USDA-FS Forestry Research 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 Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNWRS) located in Olympia, Washington.

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.

Research Project: The USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station based in Olympia, WA is seeking Forestry Research Fellows with preferred experience in forest ecology and silviculture to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team conducting research on issues related to sustainable forest management in the PNW region (e.g., climate adaptation, invasive species management, silvicultural systems). The fellow will participate on projects in Oregon and Washington related to these topics (e.g., ENAMES – https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/pnw/projects/enames). The fellow will have a tremendous opportunity to engage and interact with scientists at the research station, as well as a large and diverse group of stakeholders including the USDA National Forest System, state natural resource agencies, tribal entities, and forest industry. Effort will be broadly organized around three tasks which are to:

• Conduct field and lab measurements to quantify vegetation, soils, and climate
• Compile datasets and conduct analyses to interpret responses to experimental treatments, and;
• Utilize summary findings to develop information and tools that can be used by managers to address issues surrounding invasive species management and climate adaptation.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand and facilitate interactions at the intersection between science and land management.
• Learn about silvicultural and natural resource management issues in the Western United States while helping to implement and maintain several long-term, high-impact experiments
• Enhance collaborative skills as a member of a scientific team through development of questions, learning of data collection techniques, and methods for data assessment and presentation
• Gain first-hand knowledge of Forest Service Research & Development science and National Forest System management.

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2025.  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. Anticipated stipend range is $4,300 – $4,725 monthly and includes a payment of 75% of premium cost for health / dental insurance coverage.

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 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.PNWRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor’s degree in one of the relevant fields (forestry, forest ecology, silviculture, natural resources management, or a closely related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

• Proficiency in the measurement and assessment of forest vegetation and soils
• Familiarity with identification of PNW vegetation
• Experience with PNW forests under a variety of conditions
• Experience using GPS, GIS, and related software (e.g., ARC Field Maps)
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of individuals
• Understanding of forest management, silvicultural methods and treatments
• Understanding in principles of data collection, experimental design, and data assessment
• Strong organizational skills with capacity to research independently and prioritize activities