*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 Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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 Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow to join an interdisciplinary team addressing the challenges of biodiversity conservation in ecosystems undergoing type conversion. The fellow will join a Biodiversity Research and Policy Center group, which seeks to understand how climate-related disturbances such as wildfire and drought drive ecosystem transitions beyond historical baselines and the likely future trajectories of these ecosystems.  Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will learn about leadership and collaborate to synthesize existing literature and data related to this critical topic. 

Collaborating closely with ecologists, climate scientists, and policy experts, the fellow will analyze drivers of ecosystem type conversion, assess biodiversity impacts, and evaluate the resilience of key species and ecosystems. The research will employ advanced geospatial analysis and bioinformatics to identify at-risk ecosystems and predict conversion risk under various future scenarios. Findings will directly inform policy and management strategies, equipping decision-makers with tools to address biodiversity challenges in a changing world. Additionally, the fellow will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and help in developing a framework for adaptive management in the face of ecological transformation.

Learning Objectives: In this project, the fellow will have the opportunity to continue their professional development while tackling important environmental management- and conservation-relevant research questions in this time of rapid global change. The fellow will gain skills in applied science, statistical and geospatial analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration while working with a range of experts in the field.   

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Zack Steel (zachary.steel@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2025.  Start date is somewhat flexible but the fellow should be available for a project workshop during the first week of May, 2025.

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. The anticipated annual stipend range is $63-68k.

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years or is anticipated to be received by 5/31/2025.

Preferred skills:

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated experience managing, analyzing, and visualizing natural resources data sets with statistical and spatial analysis programs such as R, Python, Nimble/JAGs, Stan and ArcGIS Pro.
• Experience with statistical and spatial data analysis.
• Knowledgeable in wildlife, landscape, and/or disturbance ecology.
• Experience manipulating large datasets.
• Familiar with concepts related to ecosystem transformation, climate change impacts, and/or adaptive management.
• Ability to communicate technical information to managers and policy makers in the form of briefs, online materials, interactive online tools, etc.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience publishing scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Point of ContactJustina

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.