Postgraduate Research Opportunity in Post-Fire Watershed Dynamics
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USFS Office/Lab and Location: A postgraduate research opportunity is available with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) located in Arcata, California. The appointment may begin remotely due to COVID19 restrictions.
Research Project: The participant will collaborate with science staff of the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and other partners. The participant will join the watershed sciences research team to contribute to watershed hydrology and sediment delivery studies in fire-impacted forests of the western U.S. Specifically, the participant will perform activities to review and synthesize data collected from past experiments and participate in new or ongoing field projects as opportunities arise.
Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will apply their knowledge of hydrology, sediment production and delivery, statistics, and data visualization to review and analyze meteorological, hydrological, and geomorphological data from research conducted on the Rim Fire and Valley Fire in California. Other opportunities may be available with our partners. Activities will include using software to review and adjust electronic data based on other field records, developing algorithms to review data, analyzing and interpreting results, and communicating results via written and oral presentations. Occasional field work or other travel may be necessary.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives include demonstrating understanding of quality assurance methods for field experiments, data processing, analysis, review, and archiving techniques, and technical and scientific communication.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Joe Wagenbrenner (joseph.wagenbrenner@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2021. Start date is flexible 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 full-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.