PhD student assistantship A doctoral graduate student is sought to join an interdisciplinary project that integrates GIScience, landscape ecology, and human socioeconomics for studying wildlife habitat and human dynamics. This project is supported by NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) program. It will examine how micro-level changes in the human or environment subsystems would interact with the emergent patterns in the coupled human-nature system in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Using micro-level population and remote sensing data, this project will take a complex-systems approach to examine human-environment interactions over time and space. Specifically, the student is expected to develop, evaluate, and use an agent-based model to simulate the macro-level landscape and habitat consequences of micro-level changes in the environment, human demography, and socioeconomic/cultural context. The ABM will incorporate multidisciplinary information (e.g., vegetation, wildlife, individual peoples decisions) at multiple scales, answering many scientifically significant and practically important questions. The student will have opportunities to visit and conduct fieldwork in Chitwan, Nepal and potentially in Wolong Nature Reserve, China. Applicants should have strong interests in computer modeling, geography (especially GIScience), landscape ecology, and forest /wildlife ecology. Strong quantitative and modeling skills (e.g., computer modeling, statistics, geographic information systems, and/or remote sensing) and programming experiences (e.g., C++, Java, or python) are desirable. Salaries and benefits are competitive. The ideal starting date will be the 08 fall semester (specifics negotiable). Applicants should visit the SDSU Geography departmental website regarding our SDSU-UCSB joint doctoral program at http://geography.sdsu.edu/Programs/phd.html, and follow the instructions there. For specific information about the project, please contact Dr. Li An at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In addition to following the Departments application procedure, interested individuals may send the following materials to Dr. An (see the contact information below): (1) cover letter including general and specific research interests/experiences, (2) statement of professional goals (e.g., plans after finishing the training), (3) resume, (4) transcripts, (5) at least three references including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses, and (6) GRE scores and TOEFL scores (for international applicants only whose native language is not English). Scanned copies or photocopies of transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores are acceptable initially. Dr. Ans contact information: Dr. L. An, Department of Geography San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92182-4493 Office: Storm Hall 315 Phone: (619) 594-5932; Fax: (619) 594-4938; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Web: http://geography.sdsu.edu/People/Faculty/an.html -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Li An, Assistant Professor Department of Geography San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92182-4493 Office: Storm Hall 315 Phone: (619) 594-5932; Fax: (619) 594-4938 Web: http://geography.sdsu.edu/People/Faculty/an.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
