Postgraduate Research Opportunity in Forest Economics and Policy
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
A postgraduate research opportunity in forest resource economics is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Southern Research Station located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will contribute to data collection and analysis addressing the following needs: (1) Assess factors influencing why certain planned timber sales in the National Forest System receive no bids from prospective timber buyers, through semi-structured interviews and timber sales data analysis; and (2) Update and improve the measurement and reporting of national forest sustainability indicators related to payments for ecosystem services and resilience of forest-dependent communities at an appropriate scale of disaggregation.
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 eight months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of USFS contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend of approximately $5,500, commensurate with educational level and experience. A travel allowance will be provided to cover associated expenses of occasional overnight travel. A health insurance allowance will also be provided to offset the cost of an individual plan. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. The appointment is full-time at USFS in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, area. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.
For more information about the USFS Research Participation Program, please visit the Program Website.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree in one of the fields listed under Eligibility Requirements. Preferred candidates will have a background or knowledge that includes BOTH (1) forestry, natural resources, or agriculture; AND (2) social science, economics or public policy.
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.
If you have questions, send an email to USForestService@orise.orau.gov. Please include the reference code for this opportunity (USDA-USFS-2020-0115) in your email.