USGS Fire-Climate Adaptation Fellow

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USGS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Locations for this opportunity could include Consortium institutions of the SE CASC such as the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University, University of Florida, or remote can also be considered.

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. 

Research Project: This project will involve the development, implementation, and analysis of a major regional workshop focused on adaptive fire management under rapidly shifting fire regimes in the Southeastern United States and U.S. Caribbean. You will be a part of technical and analytical research to gain knowledge on intentional fire use—prescribed fire, cultural burning, and managed wildfire—within increasingly constrained ecological and social conditions in the region.

Key research and technical activities include:

• Gain skills and expertise in workshops involving fire managers, cultural fire practitioners, scientists, and partners across federal, state, territorial, Tribal, and NGO organizations.
• Develop your skills by practicing workshop exercises using the Intentional Fire-Use Conceptual Model and the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework to explore shifting fire regimes, burn-window constraints, barriers to intentional fire, and adaptation strategies across major fire-prone ecosystems.
• Qualitative data collection and analysis, including note-taking, interview facilitation, and content analysis to identify shared priorities, barriers, and adaptive solutions.
• Synthesis of workshop outputs, potentially including a StoryMap, technical report, and a peer-reviewed publication that outlines challenges, opportunities, and an adaptation menu for intentional fire use in the Southeast.
• Engagement with management partners, to gain mentorship, guidance, and collaboration across multiple disciplines.

Results of this will directly inform the future of wildfire management, prescribed fire and cultural burning across the Southeast by clarifying ecological, social, and governance constraints and identifying science-informed adaptation opportunities to support safety, resilience, and ecosystem stewardship. There are additional opportunities to collaborate with SE CASC and other CASC staff on fire related research project; identifying proposals to address new and emerging issues around uncharacteristic fire in the SE, interactions of invasive species and fire, and post disturbance fire; and to collaborate on synthesis and application of existing research to current management challenges.  

Learning Objectives: 

• Develop expertise in fire-use decision frameworks
  Gain deep experience applying the Intentional Fire-Use Conceptual Model and the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework to real-world challenges in prescribed fire, cultural burning, and managed wildfire contexts.
• Build skills in co-production of actionable science
  Learn to collaborate directly with federal, state, Tribal, and NGO fire managers to identify priority management challenges and translate scientific insight into applied, decision-relevant information.
• Strengthen qualitative research and synthesis capabilities
  Gain hands-on experience conducting interviews, analyzing workshop discourse, performing content analysis, and developing adaptation menus, decision frameworks, and science-based guidance for land and fire management.
• Develop capacity in interdisciplinary communication and outreach
  Contribute to the creation of outreach materials, StoryMaps, and reports that effectively communicate complex fire management concepts to diverse practitioner communities.
• Enhance understanding of shifting fire regimes and management constraints
  Build a strong foundational understanding of ecological, climatic, social, and governance drivers shaping intentional fire use in the Southeast and U.S. Caribbean including burn-window dynamics, liability concerns, and Tribal cultural burning practices

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Hailey Shanovich (hshanovich@usgs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s). 

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 13, 2026 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 renewed upon recommendation of DOI and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: Stipend rates may vary based on numerous factors, including opportunity, location, education, and experience. If you are interviewed, you can inquire about the exact stipend rate at that time and if selected, your appointment offer will include the monthly stipend rate. The anticipated stipend range is $65,000 – $80,000 annually.

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: If you have questions about the application process please email USGS@orau.org  and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field. 

Doctoral is preferred, but exceptional candidates with a master’s degree and relevant experience may also be considered.

Preferred skills:

• Experience with fire ecology and fire-management concepts and qualitative or mixed-methods research such as content analysis, interviews, workshop synthesis, or structured decision-making.
• Highly motivated self-starter with demonstrated ability to research independently and well as part of a collaborative team
• Familiarity with socioecological aspects of fire management, including governance, public acceptance, liability, and coordination across jurisdictions.
• Experience with spatial or ecological analysis using R, Python, GIS, or similar tools.
• Ability to manage and synthesize diverse data sources, including workshop materials, interviews, and geospatial datasets.
• Strong communication skills for translating fire and ecological concepts to non-experts.
• Demonstrated ability to act collaboratively with partners in co-production or stakeholder/private landowner-engaged research

Stipend$65,000.00 – $80,000.00 YearlyPoint of ContactRachelEligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree.