I am recruiting for a Ph.D. student who will tackle problems of landscape-scale conservation in urbanizing areas. My collaborators and I are primarily concerned with how to identify priority parcels that serve complementary biodiversity and watershed functions. We have an interest in private lands conservation and compensation mechanisms. Study area will be the SE United States can focus on the forested wetland and biodiversity-rich regions near the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, a rapidly growing area yet still well represented by upland forests adjacent to rich bottomland systems. The student will serve as GIS Teaching Assistant during the fall and spring semesters for introductory GIS for Natural Resources required for juniors and seniors in three majors. During the summer the student will be supported by Endowment funds for Urban Ecology and Restoration.
Project collaborators will include Dr. Marzieh Motabelli at the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science (Ecosystem Services), Dr. Paul Leonard (USFWS - conservation planning), and key players from private industry and conservation NGOs. Student will be in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Graduate program, in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. Applicants should have a robust background in biological sciences, ecology, conservation biology, or related disciplines. They need to be facile GIS users. The course is taught in ArcGIS, but students may be fluent in other platforms, for research. MS is required for Ph.D. applicants. I expect academic excellence, however it is expressed in your record. Experience in the field - conservation planning, NGOs, research - is a major plus. My advising style is one-on-one interaction. I enjoy regular updates, online problem solving, and in-person discussion. I ask a lot of questions. I see the graduate process as your professional journey to become a scholar, with your advisor (me) and collaborators guides along the way. I want you to be literate well beyond your subfield, and so you will do a lot of reading. I will encourage you to seek advice wherever your questions lead. I will deeply engage with you in critical thinking about your project. Given the above, I am looking for an independent, organized, self-motivated individual who is curious and driven to find answers. Send your resume, transcripts (unofficial is fine), and names and contact information for three references to me at Rob Baldwin ([email protected]). After an initial screening and interview, we will discuss Clemson University Graduate School admissions process. Compensation will be in the mid-20s, plus tuition, research, and travel support. Start date can be as early as May 2017. Fall start date would be August 15, 2017. If interested in May start date I must have your materials before March 8, and you should be prepared to submit a complete Clemson Graduate School application. If interested in the August start date send your materials by March 20. Clemson University is a US Land Grant University, ranked nationally as a top-25 public university. Clemson is situated in the Piedmont of South Carolina, and offers easy access to many outdoor recreational opportunities. Clemson University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, genetic information or protected activity (e.g., opposition to prohibited discrimination or participation in any complaint process, etc.) in employment, educational programs and activities, admissions and financial aid. This includes a prohibition against sexual harassment and sexual violence as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
