USDA-FS Prototyping Data Dashboards and Reports for Wildland Fire and Smoke Science

*Applications are 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 Northwest Research Station located in Seattle, Washington.

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: To address the needs of the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program, the US Forest Service AirFire team gathers a wide variety of heterogeneous data -- everything from satellite fire detects to air quality monitoring data to state agency prescribed burn permits. In addition, a smoke modeling pipeline is run operationally to provide smoke forecasts for land managers, air quality and health agencies, and the general public. While the project addresses the iterative and changing needs for decision support tools, under the guidance of a mentor, a fellow will help use AI-enhanced coding techniques to prototype a series of novel data dashboards and reports for evaluation. Through this experience, the participant will interact with a multidisciplinary team of university faculty, research staff, graduate students, and scientists with expertise on fire weather, climatology, air quality, statistics, and computer engineering. It will also provide occasions to engage with a wide user community involved in wildland fire and smoke.

Learning Objectives: By participating in this project, the fellow will have the opportunity to:

• Develop skills in acquiring, cleaning, and combining heterogeneous datasets (e.g., satellite fire detections, air quality data, burn permits, and model outputs).
• Gain hands-on experience using AI-assisted coding tools to prototype dashboards and automated reports.
• Learn to create interactive, accessible dashboards and reports tailored to wildfire managers, air quality agencies, and public health stakeholders.
• Build foundational knowledge of smoke forecasting systems and how model outputs support real-time decision-making.
• Strengthen communication and teamwork skills by learning from experts in fire weather, air quality, statistics, and computer engineering.
• Develop the ability to transform complex scientific data into clear, practical tools that support wildfire and smoke response efforts.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Susan O'Neill (Susan.Oneill1@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

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

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for five 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 a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $4,500 - $5,000 monthly.

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. Foreign national candidates may have a mandatory in-person requirement depending on visa status.

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.PNWRS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Salary : $4,500 - $5,000