*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 within the Forest Service Washington Office (WO), USDA Caribbean Climate Hub located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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 project will be a part of the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub Climate Mitigation Outreach and Education project. This is a collaboration between the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the USDA Climate Hubs to reduce GHG emissions, improve soil carbon, and increase GHG sequestration on working lands by supporting the awareness and implementation of agriculture, agroforestry, and forestry practices. The project will include an evaluation of research needs related to climate mitigation actions for tropical forestry and agriculture.

The participant can contribute expertise in carbon accounting and the research process to synthesize and summarize the best available science on 2-3 conservation practices relevant to the region and communicate the findings so the information is usable and actionable. The participant will have the opportunity to gather information from diverse stakeholders and assess knowledge gaps related to costs and benefits of climate mitigation actions such as carbon sequestration through agroforestry and soil improvements. Outcomes of the participants actions will be a clear research agenda designed to provide new knowledge and decision support information for natural resource and agriculture agencies, as well as farmers, ranchers, and forest managers. The project will provide the participant with opportunities to gather and synthesize information from peer reviewed literature, agency partners, and natural resource managers so that it can guide future research actions.

Learning Objectives: 

• The participant will gain communication and networking skills while canvasing diverse stakeholders to identify research needs.
• The participant will gain scientific skills and new knowledge in this area through participating in literature reviews
• The participant will gain an understanding of programs and incentives offered by the Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service which have the potential to increase carbon sequestration on farms and forests in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
• The participant will gain skills in planning applied research which directly addresses producers and managers needs for new knowledge.

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: December 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 6 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 or 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.WO@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills/experience:

• Postgraduate research experience in developing research related to climate risks, agriculture and natural resource management in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
• Fluent in English and Spanish.