USFS Forest Climate Hub Fellowship

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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 and science delivery opportunity is available in Washington, DC at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) Office of Research and Development in Sustainable Forest Management Research to support the USDA Climate Hubs. The candidate has the option to participate remotely or in Washington, D.C.

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.

The mission of the USDA Climate Hubs is to develop and deliver science-based, region-specific information and technologies, with USDA agencies and partners, to agricultural and natural resource managers that enable climate-informed decision-making, and to provide access to assistance to implement those decisions. This is in alignment with the USDA mission to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

Research Project: The fellow will serve as a Climate Fellow for the USDA Climate Hubs. The fellow will collaborate with Climate Hub staff, other USDA scientists and managers, Climate Hub partners and stakeholders to develop science-based tools and information products that will help land managers better manage forest and rangeland resources in light of the direct and indirect impacts of climate change (e.g., drought, floods, changing growing seasons, increased wildfire and pests, etc.) and to increase carbon storage and sequestration (mitigation). The fellow will meet with USDA agency representatives to learn about agency mission areas and collaborate with the network of fellows across the ten USDA Climate Hubs.

Activities of the Climate Hub Fellow will focus on supporting, synthesizing, and communicating the research of Climate Hubs and land managers across the US on a range of priority issues such as reforestation, climate equity, drought, mitigation benefits, and adaptation actions, and can take many potential forms, including:

• Support and synthesize the research of the ten Climate Hubs and cohort of Climate Hub Fellows;
• Communicate climate science to partners and stakeholders;
• Research on economic, technical and scientific climate change issues of current and immediate importance to forest and rangeland managers, including ecosystem service and carbon quantification, reforestation and restoration, and support for underserved communities;
• Interact with counterparts in USDA science agencies (NRCS, ARS) and with other government agencies including NOAA, DOI, etc., to facilitate forest and rangeland management and adaptation to climate change;
• Travel to professional conferences, meetings, etc., to enhance capacity relevant to preparing USDA for climate change;
• Build relationships with academic institutions and other professional or advocacy groups, which may include professional societies and associations to improve access to data and tools that will support USDA’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts;
• Support for climate change education, outreach, training; and
• Conduct needs assessments, developing risk models and contributing to usable decision tools that can support decision-making in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.

Learning Objectives: 

• Enhance collaborative skills by participating as a member of an interdisciplinary team investigating opportunities to advance climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Enhance leadership and facilitation skills by coordinating across the Climate Hub network and leading the community of climate fellows.
• Understand and facilitate interactions at the intersection between science and land management.
• Enhance communication skills and experience by sharing information developed with management, professional and scientific communities via presentations and publishing findings in journals and reports. Also includes drafting communication materials, such as website content, information sheets, and newsletters.
• Strengthen techniques used for data collection and analysis. This includes conducting scientific syntheses, data mining, and conducting interviews with key partners.

There will be opportunities for professional development including skill training and travel. The Fellow will have the opportunity to interact with scientists in Forest Service and other land management agencies and entities.

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 2023; start date is flexible (earlier or later).

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. The current stipend for this opportunity is $72,000/year plus $5,419/year health insurance and prescription supplement and $5,500/year for travel. 

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. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with natural resource management and climate change, and an interest in applied research/technical assistance and education and communication.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Earth and Geosciences (14 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (10 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (11 )
• Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).