*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 Forest Service Washington Office. Opportunity is remote.

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: This project involves managing and analyzing long term Arctic vegetation data compiled through the National Science Foundation supported US ITEX-Arctic Observing Network/International Tundra Experiment (AON). The participant will become familiar with these data and support the development of peer reviewed research based on analyses. The data reflect changes in species composition and structure from experimentally manipulated plots with warming and snow depth treatments conducted over three decades at the Toolik Lake Long Term Ecological Research Site in northern Alaska.

The US ITEX-Arctic Observatory Network (AON) has tracked terrestrial ecosystem change along a latitudinal gradient in Alaska and Greenland since 2007 as part of the interagency program Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH). The goal of the AON project is to document and understand arctic terrestrial ecosystem change by maintaining the continuity of the temporally critical datasets of the ITEX AON and to use the datasets in synthesis and modeling efforts to provide the global research community with data and insight as to the mechanisms and magnitude of change. Researchers involved in this project began gathering vegetation data using point framing methodology in 1989-1990 at two 1 km2 grids located at Imnavait Creek and Toolik Lake Alaska, and at two experimental sites (moist and dry tundra) at Toolik Lake Alaska. 

The opporutnity is to help develop peer-reviewed manuscripts on vegetation response to changing climate based on long term datasets (1989 to 2018) from northern Alaska and compile, document, and archive data used in these analyses. Data includes vegetation composition and structure collected using point frame methodology from the Toolik Lake ITEX moist and dry experimental sites. 

Learning Objectives: The participant will have an opportunity to engage with a global network of researchers involved in studies throughout the Circumpolar Arctic region. They will gain experience in data management and analyses, and in writing peer reviewed research. Additionally, the participant will have an opportunity to develop communications translating research results to more general language for press releases and other communications.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is William Gould (william.a.gould@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 seven months but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is part time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend will be $2,400/month for 20 hours per week with a research and travel budget up to $3,000.

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

Skills in developing and publishing peer reviewed research, expertise in the Arctic flora, and strong data management and analytical skills.