*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 Southern Research Station (SRS) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

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.

The fellowship will be sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, Southeast Climate Hub in Research Triangle Park, NC.  The SE Climate Hub’s mission is to deliver resources that help producers build resilience to climate change and variability through adaptive management.  The Southeast Climate Hub shares space in the Southern Research Stations Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The facility houses approximately 50 research scientists and support staff and is the regional laboratory for Southern Research Station soil and plant material analysis. There are two small meeting rooms and one large conference room, each equipped with video-conferencing capabilities. There is adequate office space dedicated to visiting scientists and other collaborators.  Additionally, the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina is nearby and has large state-of-the-art conference rooms available for use.

Research Project: The climate mitigation fellow will collaborate with and help support the work of the USDA Southeast Climate Hub to enhance climate mitigation and increase the resiliency of working lands in the Southeast US. Fellow will be embedded in a dynamic, exciting research environment focused on helping farmers, forest land managers, and grazing land managers mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change and variability. This project will raise the level of awareness of climate mitigation strategies, challenges, and solutions in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) workforce and with NRCS partners. It will provide decision support tools and information relevant to the farm, ranch, and forest level that encourage the use of NRCS conservation programs and the implementation of practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon sequestration.

The project will include three phases: Phase I will address immediate needs for climate, carbon, and GHG literacy through State- and Territorial-level Climate Mitigation Conversations; Phase II will address near-term needs for relevant climate mitigation decision support tools and information; and Phase III will address ongoing needs to evaluate practices, reduce uncertainty, and increase the connection of scientific knowledge to the implementation of climate mitigation practices.  The mitigation fellow will begin completing activities in Phase I but also contribute toward activities in the other Phases as the project moves forward.

Learning Objectives: ORISE participants will be mentored by Southeast Climate Hub Researchers and focus on advancing the mission of the Southeast Climate Hub through interdisciplinary research efforts that span priority areas and involve collaborative research among and across NRCS and Climate Hub regions. ORISE participants will have an opportunity to gain skills in a wide range of scientific disciplines and learn new tools and approaches, while contributing to the goal of enhancing climate mitigation education and outreach.

Fellow will participate in staff, Center, and Station meetings to 1) better understand the different work and mission areas of the Station, 2) experience different decision-making processes, and 3) expand their network. Station staff will be available for one-on-one engagements to share experiences and broaden the fellows understanding of the research.  Weekly mentoring meetings will be scheduled to focus on fellow professional development. Assignments will be coordinated with Hub staff who have decades of experience delivering climate adaptation and mitigation resources.

The fellow will:

• Learn about the research USDA is conducting to help producers make climate-informed decision and build resilience to climate variability and change
• Learn about NRCS and how their conservation practice standards help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
• Participate in training sessions focused on improving climate, carbon, and GHG literacy
• Gain experience working across Hub-boundaries with regional teams to help coordinate national-scale activities
• Develop and present workshops
• Be exposed to the Hub’s vast network of collaborators and partners
• Improve interpersonal, writing, speaking, and strategic planning skills

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Michael Gavazzi (michael.gavazzi@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Feburary 10, 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. 

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 2/10/2025.

Preferred skills:

• Knowledge of how climate change and variability impact agricultural lands
• Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills
• Experience organizing and leading engagement sessions and completing post-engagement activities (e.g., summarizing key messages, following up on next steps, tracking workflow)  
• Eagerness to learn