USFS Faculty Opportunity in Landscape Simulations of Wildfire, Climate and Management
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A complete application package consists of:
- An application
- Statement of Research Interests
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations. Applications need at least one recommendation submitted in order to be viewed by the mentor.
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USFS Office/Lab and Location: A faculty research opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Southern Research Station located in Athens, Georgia.
At the heart of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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: This project aims to understand landscape level processes, particularly climate, wildfire, and management that interact to create new patterns of tree species assembly within the Southern Appalachian forested region. This project stems from the large wildfire outbreak that occurred in the Fall of 2016 in the Southern Appalachian mountains and the significant changes in forest composition that has occurred over the last century. This project uses a parameterized landscape disturbance simulation model for this region using collected field data and existing data on tree species composition and land cover.
Learning Objectives: The participant will develop skills related to landscape simulation modeling, particularly focused on learning about future patterns of forest composition and structure in relation to future fire-climate interactions and implications for land management. This is an opportunity to collaborare alongside federal, state, and local researchers and managers in the region and nationally that specialize in wildland fire, management, and ecological modeling. There are opportunities for gaining laboratory and research experience within the same research field alongside the scientists and collaborators associated with the project.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Louise Loudermilk (eva.l.loudermilk@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Fall 2021. Start date is flexible and negotiable, 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 USFS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is part-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, 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 USFS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, 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 USForestService@orise.orau.gov and include the reference code for this opportunity.
The qualified candidate must be a full-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Preferred skills:
- Experience in forest ecology or landscape ecology research
- Skills in wildland fire, forest fuel treatments, and forest management
- Skills in ecological or forest modeling, including computer programming
- Skills in writing of scientific manuscripts
I am a full-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. college or university.
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