USGS Postdoctoral Fellowship to Assess Disturbance Impacts on Pinyon-juniper Woodlands & Associated Wildlife Habitat
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USGS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center located in Boise, Idaho, or Corvallis, Oregon.
The USGS mission is to monitor, analyze, and predict current and evolving dynamics of complex human and natural Earth-system interactions and to deliver actionable intelligence at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers. As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, USGS collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides science about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.
The USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center's (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/forest-and-rangeland-ecosystem-science-center) mission is to provide scientific understanding and the technology needed to support sound management and conservation of our nation's natural resources, with emphasis on western ecosystems.
Research Project: The postdoctoral fellow will be hosted at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) in the research group of Dr. Douglas Shinneman, Supervisory Research Ecologist, based in Boise, ID. The Shinneman research group investigates how vegetation management and natural disturbance events interact to affect ecological communities and valued natural resources.
Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral fellow will gain experience by assessing scientific data and conducting a review of the literature to analyze and synthesize information about pinyon-juniper ecosystem responses to three primary change agents: tree removal treatments, drought-induced mortality, and wildfire. Response differences will be related to ecosystem resilience and wildlife habitat needs (with a focus on sage-grouse and pinyon jay). Dr. Shinneman (and colleagues) will provide research mentorship and training in line with the fellow’s professional goals, and the fellow will gain experience in highly impactful scientific writing, obtain an understanding of disturbance dynamics and their effects on vegetation communities and wildlife habitat, and operate within a research team environment representing broad areas of expertise.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Douglas Shinneman (dshinneman@usgs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 2023. 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 for up to four more years upon recommendation of USGS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a yearly stipend of $56,595 to $61,595 based on education and experience. The participant will also receive a health insurance stipend supplement to help offset the cost of health insurance.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.
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 USGS. Participants do not become employees of USGS, 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: If you have questions about the application process please email USGS@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 listed in the eligibility requirements section (e.g. Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Biology), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before May 31, 2023. Degree must have been received within the past five years.