USFS Dendroecology Fellowship

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS), located in Missoula, Montana. 

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: The project involves dendroecological (tree-ring) analysis of whitebark pine to evaluate the effects of thinning and mountain pine beetle outbreaks on tree growth. The participant will be involved in the full cycle of tree ring analysis, including processing, dating, and measuring, as well as data analysis and writing. The participant will join a team researching aspects of fire ecology and may also be involved in other projects at the Fire Sciences Lab. 

Learning Objectives: The participant will learn about dendroecology and disturbance ecology. The participant will learn how to analyze data and prepare a manuscript and manager-oriented reports that presents the results of the project. The participant will learn and explore new methods for quantifying elements of tree rings and how to conduct a sensitivity analysis to determine appropriate methods based on specific dendroecological objectives. 

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Sharon Hood (sharon.hood@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: November 2022.  Start date is flexible and negotiable, and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for six months, 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. 

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past two months.

Preferred skills: