Graduate Assistantship: Climate Change, Water, and Ecosystem Services at University of Wyoming

Melanie Murphy is recruiting a MS or PhD student to investigate how long-term changes in climate will impact water (distribution, abundance, quality) and ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity and livestock production) in Wyoming range systems. The effects of climate change are critically important in semi-arid systems where water is the ultimate limiting factor. Water availability is predicted to decrease in Wyoming rangelands regardless of precipitation due to temperature-related increases in vegetative evapotranspiration rates. In addition, annual water supply in high elevation systems is dependent on spring snowmelt from the mountains which may be significantly impacted by shifts in precipitation timing. Water shortage has negative consequences for both biodiversity and human resource use.

Semi-permanent wetlands are indicators of surface water availability. The selected student will use field-based and remotely-sensed data to characterize wetlands and quantify biodiversity. The student will then link these components with human resource use under alternative scenarios of climate change. Student will also have the opportunity to incorporate molecular methods to quantify biodiversity and landscape connectivity (landscape geneticsapproaches).

Prospective students with a background in natural resources, ecology, and/or population genetics are encouraged to apply. Evidence of robust analytical skills, scientific writing, strong work ethic, passion for scientific inquiry, ability to work under harsh field conditions and aptitude for collaborative research are expected.

My spatial ecology and landscape genetics research group is focused on understanding fine-scale distribution and functional connectivity of animal species in ecological systems (https://sites.google.com/site/murphylabuwyo/). University of Wyoming (www.uwyo.edu) is ideally located in Laramie, Wyoming with easy access to varied field sites and outdoor recreation opportunities. In addition, the campus is only 1 hour from Fort Collins and 2 hours from Denver, CO.

Requirements: GRE 1200 (verbal + quantitative, 4 writing), GPA 3.0 (BS)/ 3.3 (MS). Closing date: Dec. 10, 2011 (review will begin immediately). Send materials to Dr. Melanie Murphy (melanie.murphy@uwyo.edu). Also complete a departmental application (http://www.uwyo.edu/renewable/info.asp?p=22152). PhD students are encouraged to apply to the innovative Program in Ecology (www.uwyo.edu/pie), an integrated, interdepartmental PhD program in ecological science. Position starts August 2012.

Add Comment
 
 
Position Announcement (March 29, 2011)
Graduate Research Assistant in Geographic Information Science Department of Geography
Florida State University

Immediate Response Requested

Graduate research assistant needed to participate in National Science Foundation funded project investigating methods for analyzing tracking data from mobile objects (e.g. vehicles, animals, pedestrians). Initial appointment is for one year; position renewable contingent on availability of funds, work performance, etc. Position begins fall 2011.

Required qualifications include a strong background in one or more commercial GIS software packages (e.g., ArcGIS, TransCAD, etc.), some familiarity with GPS data collection techniques, previous training in spatial statistics, and the ability to work independently.

Additional desired qualifications include experience with computer programming languages (e.g., C++, python), GIS applications development, and web design.

The graduate research assistant will be housed in the Department of Geography at Florida State University under the supervision of Dr. Mark W. Horner (see http://mailer.fsu.edu/~mhorner/). Candidates must meet
the requirements for entry and funding set by the University and the Department of Geography.  Students at either the Master’s of Doctoral level are invited to apply.

Interested students should contact Dr. Horner immediately via email to discuss their suitability for this project (mhorner@fsu.edu). Questions about the project and how to apply will be accepted through 7 April 2011. After that time, prospective applicants may no longer be considered.
Add Comment
 
 
PlanYourPlace: a geospatial cyber-infrastructure for sustainable community planning

Graduate Opportunities@ the University of Calgary

We are recruiting graduate students at MSc and PhD levels for a new research project, starting April, 2011. The successful candidates will work on one or more research projects related to cyberinfrastructure implementation, web GIS, urban planning, spatial analysis and modeling, and participatory GIS applications that promote the fundamentals of responsible and ethical sustainable practices for urban development. The proposed work plans to address this objective in three ways: (i) through development of a rich web-based tool to help citizens, developers and elected officials visualize possible scenarios and their anticipated effects (analysis focus); (ii) by developing sketch friendly tools to create alternative plans and then estimate the fiscal, environmental, and social impacts, etc. (design focus); and (iii) extend participatory GIS to support a two way dialog between citizens and planners about communities and their future.

Applicants should have a recent degree in Geomatics, GIScience, Computer Science, Geography, or a related field. Knowledge and experience in advanced Web technologies, geovisualization, or web processing service chaining are desirable. Applicants should provide evidence of an outstanding work ethic; strong written- and oral-communication skills; and demonstrated research excellence or potential.

Successful candidates will collaborate on forefront research within a multidisciplinary research team.  Graduate stipends for this project will be inline with NSERC funding guidelines.  Additional funding will be available through Teaching Assistantships within the Department of Geomatics Engineering and funding opportunities through the University’s Open Scholarship competition.  Students will be provided additional support for attending national or international scientific conferences, and will be required to participate in all project-sponsor meetings.

Interested applicants are requested to send a cover letter summarizing their relevant background / skills, CV, unofficial transcripts, and contact details for three referees to Dr. Andrew Hunter via email (ahunter@ucalgary.ca).  Successful candidates will be contacted and asked to apply officially to the Geomatics Engineering Program.
Add Comment
 
 
The Department of Geography and Human Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University is now accepting applications for Spring 2010 admission to our new program:
Masters of Science in Geographic Information Science (MS GISci)

This program is designed to prepare students for careers in a wide range of geospatial information research and applications. GISci encompasses the development, use, and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), and spatial statistics.  Students completing this program will be prepared to take on advanced technical and leadership roles in environmental or resource agencies and firms employing GIS, remote sensing and other geospatial technologies.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.25 or better in Geography or a related discipline, with emphasis or experience in spatial data analysis, and have earned a grade of B or better in an introductory GIS course such as Geog 603 or equivalent.

In addition to the general application and grade transcripts which must be sent to the Graduate Studies Office, applicants must submit to the department in one packet a detailed Statement of Purpose, GRE scores and two letters of recommendation. Check the department website at http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/ for details on how to apply. Personal interviews with the graduate advisers and appropriate department faculty are recommended.   The deadline for application materials is November 1, 2010.

Please contact the program advisors (listed here with specialized interests) for further information:

Leonhard Blesius (remote sensing, geomorphological hazards): lblesius@sfsu.edu

Jerry Davis (GIS for environmental and surface modeling, GPS and survey field methods): jerry@sfsu.edu

Ellen Hines (GIS/remote sensing, resource management, marine/coastal areas): ehines@sfsu.edu       

XiaoHang Liu (GIS, socio-economic, urban remote sensing): xhliu@sfsu.edu

Add Comment
 
 
Opportunities for Graduate Study

Department of Geography
Ohio University, Athens, OH


Two two-year research assistantships at the M.A. level are available through a new project on local knowledge and climate change adaptation in Tanzania supported by the National Science Foundation's Geography and Spatial Science (GSS) Program. The project -  Linking Local Knowledge and Local Institutions for
the Study of Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change: Participatory GIS in Northern Tanzania - investigates the myriad ways in which human, social, and institutional capital enable households and communities to draw on local knowledge and outside specialist knowledge to moderate the negative effects of greater climatic instability on rural livelihoods.

In addition to completing required courses for the MA program over two academic years (2010-2011 and 2011-2012), the successful candidates will contribute to an international interdisciplinary research project.  We expect applicants to
develop a thesis project that contributes to the project's research objectives.

One graduate research assistant will work on the development of online multimedia applications derived from a participatory GIS. Background or interest in cartography and web-based mapping is desirable.

A second research assistant will work with the research team on the implementation of the project's participatory field methodology and contribute to data analysis.  The student's interests should be focused on environment- development interactions (e.g., the dynamics of resource access, political, environmental or cultural-linguistic dimensions of local knowledge systems, gendered aspects of climate change adaptation). Proficiency in Kiswahili or
interest in learning Kiswahili at Ohio University is a plus.

The assistantships include two academic years of tuition waiver and stipend for students enrolled in the Geography M.A. program.  Additional support is available for student field research activities in Tanzania.

Eligible students may also apply for a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship from OU's Center for African Studies:
http://www.internationalstudies.ohio.edu/app-info/flas.html

The Ohio University Department of Geography is a dynamic department with 150undergraduate majors and a graduate program that has expanded to 25. Faculty in the department offer coursework and conduct research on topics that bring
together the Earth's human and physical components and focus on issues from local to global scales. Graduate students also benefit from the resources of
Ohio University's Center for African Studies, a National Resource Center (NRC) for Africa, which creates additional opportunity for the interdisciplinary study of African languages, societies, and environments.

The application deadline is February 15 for Fall 2010 admission.

For more information regarding the application procedure, consult the department and Graduate College websites: http://www.ohio.edu/geography & http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/).

For more information about the assistantships, contact Tom Smucker  smucker@ohio.edu.
Add Comment