USDA-ARS Science Communication & Outreach Specialist Fellowship for Agriculture and Climate in the U.S. Northern Plains

Posted on February 2, 2023
USDA-ARS Science Communication & Outreach Specialist Fellowship for Agriculture and Climate in the U.S. Northern Plains
Position Title:
ORISE Science Communications Participant
 
 
Position Summary
*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
 
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Northern Plains Climate Hub located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
 
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) chief scientific in-house research agency with a mission to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people
sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources
and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
 
The USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub delivers science-based knowledge, practical information, management & conservation strategies, and decision tools to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, with the goal of helping them adapt to weather variability and a changing climate.
 
Research Project: The USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub brings working-land managers together with outreach professionals, technical service providers, and researchers to co-develop science-based, practical management strategies, information, and events that can help farmers, ranchers, and foresters adapt to extreme weather and a changing climate, especially those who are disproportionately affected or have been historically underserved. As an ORISE participant with the Climate Hub, you will get to select from a wide variety of Hub outreach efforts to engage in and contribute to, depending on your interests, training, existing skills, and skill-building goals. Do you enjoy science communication and being creative? Are you curious to learn more about working lands? Then join our team in helping to understand and address the climate-related management challenges and opportunities of farmers, ranchers, and foresters in the Northern Plains region (Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado). Help us make connections between working-land managers’ climate-related needs and research being done at USDA Agricultural Research Service, and partner Universities. Collaborate with research and outreach partners in the region to co-develop communication products or events that make scientific insights more accessible and usable for working-land managers—through interactive web content, newspaper articles, webinars, in-person gatherings, or other creative outlets.
 
Learning Objectives: As a member of the Hub team, you will learn about the Northern Plains’ diverse farming, ranching, and forest systems, how they affect and are affected by climate change, and the latest science on adaptation and mitigation options. You will interact with a wide network of agricultural and climate partners within the region and beyond, including the nationwide USDA Climate Hub network, Extension partners, and more. You will have the opportunity to attend select meetings of professional associations or agricultural organizations and may host tradeshow booths to exchange knowledge one-on-one with working land managers, if interested.
 
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Dannele Peck (dannele.peck@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
 
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2023. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
 
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS 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 ARS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, 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.ARS.Plains@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
 
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree in one of the relevant fields or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before June 1, 2023. Degree must have been received within the past ten years.
 
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 120 months or anticipated to be received by 6/1/2023 12:00:00 AM.
 
To apply, visit: