USDA-FS Climate Outreach and Education Fellow

*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), Eastern Threat Center, Southeast Climate Hub, located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

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 SE Climate Hub’s mission is to deliver resources that help producers build resilience to climate change and variability through adaptive management.  The Southeast Climate Hub shares space in the Southern Research Stations Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The facility houses approximately 50 research scientists and support staff and is the regional laboratory for Southern Research Station soil and plant material analysis. There are two small meeting rooms and one large conference room, each equipped with video-conferencing capabilities. There is adequate office space dedicated to visiting scientists and other collaborators.  Additionally, the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina is nearby and has large state-of-the-art conference rooms available for use.

Research Project: The climate outreach and education fellow will collaborate with and help support the mission of the USDA Southeast Climate Hub to enhance values and increase the resiliency of the Southern forest landscape.  Fellow will be embedded in a dynamic, exciting research environment focused on helping farmers, forest land managers, and grazing land managers build resilience to climate change and variability through adaptive management. Fellow will participate in staff, Center, and Station meetings to:

• Better understand the different mission areas of the Station;
• Experience different decision-making processes, and;
• Expand their network.

Weekly mentoring meetings will be scheduled to focus on fellow professional development.

Research assignments will be supervised by Hub staff who have decades of experience conducting outreach and education in the Southeast US.  The fellow will be part of a team to engage with the USDA National Forest System (Region 8), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service field staff, regional and national climate mitigation fellows, university Extension agents, commodity groups, and underserved communities to help determine needs, identify opportunities for collaboration, and organize outreach and education efforts.  These opportunities may include co-producing webinars, workshops, demonstrations, fact sheets, and other printed materials for distribution.

Learning Objectives: Fellow will:

• Learn how climate change and variability are impacting producers (e.g., farmers, forest landowners)
• Learn about mitigation and adaptation options to help producers build resilience to climate change and variability
• Learn how to build relationships with producers, technical service providers, partners, and collaborators
• Be exposed to the Hub’s vast network of collaborators and partners
• Learn how to co-produce webinars, workshops, and demonstrations

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 16, 2024.  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 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. 

Citizenship Requirements: 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.

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 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:

• Basic understanding of how climate variability and change impact working lands
• Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills
• Eagerness to learn

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Overall GPA: 3.00