USFS Fellowship in Climate-smart Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. Caribbean
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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. Click Here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
- A current resume/CV
- Two educational or professional recommendations. At least one recommendation must be submitted in order for the mentor to view your application.
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USFS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
At the heart of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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: The selected participant will contribute to program management, coordination, research, and science communication activities of the Climate-smart Caribbean project, a collaboration among the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub, Cooperative Extension at the University of the Virgin Islands and the University of Puerto Rico, Winrock International, and the Climate Science Alliance. The goal of the project is to generate and deliver region- and tropical agriculture and forestry sector-specific information on climate change science, observed trends, expected future scenarios, and adaptation and mitigation solutions.
The project is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to provide workshops and training in Spanish and English to increase the level of climate-smart decision-making by farmers, ranchers, forest land managers, and the people and agencies that provide advice, technical expertise, and incentives.
The goal of the project is to help reduce the effects and vulnerabilities to climate change and extreme climate events and develop relationships and connections to foster further knowledge development and technology transfer of climate-smart solutions in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Project activities focus on learning, action, and evaluation.
The selected applicant will contribute to program coordination with the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub staff at the US Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry on a multi-partner project: Enabling climate-smart decisions for agriculture and forestry in the U.S. Caribbean. The project team will develop and host workshops and trainings, develop outreach materials, and assess impacts.
Learning Objectives: The selected applicant will gain experience in coordination/project management, bilingual public speaking, organization and leadership, writing and analytical skills. The applicant will also gain familiarity with climate change and adaptation practices in tropical forestry and agriculture. In addition to the Forest Service and the Climate Hub, the selected applicant will collaborate with partners at the University of Puerto Rico, the University of the Virgin Islands, The Climate Science Alliance, and Winrock International.
Mentor: The mentor(s) for this opportunity is William Gould (william.a.gould@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 13, 2023. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be extended upon recommendation of USFS 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.
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 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.
The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Natural Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Agriculture), or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion before June 30, 2023. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in managing projects, scheduling activities, developing and conducting workshops.
- Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish.
- Available to work in San Juan, Puerto Rico by the start date of the mentorship.
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