The Gibbs Lab group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has funding for two Graduate Research Assistants starting Fall 2016. The students will help answer questions about soy and cattle industry expansion, tropical deforestation, and new approaches to forest conservation.
Specifically, the students will investigate the impact of supply chain governance efforts, including the Soy Moratorium and Zero-Deforestation Cattle Agreements, on tropical deforestation and agriculture as well as institutional changes along the value chain. The broader research project will involve a combination of GIS and statistical modeling, as well as field surveys of farmers and other key stakeholders. Candidates with interest or expertise working in Brazil - especially At least one student position will include opportunities to conduct fieldwork in rural Brazil. A strong work ethic, excellent analytical skills, and the ability work both independently and with a team are essential. Applicants typically, graduate students in our research programs have undergraduate GPAs above 3.5, and GRE scores in the 80th percentile or higher. The position is fully funded for one year and renewable upon satisfactory progress and funding availability; benefits include stipend, tuition remission and eligibility to participate in the Student Health Insurance Program. GLUE is a vibrant and energetic research group, with strong experience working in Brazil. Madison is widely recognized for its warm community, high quality of life, vibrant culture and arts scene, and easy access to natural areas. Costs of living are moderate, and public transportation or bicycle paths are easy transportation options. For more information: Gibbs webpage: http://www.gibbs-lab.com/ Nelson Institute: http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/ Department of Geography: http://www.geography.wisc.edu/ Candidates should submit a cover letter detailing qualifications and research interests, CV, and names of three references to Holly Gibbs (hkgi...@wisc.edu). Candidates should also submit an application to the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (due Jan 15, 2015) and / or the Department of Geography (due Dec 15, 2015). Finalists will be contacted by early January.
