Research Opportunity in Climate Change and Economics

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.  Selected candidate must provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.  Proof must be sent to ORISE directly from the academic institution including graduation date and degree awarded.  All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation.  Click Here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV
• Two educational or professional recommendations

If you have questions, send an email to USForestService@orise.orau.gov.  Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

A research opportunity in climate change and economics is currently available with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The project looks at the supply and demand of water throughout the United States, particularly around climate change scenarios and the impact of human activity on the health of U.S. watersheds. This is an opportunity to learn about climate change, the scientific process, and gain exposure to the US Forest Service and federal employment in general. Exceptional participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists at National Forests throughout the United States on water-related projects.

Participant activities may include:

• Run and maintain models of water demand and supply for climate change projections. These skills will be taught, but a familiarity with basic computing is required.
• Gather data on factors affecting the health of watersheds (for example, development, invasive species, and fire)
• Help develop web tools, Power Point presentations, and written documents to make the data and results available to National Forests and the scientific community
• Communicate with national forests to ensure the data is appropriate for their long-term planning needs
• Attend weekly lab meetings and report latest findings to research team

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

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. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of USFS and is contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment can be full-time or part-time, depending on the participant's availability. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

This 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.

For more information about the USFS Research Participation Program, please visit the Program Website.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in economics, natural resource economics, hydrology, computer science, or a related field, or have received one of the degrees within the past year.

Preferred skills/experience:

• Familiarity with basic statistics or econometrics
• Strong computational skills
• Background in GIS
• Demonstrated willingness to learn computer skills
• Basic grammar and writing skills
• Ability to communicate over phone and in meetings with a broad set of stakeholders and research partners

• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (1 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (1 )

I am currently pursuing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, or have received one of the degrees within the past year.