USDA-FS Applied Fire and Forest Ecology Research (Wildland Fire and Fuels Treatment Outcomes)

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USDA Forest Service Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) within the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSWRS) located in Redding, California.

At the heart of the USDA 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 USDA 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 USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) is seeking a fellow or Postdoctoral Fellow, preferably with experience in fire ecology/fire science, to join a team of USFS Research Scientists and University partners evaluating the effectiveness of fuel reduction treatments including mechanical thinning and prescribed fire, when impacted by wildfires. The objective of the project is to better understand the conditions under which treatments produce desirable outcomes, including reduction in fire severity, successful containment of fire spread by suppression operations, and well as reduction in wildfire impacts to homes and other infrastructure, to inform future adaptive management. The project involves both methodological development that will allow for future comparisons across geographic regions, and analysis of case studies in different landscapes. The fellow will take on varying roles (flexible and to be determined, based on strengths and interests), and will gain experience with data acquisition and data analysis, as well as collaborating in the writing of manuscripts. The fellowship is currently funded through Sept 30, 2026. Duty station for this fellowship will be Redding, CA. 

Learning Objectives: 

• To better understand how fuel treatments including mechanical thinning and prescribed fire influence wildfire outcomes
• To enhance collaborative skills as a member of a scientific team by helping to formulate research questions that meet needs of resource and fire managers, and plan data acquisition, collection, and analysis
• To gain experience analyzing large datasets, and translating quantitative scientific results into products that enhance forest and fire management capabilities
• To extend natural resource information-sharing capabilities by collaborating on the preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and communicating study results to scientists and forest managers via meetings, presentations, webinars, and field tours

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Eric Knapp (eric.e.knapp@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 2025.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and six months but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive an annual stipend ranging from $66,500 (MS degree) to $85,000 (PhD), along with a health insurance stipend supplement and a travel/supplies allowance. The USDA-FS will provide the participant with a government computer.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Salary : $66,500 - $85,000