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Forest Ecosystem Dynamics Lab Opportunities

Opportunities

(Closed) MS/PhD position in Forest Social Sciences and Landscape Ecology

(Position Filled/Closed)

 

MS/PhD position in Forest Social Sciences and Landscape Ecology: Assessing geospatial data needs of stakeholders

 

We seek a sincere, motivated, and creative individual to apply for an exciting interdisciplinary MS/PhD assistantship in forest social sciences and forest landscape ecology at Washington State University. The successful candidate will work with Drs. Michelle Steen-Adams (https://directory.vancouver.wsu.edu/people/michelle-m-steen-adams) and Arjan Meddens (https://labs.wsu.edu/meddenslab/) and lab members to examine data characteristics needs by geospatial data end-users (“stakeholders” – here, resource managers). The candidate will be a part of a NASA Carbon Monitoring Systems (CMS) project group (including Forest Service personnel) that is developing carbon/biomass, vegetation and wildland fuel parameters across the US West. The candidate will use social science tools (interviews, surveys) to generate information about data needs, barriers to adoption of data resources, and uncertainty quantification.

Funding for a two-year Research Assistantship (RA) is available with additional potential research funding during the MS/PhD. The successful candidate will be based either in Pullman, WA or Vancouver, WA in the School of the Environment at Washington State University, which has excellent collaborative faculty with expertise in the biophysical and social sciences.

Requirements: A strong academic background appropriate to this interdisciplinary project and its outcome degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences (e.g., courses in forestry, ecology, geography, sociology, policy studies, environmental history, or other social science). Excellent interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and demonstrated ability to successfully complete self-directed project(s) in a team setting.

Preferred qualifications/interests: Participatory research methods (interviews and/or surveys, qualitative analysis). Geospatial data collection and data products. Experience working for a public lands management agency. Interest in teaching.

Start date: either the Fall 2023 semester (approximately Aug. 15, 2023) or Spring semester (approximately Jan 10, 2024). Compensation package is competitive and depends upon experience. If you would like to be considered for the position, please send a letter of interest, a CV, information about 3 references, and (unofficial) transcripts: Drs. Michelle Steen-Adams (m.steen-adams@wsu.edu) and Arjan Meddens (arjan.meddens@wsu.edu) by July 20, 2023 (if you want to be considered for Fall 2023).

 

Example of social science tool: Workshop poster for interactive session during the 2020 Operational Lidar Inventory meeting (Meddens et. al 2022) https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5ee0.

PhD position available in Ecosystem Dynamics at Washington State University: Jan 15, 2023.

(position filled)

We seek a sincere, motivated, and creative individual to apply for an exciting PhD assistantship in the Forest Ecosystem Dynamics lab at Washington State University. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Arjan Meddens and lab members to examine spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem dynamics across the western United States. You will work on highly relevant research which aims to improve ecosystem resilience to future disturbances across the larger landscape under rapidly changing climate conditions. Possible research topics of interest include: (1) the dynamics of fire refugia and utilization of fire refugia by specific plant or animal species, (2) spatial and temporal patterns of bark beetle outbreaks, and/or (3) the utilization of high-resolution lidar applications for forest measurements. A genuine interest in teaching is required and an interest in natural resource management applications is highly desired. Three-year TA funding is available with additional research funding possible in during the PhD.  The successful candidate will be housed in the School of the Environment at Washington State University, which has great collaborative faculty with expertise in both the social and biophysical sciences.

Requirements: Good interpersonal skills as wells as strong quantitative background – as demonstrated by courses taken and programming skills. Field experience and a well-rounded educational background in ecology, geography, fire science, natural resource management and an active interest in teaching is desired. Experience in computer programming (e.g., R-programming) and geospatial software packages (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) is preferred. In addition, a candidate with an FAA drone pilot license or an interest in obtaining one would be helpful. The position will begin at the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester (Approximately Aug. 15, 2023). Annual compensation package is competitive and depends upon experience.

If you like to be considered for the position, please send a letter of interest, a CV, info on 3 references, and (unofficial) transcripts of courses taken to: Dr. Arjan Meddens (arjan.meddens@wsu.edu) by January 15th.

Postdoctoral Research Associate- Fire Ecology: Oct. 21, 2019

(Position filled)

The School of the Environment at Washington State University seeks a postdoctoral scientist in wildfire ecology. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Arjan Meddens to examine the ecological importance of wildfire refugia. The successful candidate will analyze field and geospatial data to locate and rank the importance of unburned areas within fire perimeters. Areas that do not burn within fire perimeters can act as fire refugia, providing (1) protection from the detrimental effects of the fire, (2) seed sources, and (3) post-fire habitat for plants and animals. This highly relevant research will aim to improve ecosystem resilience to future disturbances across the larger landscape under rapidly changing climate conditions.

This position has 1 year of postdoctoral funding available with the possibility of more funding on a similar project the following year. Annual compensation package is competitive and depends on experience.

A PhD is required in forest ecology, geography, geoinformation science, environmental science, fire science, or a related field. A strong quantitative background as demonstrated by paperes published, courses taken, programming skills, and GRE scores, is required.

Field experience and a well-rounded educational background in ecology, geography, and fire science is desired.

Screening of Applicants began 11/15/2019. At the time of application, please be prepared to submit a (1) cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) and the contact information for at least three professional references.

PhD Position in Ecosystem Dynamics: Oct. 15, 2019

(Position filled)

We seek a sincere, motivated, and creative individual to apply for an exciting PhD assistantship in Forest Ecosystem Dynamics at Washington State University. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Arjan Meddens to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem dynamics across the western United States. You will work on highly relevant research which aims to improve ecosystem resilience to future disturbances across the larger landscape under rapidly changing climate conditions. Research topics of interest include: (1) the dynamics of fire refugia and utilization of fire refugia by plant or animal species, (2) spatial and temporal patterns of bark beetle outbreaks, and/or (3) the utilization of high-resolution (UAV) lidar applications for
forest measurements. A genuine interest in teaching is required and an interest in natural resource management applications is highly desired. Two-year RA funding is available with more funding possible in year 3 and 4 of the PhD. The successful candidate will be housed in the School of the Environment at Washington State University, which has great collaborative faculty with expertise in both the social and biophysical sciences.

Requirements: Good interpersonal skills as wells as a strong quantitative background – as demonstrated by courses taken, programming skills, and GRE scores. Field experience and a well-rounded educational background in ecology, geography, fire science, natural resource management and an active interest in teaching is desired. In addition, a candidate with an FAA drone pilot license or an interest in obtaining one would be preferred. The position will begin as soon as a successful candidate is identified, with start of coursework either in the 2020 Spring or Fall semesters. Annual compensation package is competitive and depends upon experience.

If you like to be considered for the position, please send a letter of interest and a CV to Dr. Arjan Meddens (arjan.meddens@wsu.edu).