USGS Data Collection and Analysis Vegetation Structure Characterization and Wildlan

About the Opportunity

A research opportunity with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, focused on remote sensing, GIS, and wildland fire applications.

Organization: U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
Reference Code: DOI-USGS-2026-45
Anticipated Appointment

Start Date:

June 15, 2026 (flexible)
Appointment Length: 12 weeks, may be renewed contingent on funding
Level of Participation: Full time
Participant Stipend: Monthly stipend rate will be provided in the offer
Citizenship Requirements: U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals with an acceptable immigration status per DOE/USGS guidelines
ORISE Information: Managed by ORAU under contract with DOE; participants are not employed by USGS, DOE, or ORISE; health insurance is required and can be obtained through ORISE

Support research exploring the use of remote sensing data to assess vegetation structure and derive wildland fuels. Traditional forest mensuration data and terrestrial lidar will be collected in the field to generate tree lists and other metrics. Data will be combined with airborne or spaceborne platforms to extrapolate observations to landscape or regional scales. Derived products inform fire behavior models, post‑fire burn severity, and vegetation regeneration monitoring.

Current study sites include the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Sierra Nevada in California.

• Participate in field data collection efforts to observe local vegetation conditions and record metrics such as tree height, canopy cover, and surface cover using conventional methods and terrestrial lidar.
• Organize and process collected data to ensure quality control, develop a systematic data management structure, and create analysis‑ready datasets.
• Identify relevant geospatial data (e.g., management units, satellite imagery, airborne lidar point clouds, topographic and landcover data) co‑located with plot locations, extract spatial subsets, and collate these with field observations.
• Integrate and analyze data to generate a suite of information products that link local vegetation structure, treatment type, and history to underlying physiography.

Collaborate with USGS scientists specializing in wildland fire, remote sensing, GIS, and statistical analysis. Gain hands‑on field training in forest mensuration, experience with diverse geospatial datasets, and apply data processing, statistical analysis, and interpretation to applied science and management questions. Receive guidance, feedback, and skill development to support professional growth.

Birgit Peterson – bpeterson

• Currently pursuing or have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field within the past four years or anticipated to be received by 6/1/2029.
• Relevant fields include Chemistry, Materials Sciences, Earth and Geosciences, Engineering, Environmental and Marine Sciences, Life Health and Medical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, or Science & Engineering‑related disciplines.