We anticipate filling a vacancy for a research botanist/ecologist
specializing in lichens in the PNW Resource Monitoring and Assessment
Program in Portland, Oregon. Please share this outreach announcement widely.
Research Ecologist/Botanist (GS-408/430-11/12)
Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Resource Monitoring and Assessment Program
The Pacific Northwest Research Station anticipates advertising a
permanent, full-time Research Ecologist or Botanist position,
GS-0408/0430-11/12. This position is located in the Pacific Northwest
Research Station Portland Forestry Sciences Lab in Portland, Oregon.
DUTIES: The scientist will provide leadership in the design and
analysis of forest inventories and report on, through scientific peer
review, innovative inventory techniques and analyses of critical
natural resource issues. The primary responsibility for this position
will be to help lead a national effort to implement measurement and
analysis of epiphytic lichens as indicators of trends in air
pollution, climate change, and forest sustainability.
Responsibilities include integrating extensive field data with
ancillary information to provide statistically valid estimates of
trends in forest attributes, and explore the causal relationships for
those trends. This position offers many challenges and is likely to
involve interaction and collaboration at both the local and national
level. Experience with lichen measurement and analysis, current
statistical techniques and sampling methods, interdisciplinary
research, grant writing and publishing is essential.
Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, are
encouraged to contact Andrew Gray, Team Leader, by telephone
(541-750-7252), email ([email protected] ) or mail (Forestry Sciences
Lab, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331) to express their
interest in applying for the position and to ensure notification when
the position is advertised. The position will likely open in
June/July, 2010, and will be posted at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM: This position is shared by the Interior West
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program and the PNW Resource
Monitoring and Assessment (RMA) program, with close coordination with
the eastern FIA regions. These programs have primary responsibility
for implementing the national FIA inventory of forestlands in the
coterminous United States, Alaska, and the Pacific and Caribbean
Islands. We conduct research on the current status and trends in
forest condition and forest health how much forest exists and where,
who owns it, and how it is changing, as well as how the trees and
other vegetation are growing, dying or being removed through specific
causal agents or events. We also develop measurement, statistical,
and remote sensing techniques to improve that research. We rely on a
rich dataset of forest attributes that in many cases span decades of
measurements. More information about the FIA program is available at
http:/fia.fs.fed.us/.
ABOUT PORTLAND: The City of Portland is located in the northwest part
of the state of Oregon, bordering Vancouver, Washington. The major
highways intersecting the city are I-5, I-84, I-205, & US-26. The
population is around 538,180 in the city, and 1.95 million in the
metropolitan area. The "City of Roses" is vibrant and energetic while
at the same time laid-back and easy-going. Its high quality of life,
a growing and diversified economy, excellent transportation linkages,
skilled work force and access to beaches, rivers, and mountains make
it an excellent place to live, work, and play. Portland State
University and a number of private and community colleges are located
in Portland; Oregon State University is located in Corvallis, 60
miles south; University of Oregon in Eugene, 90 miles south; and
University of Washington, 150 miles north. The average rainfall is 36
inches a year with average temperatures ranging from the mid-40's in
the winter and high 70's in the summer.!
Oregon has 13 national forests, including the Mt. Hood NF less
than an hour from Portland, and 225 state park areas. All of
Oregon's beaches are owned by and accessible to the public. Many
opportunities for skiing, hiking, biking, windsurfing, backpacking,
golfing, boating, and hunting and fishing can be found in Portland or
within a 1-2 hour drive from the metropolitan area. Apartment rentals
start at $500.00. House rentals begin at approximately $1,000 per
month, and the median price for purchasing a home is $250,000; for
purchasing a condominium is $195,000. Utilities are priced in the
medium range.
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To be considered, applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Thank you for your interest in this position
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion,
sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal,
or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotapes, etc) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202)
720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination write: USDA, Director, Office
of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-6382
(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
