*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location : A research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW) located in Juneau, Alaska.

Research Project : The USDA Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to collaborate and support science delivery as part of a team of researchers and land managers investigating even-aged forest dynamics and second growth forest management on the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska. The project will utilize long-term datasets to better understand even-aged forest successional trajectories and the effects of stand improvement silviculture on forest ecology, timber production, wood products, wildlife forage, biodiversity, and subsistence wild food production. The goal of the team is to promote collaboration across disciplines and produce basic and applied research products that will support forest planning and the sustainable management of wildlife, subsistence, biodiversity, and timber resource management in Southeast Alaska. The participant will support the team by performing statistical analyses on large multi-year forest monitoring datasets, reviewing scientific literature, developing content for a General Technical Report, and preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.

Learning Objectives : 

• Improve understanding of even-aged forest successional trajectories and the effects of stand improvement silviculture on forest resources and ecosystem services.
• Develop leadership, collaboration, and project management skills as a member of a co-production team composed of scientists and land managers.
• Gain experience analyzing long-term datasets with repeated measurements and translating quantitative results into products that enhance forest management and planning.
• Enhance research, writing, and communication skills by collaborating on the preparation of peer review manuscripts and a general technical report, and information sharing through delivery of web content, presentations, and webinars to regional and national audiences.
• Gain knowledge about the information needs pertinent to planning, monitoring, and management of natural resources with an emphasis on National Forests and Grasslands.

The fellow will be mentored by a vibrant multi-disciplinary team and benefit from exposure to the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, Tongass National Forest, and other Forest Service divisions. The fellow may explore professional development and training opportunities including travel to meetings, workshops, and conferences.

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date : December 2023.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length : The appointment will initially be for two years, but could be extended upon recommendation of USFS 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 education and experience. The current stipend range for this opportunity is $60,107 - $77,898 per year plus a health insurance allowance, travel/training allowance, and $5,000 for relocation costs to Juneau, Alaska. Relocation expenses will be used for the fellow to travel to Southeast Alaska if a remote duty station is selected.

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 ORISE.USFS.PNWRS@orau.org  and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge related to forest succession dynamics and the effects of forest management at tree, stand, and landscape scales.
• Interest and/or experience in leveraging applied forest ecology knowledge for scientific and natural resource management, planning, and monitoring applications
• Strong written/verbal communications skills, including preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and ability to present technical information to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• A collegial and collaborative style with experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to achieve mutual objectives.
• Strong research, data management, and data analysis skills that include geographic information systems and statistics.
• Experience using R, Python, SQL, or similar coding languages to manipulate and analyze tabular data.