USDA Forest Service Social Science Research Fellowships for Landscape-Scale Restoration
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
A complete application consists of:
- An application
- Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations. At least one recommendation must be submitted in order for the mentor to view your application.
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USDA Forest Service Office/Lab and Location: Two fellowship opportunities are available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) within the Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNWRS) and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry. It is anticipated that one fellow will be located in the U.S. West and one in the U.S. Southeast. Foreign national candidates may have a mandatory in-person requirement depending on visa status.
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 fellows will contribute their PhD-level social science research skills to understand how project planning and coordination, work prioritization, use of existing science, characteristics of the forestry and natural resources workforce, and other factors contribute to implementation success and sustained project outcomes in management actions to improve forest health and resilience. We will focus on select landscape resiliency projects in western and southeastern states and territories associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/joint-chiefs-landscape-restoration-partnership).
Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellows will:
- Develop and implement case studies.
- Gather qualitative social science data from case study project participants.
- Code and analyze collected data.
- Report project findings in scientific articles and management-relevant products.
Learning Objectives: The participants will build their experience conducting the full cycle of social science research, including engaging with natural resource managers and partners about the project, gathering and analyzing social science data, and developing diverse types of science products.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Eric White (eric.m.white@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 2025. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and six 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 full-time, but part time appointments may be considered.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The monthly stipend rate at 40 hours/week for this opportunity ranges from $5,200-$6,700.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
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.PNWRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
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 anticipated to be received by June 30, 2025.
Preferred skills/experience:
- At least 3 years of experience conducting social science research in the context of natural resource planning, management, or governance.
- Demonstrated success with the full cycle of research using qualitative or quantitative social science data.
- Ability to problem-solve and conduct research activities independently.
- Excellent organizational, teamwork, and oral and written communication skills.
- Familiarity with forestry or natural resource management issues and wildfire policy.
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