The applied forest ecology and silviculture, and forest insect ecology labs at Michigan Technological University are seeking a PhD student interested in the ecology and management of hardwood forests affected by beech bark disease (BBD) in northern Michigan, to start in the Spring of 2017. Research in our labs focuses on the inter-relationships among forest composition and structure, ecological processes, forest health, and the full range of ecosystem services across scales from individual trees, to stands and landscapes. The successful applicant will be primarily engaged on a project funded by the National Park Service investigating the potential for reintroducing American beech to two national lakeshores in Michigan that have been impacted by BBD.
Successful applicants will be expected to collaborate as an active member of a research group, conduct fieldwork in variable weather conditions, be comfortable taking initiative and working independently, and perform detailed statistical analyses. Strong written and verbal communication, and computational skills are required. Prior experience participating in or leading field research is desired. A masters degree or work experience in a related field is an advantage. Michigan Techs School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (http://www.mtu.edu/forest/) is particularly well known for its excellence in the fields of forestry, applied ecology, forest molecular genetics, and wildlife management. We currently employ 23 tenure-track faculty, 10 research faculty, 23 research professionals, and 11 administrative/support professionals and enroll 155 undergraduate and 75 graduate students. Established in 1885, Michigan Tech is a nationally recognized research University, enrolls nearly 7,000 students and is a leader in science and engineering education. Michigan Tech is an ADVANCE institution, one of a limited number of universities in receipt of NSF funds in support of our commitment to increase diversity and the participation and advancement of women in STEM. Located in Houghton, on the shore of Lake Superior, Michigan Tech offers a friendly, safe, and affordable living environment with excellent opportunities for exceptional, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities. The successful applicant will be jointly supervised by Dr. Andrew Storer and Dr. Yvette Dickinson. Interested candidates should contact Dr. Yvette Dickinson at [email protected]. Please include a CV, GPA, GRE scores (if available) and a written statement describing your research interests and previous research experience. Applicants should also initiate a free graduate school application at http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/admissions/apply/. Review of applications will begin 1st December 2016, and continue until the position is filled.
