Dr. Andrew Nelson’s Silviculture Lab at the University of Idaho (housed within the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences) is seeking a highly motivated candidate for graduate research at the Ph.D. level, with an interest in silviculture and/or forest restoration. The student will work on a project comparing resistance, resilience, and environmental conditions of restored western white pine forests and naturally-regenerated forests dominated by shade-tolerant species in northern Idaho burned by the 2015 wildfires. The Northern Rockies of Idaho are characterized by high conifer diversity due to relatively high precipitation and deep volcanic ash deposits. Western white pine once dominated northern Idaho forests, but the species was devastated following the introduction of white pine blister rust and extensive harvesting. The result was a dramatic shift in species composition from western white pine to forests dominated by primarily grand fir. This shift in specie composition has decreased species diversity and structural heterogeneity. National Forests in the region have over 50,000 acres of western white pine plantations; some of which burned in the 2015 wildfires. Currently, a partnership with the University of Idaho, Rocky Mountain Research Station, and Forest Service, Northern Region are identifying the fate and fire resilience of these burned plantations. The student is expected to begin 7 January 2018.
The student will be based in Moscow, Idaho at the University of Idaho. The student will focus the research within the moist conifer forests of northern Idaho; research options including applying past and new data (collect summer of 2018) to address a variety of research questions associated with evaluating management options that could inform future restoration strategies. This assistantship includes two years of competitive stipend, a waiver of out-of-state tuition for non-Idaho residents, a waiver of in-state tuition and fees, and health insurance. Assistantships require 20 hours per week of work related to research, outreach, and teaching. The student is expected to travel to conferences to present research results, present results to forest managers, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Frequent communication with Forest Service partners is required. Required qualifications include a M.S. degree in Forestry, Forest Ecology, or a related discipline. Exceptional candidates with B.S. degrees in the same fields may be considered. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to work both independently and as a team member, and be comfortable traveling and working in the field. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver’s license. The student must be able to pass a criminal background check and become qualified to drive University of Idaho vehicles. Additional qualifications include previous research experience and an interest in working with government agencies and forest landowners to improve forest management. Interested applicants should send a cover letter detailing their interest in the position, their resume or curriculum vitae, contact information for three professional or academic references, unofficial transcripts, scores on the Graduate Record Exam, and examples of past research publications (if available) in a single pdf file to Dr. Andrew Nelson (asnel...@uidaho.edu).
