GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) - at
Boise State University. A position is available for a Ph.D. student to
model plant population dynamics at landscape scales. This
multidisciplinary project will forecast impacts of environmental change
(including climate, human disturbance, and biotic interactions) on the
distribution of plants in shrubland ecosystems, including sagebrush steppe
in the American west. The Ph.D. student will join our collaborative team
of universities who work closely with agencies in the US including the
Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, and the US Forest
Service.
The student will participate in: 1) field work that involves remote
sensing of landscapes and monitoring plant populations across the Great
Basin region and 2) modeling plant population dynamics using a combination
of statistical and mathematical approaches, including hierarchical
Bayesian methods, spatially-explicit models, and agent-based modeling.
Training in these methods will be provided by team members who offer a
diverse range of expertise in ecology, remote sensing, quantitative
ecology, and restoration ecology.
Qualifications
Competitive students will have: 1) strong writing and quantitative skills;
2) previous experience in a programming language, such as R or Python; 3)
a background in quantitative approaches in ecology; 4) interest in
landscapes of the American West. Please address your qualification for
each of these points in your cover letter. The position starts Fall
(August) 2018.
Stipend and tuition and fees
This position includes support in the form of a graduate assistantships
(renewable, 12-month at $25,000), tuition and fee waiver, and health
insurance.
About the program and Boise
The Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior PhD is a new and modern graduate
program at Boise State University. This program brings together faculty
from across multiple academic departments including biological sciences,
geosciences, anthropology, and the human-environment systems group to
offer relevant courses and provide unique mentorship and training
opportunities. This particular project will draw on molecular, chemical
and bioinformatic resources and expertise available through the
Biomolecular Research Center (https://brc.boisestate.edu/) and affiliated
NIH supported INBRE and COBRE programs and remote sensing expertise
through the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory
(https://bcal.boisestate.edu/). Further, we have created a network of
valuable connections in academia, local relationships with federal and
state agencies, nonprofits and NGOs, as well as partnerships with
international organizations all dedicated to providing students with
transformative research and educational experiences for diverse career
opportunities. These centers and established networks help students gain
diverse skills sets and collaborators to prepare them for broad career
opportunities. To learn more about the EEB program, please visit:
http://eeb.boisestate.edu/.
Students in this program enjoy living in the beautiful city of Boise,
which strikes a perfect balance with close-by outdoor recreational
activities as well as a vibrant downtown life. Nestled in the foothills of
the Rocky Mountains and the capital of the State of Idaho, Boise is
frequently featured as a top-ranked metropolis. The city has ample
opportunities for world-class outdoor activities year round and a thriving
arts and entertainment culture. In 2017, US News and World report ranked
Boise the 12th best city to live in the United States. To learn more,
please view “Visit Boise” link at: https://www.cityofboise.org/
To Apply
Please send via email in a single file attachment (include your last name
in the file name): 1) a cover letter that states qualifications and career
goals; 2) a CV with the names and contacts for 3 references (they do not
need to provide a letter of recommendation at this time); 3) copies of
transcripts (unofficial are okay); and 4) GRE scores and percentiles (not
combined) to Dr. Trevor Caughlin (email: trevorcaughlin AT
boisestate.edu). Please put “PhD application” in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received until 10th of January
2018. If you do not have GRE scores by this deadline your application
cannot be considered. Top candidates will be interviewed in early
December and asked to formally apply to Boise State’s EEB program by 20th
of January 2018. All admission decisions must be approved by the Graduate
Dean.
Boise State University embraces and welcomes diversity in its faculty,
student body, and staff. Accordingly, applicants who would add to the
diversity and excellence of our academic community are encouraged to
apply.
