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The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a part time (20 hours per week) Forest Ecology Field Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Corvallis, OR.

What the EPA project is about

The Pacific Ecological Systems Division (PESD) within the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), provides the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity. The Pacific Ecological Systems Division (PESD) located in CPHEA’s mission includes predictive capabilities regarding the effects of future land, water, air and chemical use, as well as for evaluating climate and sustainability scenarios. PESD scientists address important scientific issues in formulating public policies and regulations to protect and manage ecological resources and achieve sustainable futures. They also collaborate with scientists at other EPA research facilities and at research institutions throughout the world.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member and part of EPA’s Air and Energy National Research Program, researchers are examining the potential impacts of climate change and climate-mediated forest disturbances (pests, pathogens, wildfire) on water quality and health of forested watersheds in the Pacific Northwest.  Recent evidence indicates that forests throughout the west are sensitive to temperature and drought stress, making them more vulnerable to disturbance.  With a predicted increase of pests, diseases, and fire frequency, understanding the interactions between climate and these disturbances is central to predicting climate change impacts to forest structure and functioning at local and regional scales.  This research maintains a monitoring network of field sites in mature forest stands from the Coast Range to the west slopes of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon to measure and track climate change effects on forest growth and mortality.  EPA scientists are collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service and forest health specialists at Oregon State University.

How you will apply your skills

As a team member you will aid in the development and collection of field data of forest response variables. The work consists of assisting in the collection and processing of dendrometer, vegetation and meteorological data at the EPA monitoring network of field sites in western Oregon.  You will receive training as needed and will be provided with equipment to perform all tasks. The effort may require field work to assist in the collection of data at regular intervals and maintenance of monitoring equipment as needed.  As a team member, you will interact with a multidisciplinary team of forest ecologists, biologists, and a statistician to prepare the raw field data for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at international conferences.  You will work with groups and subject matter experts to transform knowledge of forest pests, pathogens, and wildfire effects into strategies for reducing air and water quality risks for specific geographic areas and conditions. As a team member, you will help implement an approach for evaluating and reporting on the data and information quality upon which specific risks and strategies are based.

Responsibilities:

• Reviewing the current scientific literature to describe the past and current patterns of forest disturbances (e.g., wildfires) and dynamics of forest conditions prior to land use changes including grazing, logging, and fire exclusion,

• Examining the role of climate change and forest disturbance agents on physiological processes, tree growth and mortality in forested watersheds; and

• Improving data and statistics for atmospheric and edaphic conditions, tree growth and mortality, and identify forested watersheds at risk from climate change. 

EPA will incorporate knowledge gained from these research efforts to develop a conceptual basis from which risks to water resources can be assessed and provide stakeholders with the information to develop adaptive management actions for reducing these risks.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• An undergraduate background in Forest Ecology, Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or other scientific discipline.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Experience in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience working as part of a collaborative team. 

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Corvallis, OR.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $16.38 for hours worked.

Hours: Part-time.

Travel: Some day-trip travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin October 2020. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial project is through May 14, 2021, The period of performance shall be from the start date through 5/14/2021 plus one additional 12-month option period.

For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age; and

• An undergraduate background in Forest Ecology, Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or other scientific discipline from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; and

• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Any degree .
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (13 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; An undergraduate with background in Forest Ecology, Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or other scientific discipline from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; a citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States of America; and not a current employee of EPA ORD or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee.