USDA Forest Service seeks Research Ecologist
GS - 0408-12
The scientist is a research ecologist at the Northern Research Station (NRS) Research Work Unit NRS-06, Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences, stationed at the Silas Little Experimental Forest, New Lisbon, New Jersey.
Research Ecologist, GS-0408-12
About this Position
The scientist is a research ecologist at the Northern Research Station (NRS) Research Work Unit NRS-06, Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences, stationed at the Silas Little Experimental Forest, New Lisbon, New Jersey. The work unit’s research falls into three main topic areas: climate change research, fire research, and carbon cycle research. As a unit we embrace and value diverse perspectives that reflect our broad array of talented scientists that make up our supportive community. The scientist works as part of a research team using laboratory work, field campaigns, and computer simulations to address research questions pertaining to the physical fire environment, fire-fuel-atmosphere interactions, fire behavior, and wildland fire management.
Specific objectives of the research scientist’s position include: (1) Evaluating the effectiveness of land management activities on reducing hazardous fuels and developing strategies for mitigating fire risk at the landscape-level and in the wildland urban interface; (2) Improving our ability to measure and describe the impacts of forest disturbances on forest structure and function (including pools of carbon and fuels) at various scales; and (3) Implementing complex and inter-disciplinary fire-line experiments that focus on the collection and analysis of high-resolution temporal and spatial data products that can be integrated into studies with objectives ranging from smoke transport modeling to species habitat modeling.
Finally, the scientist provides day-to-day management of the Silas Little Experimental Forest, and facilitates collaborative relationships with federal, state, university and non-profit collaborators that foster the research team’s ability to conduct fire-line research. It is required that the scientist maintain a Red Card (arduous) to enable research on both wildfires and prescribed fires.
This position is permanent, full-time, and is eligible for flexible work arrangements, but it is not a virtual position. Government housing is not available.
About the Northern Research Station
The Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, serves a 20-state region composed of the Northeast and Midwest. The Station improves people’s lives and sustains natural resources through research and development. The Northern Research Station has more than 300 employees, including 134 scientists, at 24 field locations and 22 Experimental Forests. More information on the Northern Research Station is on our website: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/
About the Community
The Silas Little Experimental Forest (SLEF) is located about 3 miles south of New Lisbon, NJ (unincorporated community). It is situated in the 38,000-acre Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and 1.1-million-acre National Pinelands Reserve. In addition to research opportunities, the surrounding forests and wetlands offer many outdoor recreational activities such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, birding, fishing and hunting. Living options within 30 minutes of the SLEF range from urban to rural, with some of the best school districts in the State within an easy commute. Nearby communities with affordable housing include Browns Mills, Presidential Lakes and Country Lake Estates. Larger communities nearby include Medford and Whiting, with the major metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and New York City located within 50 miles. The SLEF is also located within 25 miles of the famous New Jersey shoreline that offers swimming, boating, and surf fishing.
If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please respond to this outreach here.
For more information, please contact Warren E. Heilman, Fire Research Team Leader, at warren.heilman@usda.gov.
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