Sustainability of forested ecosystems is challenged by the rapid pace of environmental change. We present a substantial opportunity to integrate biological aspects of forestry within the social, economic, and political realities of contemporary forest management. With funding from a USDA NIFA National Needs Fellowship to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut, we offer a total of 3 PhD positions beginning in August 2014. The theme of each position will be Sustainable Forest Resources with a focus in at least one of the following areas: 1) energy infrastructure, extreme weather and public safety, 2) water resources, and 3) fish and wildlife conservation. As part of the Fellowship experience, each student will receive training in sustainability planning and evaluation, social-ecological systems, communications, decision method science, and geospatial techniques, and will also conduct engaged scholarship through cooperator-based research.
Qualifications: An undergraduate or graduate degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental studies, or related degree program (MS preferred); an interest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to research and problem- solving; evidence of effective technical writing and a commitment to publishing peer-reviewed articles Application procedures: Please submit the following information as a single pdf document to chadwick.rittenho...@uconn.edu with a subject line “Sustainable Forest Resources Graduate Assistantship” 1) Letter detailing your interest in this opportunity (including preference for focus area/s), 2) CV, 3) Transcripts and GRE scores (unofficial acceptable initially), and 4) Contact information (name, affiliation, phone, email) for 3 references Review of application materials will begin March 21, 2014 and continue until all positions are filled. The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.
