Air Quality Biomonitoring Research Opportunity
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
A research opportunity is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Water, Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants directorate (WFWARP) at the agency's national headquarters in Washington, DC.
The research participant will gain first-hand knowledge of the Forest Service air program and how the agency coordinates with states, tribes and other federal agencies to protect the nation’s air quality. By interacting with agency research scientists, the participant will learn how to manage and interpret large data sets and how to perform air quality and ecological analyses at decadal and regional to continental scales. The participant will also learn how to build effective federal/university/private landowner partnerships to 1) monitor and understand the effects of air pollution and other environmental stressors on forests and 2) improve communication, trust, and confidence between communities, university researchers, and government. The participant will coordinate with other USFS air specialists at national, regional and unit levels and will gain skills and experience related to air resource science and management.
Specific research topic areas for the research participant include:
- Assessing baselines, current status, and long term trends for air quality from USFS national scale lichen and deposition monitoring networks
- Methodologies for managing, interpreting, and reporting lichen bio-monitoring data
- Synthesis of critical loads of air pollution from various ecosystem indicators for use in environmental assessments.
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 USFS. The initial appointment is for three months, but may be renewed for an additional year upon recommendation of USFS and is contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at USFS in the Washington, DC, area. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.
This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.
For more information about the USFS Research Participation Program, please visit the Program Website.