Graduate Research Assistantship Available to Understand the Response of Peatlands to a Warming Study with Remote Sensing at Boise State UniversityBoise State University Department of Geosciences is seeking a motivated MS or PhD student interested in studying how warming and increased CO2 affects peatlands utilizing field, remote sensing, and modeling tools. The student will have the opportunity to utilize ground-based lidar (terrestrial laser scanning, TLS) along with other remote sensing platforms such as imaging spectroscopy, to estimate changes in vegetation structure and function and interactions with the water table and gas fluxes, as well as other climate and biologic variables in northern Minnesota and other boreal ecosystems. Students interested in applying data science to large time-series datasets are encouraged. The project is part of the DOE SPRUCE project (https://mnspruce.ornl.gov/), and thus the student will have the opportunity to collaborate with a range of ecosystem, modeling, remote sensing, and data science experts. The project is funded by DOE. The student will have the opportunity to work with a team of scientists and perform field work, and be supported by a lab manager.
About the Programs: The student has the opportunity to choose from a range of degree programs at Boise State University. The Department of Geosciences has a vibrant graduate student culture and works closely with Human Environment Systems (HES) group. The range of MS and PhD programs include: MS or PhD Geosciences, MS or PhD Geophysics, MS Hydrologic Science, MS Biology, PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Behavior, or PhD Computing. The student will be advised by Dr. Nancy Glenn.
Start Date: January 2024.
Qualifications: The successful candidate will have 1) a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Environmental Science, Geoscience, Biology, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field; 2) good quantitative skills, including statistics and mathematics; 3) basic proficiency in at least one programming language; 4) basic knowledge about remote sensing and spatial analysis; 5) experience and/or interest working in collaborative, transdisciplinary teams grounded in mutual respect and responsibility; and 6) field experience.
Description: The assistantship will include tuition, health insurance, and a 12-month, renewable annual stipend, to cover the student’s program for the appropriate length (MS or PhD).
To Apply: Interested applicants should send an email to Nancy Glenn (nancyglenn@boisestate.edu) containing the following as a single PDF: 1) a cover letter that states why you are interested in this position and if / how you meet each of the qualifications listed above; 2) a CV that includes employment history with dates of employment; 3) names and contact information for three (3) professional references; and 4) copies of transcripts (unofficial are fine). Please include “[MS or PhD] SPRUCE application” in the email subject line and include your last name in all file names. Informal inquiries are also welcome.
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Nancy Glenn
Boise State University
+1 208 426 5732 | nancyglenn@boisestate.edu
