*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USDA Forest Service Office/Lab and Location: Two social science research fellowship opportunities are available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (FS) within the Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNWRS) in Juneau, Alaska.

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: Research fellows will apply their MS or PhD social science and/or economics skills in research initiatives at the intersection of community well-being, ecosystem health, natural resource policy, and land management with an overall goal of supporting social, economic, and ecological sustainability in rural places through knowledge development.  Fellowships are focused on Southeast Alaska with varying activities to collaborate in reflective of full cycle science including: 

• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders to explore current priority research needs;
• Combining stakeholder engagement with literature review findings to identify contemporary research problems;
• Developing a long-range plan of research spanning social science, economics, and anthropological topics;
• Implementing research projects at the intersection of socioeconomic trends, cultural and subsistence resources, and rural economy; and
• Disseminating research findings via technical reports, scholarly manuscripts, and presentations. 

Research fellows will join the mentor in a multidisciplinary effort to develop the scope of research, engage with tribal organizations, community leaders, scientists, and land managers, collect primary and secondary social science and economic data collection, conduct data analysis, and engage in project reporting in general technical reports, peer-review manuscripts, and public presentations. Research fellows will have the opportunity to apply their skills with their mentor and other researchers in the full cycle of research and the production of scientific information to inform public land management across multiple landowners. 

Learning Objectives: This research fellowship provides an opportunity to join a team of sociologists, economists, and anthropologists conducting research that informs national forest planning and is relevant in scholarly venues. Research fellows will also have opportunity to grow skills in collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills through science coproduction. 

Research fellows will engage with and learn from their mentor, PNWRS science community, university research faculty, land and natural resource managers, and other research collaborators to conduct social science and economics research focusing on community socioeconomic conditions, rural livelihoods and natural resource connections, community resilience, subsistence, and cultural resources in Southeast Alaska.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Nicole Grewe (nicole.r.grewe@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: March 2025.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for six months but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: Full-time participation is preferred, but part-time appointments may be considered.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The intended monthly stipend for this opportunity ranges from $4,700 - $8,350.

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 be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. sociology, economics, anthropology, demography, rural development, indigenous studies, community planning, or human dimensions of natural resources). Degree must have been received within the past two years, or anticipated to be received by 12/31/2025.

Preferred skills/experience:

• Experience conducting applied social science or economics research including identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, or presenting findings via written documents, presentations, or other demonstrations. Ability to problem-solve and conduct research activities independently.
• Excellent organizational, teamwork, and oral and written communication skills. Familiarity with forestry or natural resource management issues.