A Master’s position is available in the Quantitative Forest Management lab of Dr. Steve Chhin in the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources at West Virginia University (WVU).
The graduate student will primarily conduct field and laboratory work for a project recently funded by the USDA Forest Service. The general objective of the project is to develop new site index curves for Central Appalachian red spruce by correcting for historical growth suppression. Models will also be developed which relate red spruce site index to the site index of commonly associated species such as American beech, black cherry, red maple, and yellow birch. This will aid in restoration and resiliency efforts for red spruce by providing site quality information in areas where red spruce is absent or where new red spruce habitat is expected due to climate change. Dendroclimatic models will be developed to examine sensitivity of red spruce to past and future climate change. Qualifications: A completed Bachelor’s degree in forestry, biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or a similarly related natural resource field is acceptable. Preference will be given to applicants that are highly self-motivated, possess a strong work ethic, and have strong oral and written communication skills. Experience with statistical software packages (e.g., R) and proficiency with GIS would be assets. A background or strong interest in conducting field based research and working in a laboratory environment is desirable. Applicants must enjoy working (e.g., rigorous field work) and living outdoors (e.g., camping) and possess a valid driver’s license. A cumulative GPA greater than 3.25 in undergraduate coursework is preferred. The start date for this position is January 2018. This position includes a tuition waiver and health benefits, and a competitive stipend. Application materials: Please submit: 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) unofficial transcripts, 4) GRE scores, 5) contact information of two references, and 6) TOEFL scores (for international applicants). Please describe your career goals in the cover letter. Applications will be considered immediately and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please e-mail your application material to Dr. Steve Chhin (sc0...@mix.wvu.edu) by October 9, 2017.
