*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) within the Forest Service Washington Office (WO), at the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The candidate has the option to work remotely or NAC’s headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, or at Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, DC.

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.

The mission of the National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is to advance the health, diversity, and productivity of working lands, waters, and communities through agroforestry. The Center accelerates the adoption of agroforestry by leading, catalyzing, coordinating, and conducting research and science-based outreach. It is the only U.S. Department of Agriculture unit dedicated to agroforestry and is uniquely poised to provide U.S. leadership in agroforestry research and application. The National Agroforestry Center is part of Forest Service's Washington, DC Office of Research and Development.

Research Project: The fellow will serve as an Agroforestry Technical Assistance and Science Delivery Fellow for the National Agroforestry Center. The fellow will work with the National Agroforestry Center to develop science-based training and information products that will help natural resource professionals, including university cooperative extension, consulting foresters, conservation districts, NRCS staff, and other technical assistance providers to assist managers of working lands (farms, ranches, forests) interested in using agroforestry practices. The fellow will meet with USDA agency representatives to learn about agency mission areas and collaborate with the other organizations advancing agroforestry training for technical assistance providers. There will be opportunities for professional development including skill training and travel. The Fellow will have the opportunity to interact with scientists in Forest Service and other land management agencies and entities.

The Agroforestry Technical Assistance and Science Delivery Fellow will focus on supporting technical assistance provider training to advance agroforestry adoption across the US, which can take many potential forms, including:

• Research with the National Agroforestry Center Technical Assistance and Outreach team to aggregate existing training materials related to the establishment and management of agroforestry practices, including presentations, webinars, publications, tools, and other resources.
• Develop new agroforestry training resources to address gaps related to establishing agroforestry practices through USDA programs, managing agroforestry systems using the best available science, and other key topics.
• Interact with partners at other state and federal agencies, universities, non-profits, and other organizations to advance training for technical assistance providers to share resources and leverage complementary training efforts.

Learning Objectives: 

• Enhance collaborative skills by acting as a member of an interdisciplinary team to advance agroforestry technical assistance and practice adoption.
• Understand and facilitate interactions at the intersection between science and land management.
• Enhance communication skills and experience by developing and sharing science-based information for a wide array of natural resource professional audiences. Also includes drafting communication materials, such as website content, information sheets, and newsletters.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Anne Marsh (anne.marsh@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 2024.  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 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 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 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 ORISE.USFS.WO@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's or master's degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills:

• Demonstrated experience with agroforestry systems, whether applied, research, technical assistance, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience presenting on natural resource topics.
• Strong quantitative skills with experience analyzing complex datasets, interpreting output and generating clearly understandable tables and graphics that convey accurate and compelling interpretations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to perform both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize activities to meet project schedules.
• Evidence of scientific and technical writing skills.
• Experience in sharing technical natural resource information with decision-makers and researchers through print and presentations.