USFS Sierra Nevada Meadow Restoration Research
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
USFS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available with US Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Research Station located in Arcata, California.
At the heart of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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: This project will provide the selected participant with hands on experience on a multi-year study assessing the efficacy of using ecological approaches to restore degraded riparian mountain meadows. Research will focus on assessing ecological responses to changes in hydrological and sediment processes under differing catchment disturbance regimes. Approaches will include conducting and analyzing detailed vegetation survey data, quantifying sediment delivery rates in recently restored meadows and monitoring differences in sediment transport, deposition, and stream flow in six experimental meadow pre- and post-restoration.
Learning Objectives: Experiences include set up of technical equipment; interacting with diverse field crews; collecting bathymetric, hydrological and ecological data; analyzing data; and preparing reports on findings.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Karen Pope (karen.pope@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 18, 2021 or later. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be extended for an additional year upon recommendation of USFS 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.
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 USFS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, 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 USForestService@orise.orau.gov and include the reference code for this opportunity (USDA-USFS-2021-0252).