What are the responsibilities and job description for the USDA-FS Fellowship for Preparation and Analysis of Environmental Samples for Forest Productivity Studies position at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?
*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 Forest Service Northern Research Station (NRS) located in Grand Rapids, Minnisota.
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: You will focus soil and forest floor samples and their preparation for long-term, forest-productivity studies. You will experience how to collect and analyze vegetation data. Mentored by a research scientist, you will train on laboratory techniques and equipment used by a laboratory manager (chemist), a physical sciences technician, forest ecologist, and other staff. Through these interactions, you will see how and why samples are prepared for chemical analysis, and how analysis of soil and vegetation data contributes to forest ecology studies. Forest Service staff will share through discussions and hands-on training how science support careers contribute to research in government agencies and academia.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to:
- Understand how and why samples are prepared for chemical analysis and apply that knowledge.
- Apply laboratory techniques and equipment used to prepare samples for chemical analysis.
- Develop laboratory skills to research and research operations that support the mission of Forest Service Research and Development.
- Understand how and why measurements are made and preliminary data analysis is completed.
- Detail how science support careers contribute to research in government agencies and academia.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Stephen Sebestyen (stephen.sebestyen@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 ten 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 partial participation.
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.NRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Salary : $680 - $1,360