USDA-FS Office of Sustainability and Climate - Sustainable Operations Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USDA-FS Office/Lab and Location: A VIRTUAL research opportunity is available at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS), Office of Sustainability and Climate.

The Forest Service (FS) mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Forest Service manages a system of 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands in 44 States and Puerto Rico. These lands encompass 193 million acres, an area almost twice the size of California. They have some of the richest resources and most breathtaking scenery in the world, as well as drinking water for millions of Americans; these lands also help create or maintain hundreds of thousands of jobs. Impacts from climate, extreme weather, and other disturbances-along with changing human demands­ challenge our ability to ensure that ecosystems are healthy, resilient, and thus more adaptable to changing conditions. The Office of Sustainability and Climate (OSC) works to help the agency adjust behaviors and actions by using the best available science and information to ensure our forests and grasslands continue to deliver values, products, and services both now and in the future. Translating data and assisting mangers in applying information to address sustainability is a key component of OSC's mission. 

Research Project: Translating data and assisting managers in applying information to address sustainability is a key component of OSC's mission. This opportunity will provide the ORISE Participant with valuable learning experience compiling and analyzing sustainability data and information and communicating and coordinating sustainability efforts with internal USDA-FS employees and external partners. 

Learning Objectives: The project will enhance current skills and knowledge in sustainable operations, as well as climate change and natural resource sciences, while providing experiential learning in data analysis, communication, teamwork, and leadership. The project will expose the research participant to sustainable operations, natural resource conservation, and policy issues at a national level, and provide first-hand knowledge of the Forest Service's organization, mission areas, and strategic goals. The participant will learn about the six footprint areas of the Agency (energy conservation, water conservation, waste prevention and recycling, fleet and transportation, sustainable acquisition, and sustainable leadership).

The research participant will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with managers in the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations and scientists in Forest Service research stations. While this is primarily a headquarters-based fellowship, opportunities to learn and support field efforts are possible. The participant may explore options for future graduate research and take advantage of additional training opportunities. There will be opportunities for professional travel during this appointment. While this opportunity is virtual, if the participant lives near a Forest Service facility that has office space available and they wanted to have access to an office, it could be possible for them to participate out of an office (to be determined based on local space availability and participant interest).

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Jennifer Hayes (jennifer.hayes@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2024/2025.  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 USDA-FS 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. Includes a travel allowance and health insurance supplement.

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 USDA-FS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USDA-FS, 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.WO@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity. 

Qualifications

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

Preferred skills:

• Demonstrated written, verbal, analytical skills
• A strong interest in learning more about sustainable operations work and a passion for trying to understand and reduce the environmental footprint of a large organization
• Desired knowledge and skills include:
  • Knowledge of federal sustainability policy, requirements, and best practices, particularly tied to the footprint areas of net zero energy and emissions/waste and recycling/water/transportation/acquisitions
  • Strong data analysis skills, particularly involving large data sets from different sources (e.g., utility databases)
  • Experience working in Tableau or other data visualization software
  • Knowledge of how to perform cost-benefit analyses within any of the environmental footprint areas

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.