USDA-FS Biological Control Research and Applications Opportunity

*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 Hilo, Hawaii.

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.

The Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station serves the states of California and Hawaii and U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands. PSW’s program at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry performs a broad variety of research to benefit the land and people of Hawaii and Pacific Islands, including development of biological control as a tool for managing invasive species.

Research Project: Invasive species in Hawaii have devastating impacts on island forest and rangeland ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of citizens. Ongoing efforts using mechanical and chemical control provide short term solutions for incipient infestations and small areas that can be intensively managed, but invasions by certain pests and weeds are so widespread that long term management will depend on biocontrol using host-specific natural enemies. Our research program identifies and evaluates biocontrol agents to measure their effectiveness and suitability for release in Hawaii for long term management of pests and weeds such as twolined spittlebug, fountain grass, albizia, miconia, clidemia, and strawberry guava. You will participate with Forest Service entomologists and ecologists in methods used to quantify the specificity and impacts of biocontrol agents for high priority pests and weeds. Mentoring by Forest Service scientists will ensure that you acquire skills to carry out a variety of activities important for evaluating and managing Hawaii’s forest ecosystems, including experimental design, plot establishment and monitoring, assessing plant health, and identifying insects and their damage.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: (a) apply techniques for rearing insects and evaluating their effects on plants at levels from a single individual to a population; (b) understand taxonomic principles necessary for insect identification. 

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Tracy Johnson (tracy.johnson@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 2026.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 9 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 preferably, but with possibility of half-time or ¾ time.

Citizenship Requirements: This 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 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 : $3,000 - $4,500