USDA-FS Postgraduate Fellowship Quantifying Changes in Forests Wildfire

Position: USDA-FS Postgraduate Fellowship Quantifying Changes in Forests Following Wildfire

USDA-FS Postgraduate Fellowship Quantifying Changes in Forests Following Wildfire

Closes 2/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Application Requirements

• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted.  for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations. At least one recommendation must be submitted in order for the mentor to view your application.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reference Code

USDA-FS-PSWRS-

Description

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

Research Project

A legacy of fire exclusion and past management in our Western U.S. Forests, coupled with rapid changes in climate, has led to dramatically more frequent and large-magnitude disturbances, including massive, high‑severity stand‑replacing fires. The increasing scale and severity of disturbances affects forest successional trajectories and in turn presents a challenge for forest managers to meet economic and forest recovery goals. The goal of the current research project is to quantify change in forest habitat following large‑scale fires in California, Oregon, and Washington to better understand where managers most need to apply fire and fuels treatments, promote future forests, and protect the remaining high‑value forest refugia necessary for the persistence of key wildlife species.

Currently, this project has collected data across 7 wildfires including data on stand structure and condition, understory cover and species composition, the spread of invasive plant species, and use by wildlife species. This data was collected primarily in upland habitats, but a subset of the data focuses on changes in meadows over time.

Learning Objectives

The selected fellow(s) in this project will have the opportunity to contribute and advance their knowledge and skills in forest and meadow ecology, disturbance ecology, and wildlife research that can inform natural resource management. The fellow(s) will interact with a variety of forest managers, and a team of research staff, including leading scientists in the fields of forestry and wildlife management.

The fellow(s) will have the opportunity to enhance their communications skills via participating in various formal and informal meetings, learning new quantitative techniques, and writing manuscripts and reports for possible publication.

Mentor

Angela White – angela.white2

Appointment Start Date

February 2026 (Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors)

Appointment Length

The appointment will initially be for one year and ten months (22 months total) but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation

Full Time

Participant Stipend

Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Anticipated stipend range is $4,500 - $6,500 monthly.

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 Forest Service. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USDA Forest Service, 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.PSWRS and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

• Received or currently pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Preferred Skills

• Enthusiasm to learn new knowledge and skills relevant for the project.
• Basic knowledge of U.S. forests and wildlife, statistics, emerging data science tools and techniques.
• A demonstrated ability to use a statistical programming language such as R and spatial statistics.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only.
• Degree:
  Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Fish and Wildlife
  • Forest Resources and Science
  • Forestry Sciences
  • Natural Resources
  • Wildlife Management
• Mathematics and Statistics.

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