USGCRP National Nature Assessment Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USGS Office/Lab and Location: A  fellowship opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) to work on the National Nature Assessment (NNA), located in Washington, DC.

The USGS mission is to monitor, analyze, and predict current and evolving dynamics of complex human and natural Earth-system interactions and to deliver actionable intelligence at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers. As the Nation’s largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, USGS collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides science about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.

This fellowship will be for immediate detail to the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). USGCRP is a Federal interagency program established by Congress that coordinates and integrates global change research across 15 Federal agencies to help the Nation and the world understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.

Research Project: The U.S. Geological Survey seeks an ORISE Fellow to join the National Nature Assessment (NNA) team at the USGCRP. The National Nature Assessment will provide a holistic picture of the state of nature, the many changes that are underway, and how nature matters to our lives. The NNA will allow us to better understand where we stand now and anticipate how nature and its benefits might change in the future. The NNA will identify opportunities for nature to help us achieve our societal and economic goals and will be a vital tool for governments, businesses, communities, and leaders across sectors. It is expected to be completed by 2026.

The ORISE Fellow will be a part of the NNA team, collaborating closely with the other members of the team and USGCRP staff. Key activities include participating in the NNA development by Federal and non-Federal author teams and collaborating on NNA communications and engagement.

Learning Objectives: With guidance from the mentor, specific activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Acting as a point of contact for at least one NNA1 chapter, collaborating with authors navigate the process of development, review, and publication of the report;
• Contributing to research, authorship, and author support for development of NNA1 chapters and support materials;
• Developing stakeholder engagement events (both in-person and virtual) to inform the NNA development process; and
• Participating in additional projects related to USGCRP’s assessment efforts on an as-needed basis.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Bonnie Myers ([email protected]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of USGS 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 USGS. Participants do not become employees of USGS, 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 [email protected] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor’s degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills:

• Willingness to engage with authors and staff on nature assessment issues,
• Willingness to travel domestically (when appropriate), 
• Possession of excellent communication and organizational skills, and
• Experience with complicated coordination and engagement efforts.