Biological Conservation Project 1-Year

PNNL's Earth System Science Division enables energy independence and national security through leadership in earth systems science, engineering, and decision analytics. Our work focuses on solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. Our interdisciplinary scientists steward a breadth of efforts that encompass research on plants to groundwater science and coastal zones, to storm prediction.

Our research focuses on understanding and mitigating operational risks at the interface of human and natural environments. This includes predicting the impacts of natural hazards and extreme climate events on Earth and human systems, along with the impacts of wildfire, flooding, sea level rise and storm surges. We focus on understanding and mitigating environmental contamination and increasing the resiliency, security and sustainability of water resources. We provide geointelligence through advanced sensing and data analytics to forecast complex system behaviors and operational performance to understand human-natural systems. This includes informed decision making and enhanced community resilience, advanced monitoring, and remote sensing of environmental systems for energy and national security. It also includes developing energy systems, including geothermal energy, sustainable oil and gas production, storage and utilization, along with carbon sequestration.

Driven by a “science-to-solutions” philosophy, we provide scientific leadership and technology to enhance national security, mitigate natural hazards and optimize disaster response. In the critical areas of energy, environment, intelligence, and defense, we deliver insights and decision support through the development of tools and solutions.

DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) is seeking a dedicated and hardworking recent graduate to work on EM projects for 13 months including site visits, travel to national labs, and remote work. This is a temporary assignment to last up to 13 months from start.  

The project will research and analyze the proposed soil and groundwater remediation actions. Through this opportunity, the candidate will study potential impacts, identify differences, recommend actions, and learn to implement portions of the conservation measures as outlined in these documents. The research and analysis that the candidate will study help improve the biological conservation and mitigation measures the project is planning and will accelerate the project’s ability to deploy these measures. Site visits will support the candidate’s understanding of the site conditions and local biota, allow for gathering necessary data, and enable implementing mitigation measures. The project lends itself for some remote participation including data analysis, documenting results, and presenting recommendations and findings. The candidate will collaborate with the Federal Project Director and existing contractor biologist and participate in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other relevant federal, state, and local agencies. To conduct surveys at SSFL, the candidate should be familiar with the plants and animals of the coastal scrub/oak woodland and chaparral communities native to the site. Collaboration with an experienced biologist in a mentor-protégé relationship will be available so the candidate can gain comparable required familiarity and experience. Seeking a candidate with a current degree in the fields of biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the opportunity.

The selected candidate will:

• Perform site visits to understand site conditions and local biota, allow for gathering necessary data, and enable implementing mitigation measures.
• Study potential impacts associated with groundwater contamination and remediation options, identify differences, recommend actions, and learn to implement portions of the conservation measures as outlined in key site documents.
• Study to improve the biological conservation and mitigation measures the project is planning and will accelerate the project’s ability to deploy these measures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA or higher

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred coursework and/or experience in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the opportunity.