The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Institute of Arctic Biology and the Department of Biology and Wildlife is seeking a PhD student to explore how climate-driven disturbances in the environment are influencing hunter access to wildlife resources (e.g., moose, caribou, fish) in rural Alaska. This research will require the student to collaborate closely with rural communities to document locations of environmental disturbances and collect local knowledge on the cause and consequences of disturbances. The student also will work closely with a team of scientists from different disciplines (e.g., hydrologists, geographers, ecologists, foresters, anthropologists) to identify the biophysical characteristics and mechanisms related to each disturbance site. The student will be expected to quantify and generalize the extent and influence of disturbance on hunter access and harvest in Interior Alaska.
Students with experience (and a strong interest) in the human dimension of wildlife science, ecosystem ecology, and remote sensing are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants with record of: 1) effective cross-cultural communication, 2) spatial analysis skills (GIS, satellite imagery), 3) remote field experience, and 4) lead authorship on wildlife-related publications (peer-reviewed). Three years of full support (stipend, tuition, health insurance) have been secured for the PhD student through a NASA grant. Additional support is anticipated and highly likely. Prospective students should email a CV, one-page statement of academic interests, and contact information for three references to Dr. Todd J. Brinkman (tjbrink...@alaska.edu). Please write “PhD Assistantship” in the subject line: A small subset of qualified applicants will be asked to submit GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and official academic transcripts.
