and disturbances
• Familiarity with forest inventory data and working with data using code
• Ability to write clearly and effectively for technical and non-technical audiences

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.