NC Sandhills Conservation Fellow

The NC Sandhills Conservation Fellow position at Zintellect involves a twelve-month ORISE fellowship focused on wildlife and habitat conservation in Southern Pines, NC. The fellow will engage in conservation planning, research, project management, and field surveys, gaining hands-on experience in biological monitoring and GIS support. The role includes travel and is affiliated with The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. TNC is offering an ORISE fellowship opportunity stationed in the Conservation Center of the Sandhills located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. This fellowship appointment will assist TNC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to accomplish the mission of the North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership collaboration.

As an ORISE fellow at the NC Sandhills TNC, you will help to advance the wildlife and habitat conservation mission of TNC and USFWS through conservation planning and research, project management, and data analysis. Under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn to implement field surveys for the Longleaf Ecosystem Occurrences database project, conduct rapid habitat assessments of longleaf pine forests from publicly accessible roads, and support partners and volunteers. During your appointment, you will gain hands-on experience supporting biological monitoring activities, including data collection on habitat quality and species while developing preserve management plans and prescribed burn maps.

This opportunity will also provide insight into various career development roles as you observe and/or participate in the following areas:
• The planning and facilitation of Partnership meetings and activities.
• Conducting literature review and other research to inform actions of the Partnership.
• Compiling, synthesizing, and communicating scientific or other information via oral and written presentations.
• Providing technical GIS support for the TNC, USFWS, and the Partnership.

Please note: This project will involve overnight travel and extensive driving and will account for 19 weeks of the first year of the fellowship.

For more information on the organization, please visit us at https://www.nature.org/en-us/.

Appointment Length

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participant Benefits

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by TNC. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:
• Health Insurance Supplement. Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE.
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.