*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may close before the deadline.

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, Minnesota.

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: Knowledge of soil frost and consequent effects on water availability over time is important to forest management, timber operations, and water supply for rural communities. Despite overall warmer annual air temperature, northern Minnesota forest soils are freezing longer and deeper, with expected effects on ecosystem water availability related to forest cover and soil type. Cumulative effects have strong implications for forest management throughout the year, particularly during winter when considerable harvesting and removal of merchantable timber occurs, but also during summer when water availability to support tree growth depends on prior winter conditions. You will be a part of research on soil conditions that differ from past decades and consequences for forest operations and ecosystem productivity as winter weather changes in northern Minnesota. You will gain experience with and knowledge of analyzing empirical data from long-term field studies and implementing models to simulate soil frost formation under a range of scenarios. You will be mentored by a Forest Service Research Hydrologist and engage with scientists and colleagues inside and outside the USDA Forest Service. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have the opportunity to learn to: 

• Describe soil frost formation and dissipation, and the relevance to forest hydrology and landscape level water availability;
• Evaluate and interpret long-term ecosystem data sets;
• Analyze data through model development/implementation and interpretation of results.
• Apply steps to disseminate research through the preparation of a manuscript for journal publication.

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: 2026.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 32 weeks but may be extended upon recommendation of USDA Forest Service and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is part time.

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.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (engineering or the hydrological sciences).

Preferred skills:

• Experience with cryogenic processes. 
• Record of publications and presentations. 
• Experience with numerical modeling.

Stipend$1,750.00 – $2,000.00 MonthlyPoint of ContactMicheleEligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.