USDA-FS Fellow for Forest Restoration and Fuels Management Research
*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 Wenatchee, 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 selected fellow will participate in research projects designed to provide information that facilitates the planning, implementation, and maintenance of forest restoration and fuel reduction treatments within dry coniferous forest landscapes of the interior Pacific Northwest. Research studies within this project will:
- Assess the short- and long-term effects of forest restoration and fuel reduction treatments on forest structure, fuels, and understory vegetation;
- Identify the biophysical factors influencing fuel treatment effectiveness;
- Assess the effects of stand density reductions on tree growth and climatic sensitivity (especially to drought); and
- Examine fuel treatment effects on forest recovery following wildfire.
Research activities may include reviewing and synthesizing existing scientific literature; extracting and publishing information from long-term datasets; and collecting, analyzing, and publishing information from new field data. The research fellow will have opportunities to participate in most phases of the research cycle, including field data collection, data management and analysis, manuscript development, and communicating research findings.
Learning Objectives: Learning opportunities include gaining knowledge in the areas of forest and fire ecology, restoration and management of interior Pacific Northwest forests, and the flora of the Pacific Northwest; improving data management and analysis skills; and improving written and oral communication skills through the development and delivery of research publications and presentations.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is David Peterson (David.Peterson1@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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 ranging from $65,000 - 78,000/year.
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 fellow should have received or be pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree in a natural resources field (e.g., forestry, natural resources, plant sciences, ecology, botany, environmental sciences, biology, or closely related). Degree should have been received within the past five years or is anticipated to be received by 5/31/2025.
Preferred skills and experience include:
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Experience with forest ecology and management research including, but not limited to, silviculture, forest ecology, fuels management, wildland fire science, or plant community ecology.
- Demonstrated success writing and publishing scientific reports in refereed journals as a lead or secondary author.
- Strong analytical skills, including demonstrated experience managing and conducting statistical or multivariate community analyses on large ecological data sets.
- Ability and desire to conduct research independently and as part of an interdisciplinary researcher-manager team.
- Ability to prioritize multiple activities within project deadlines.
- Experience with forest ecology, forestry, fuels management, or botanical field methods.
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.