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USFS Fellowship in Human Dimensions of Conservation on the Hawaii Island

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry located in Hilo, Hawaii. 

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 ProjectThe selected participant will be involved in a project that focuses on the need to integrate hydrological, biogeochemical, ecological, and cultural responses to: 1) declining rainfall, land-use change, and changing disturbance regimes; 2) influences of vegetation change from development, active management, and non-native species invasions; 3) effects of changing climatic and disturbance regimes; and 4) stewardship practices. We address these areas by studying ecosystems organized across defined gradients of temperature, precipitation, community engagement, and land use. We examine climate, fire, invasive species, and land-use effects on freshwater supply, carbon sequestration, and ridge-to-reef health through direct measurements and modeling. Modeling includes exploring linkages, trade-offs and synergies among wildfire, hydrologic process and ecosystem stewardship including community-driven bioculturally-based decision support. In close partnership with Hawaii’s Indigenous communities and agencies, we combine western and Indigenous knowledge regarding important drivers of water quality and quantity, carbon sequestration, and ridge-to-reef health while developing tools necessary to sustain these outcomes.

Learning ObjectivesThe Participant will learn and contribute towards aspects of human dimensions of the Forest Service’s conservation based Decision Support Tool development in North Hilo and South Hamakua, North Kona and South Kohala, and South Kona geographies. This includes learning how to assess individual / household level opportunities associated with waste and pesticide management to reduce the flow of contaminants into the near shore areas of Hawaii Island. A secondary learning opportunity for the participant is to formally engage the Forest Service’s Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project and the application of this inventory to supported decision support tool development in the North Kona and South Kohala geography. 

MentorThe mentor for this opportunity is Susan Cordell (susan.cordell@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 16, 2022.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment LengthThe appointment will initially be for one year, but may be extended upon recommendation of USFS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of ParticipationThe appointment is part-time (20 hours per week).

Participant StipendThe participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. 

COVID-19 Requirements: The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Citizenship RequirementsThis 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 InformationThis 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.