Telecoupling

Graduate Research Assistantships:

• PhD Assistantship

A PhD research assistantship is available for a self-motivated student to pursue a PhD degree and conduct innovative and high-impact research in the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS) at Michigan State University.

This position is part of the new $15 million institute funded by the National Science Foundation -- "Institute for Geospatial Understanding through an Integrative Discovery Environment (I-GUIDE)".

The successful candidate will join the multi-institution transdisciplinary team to understand telecoupled impacts of globalization, climate change, and natural disasters (e.g., impacts of droughts and floods in the United States on biodiversity, land use, and sustainability in Brazil), using the integrated framework of telecoupling.

Applications are welcome from students with a variety of backgrounds and in a wide range of disciplines, such as anthropology, artificial intelligence, big data science, biology, computer science and engineering, conservation, demography, ecology, economics, environmental science, geographic information science, geography, geosciences, land science, machine learning, remote sensing, sociology, sustainability science, and other related fields.

The successful applicant will be admitted by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and can also be part of the dual doctoral degree program with the university-wide Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program  or Environmental Science and Policy Program if the student is interested.

The application due date is December 1, 2021 or until the position is filled. The start date is flexible (e.g., summer or fall in 2022).

Application materials include: (1) letter of application, (2) CV or resume, (3) academic statement, (4) personal statement, (5) transcripts, (6) GRE scores, (7) TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers only), (8) list of 3 references (names and contact information), and (9) up to three representative publications if any. Unofficial copies of GRE, TOEFL and transcripts are OK initially.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.  Application materials and questions should be emailed to: Dr. Jianguo "Jack" Liu (liuji@msu.edu).

•  PhD or MS Assistantship

Description and responsibilities: A graduate assistantship is available for a self-motivated student to pursue PhD or MS degree and conduct innovative and high-impact research in the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS) at Michigan State University (MSU). This position is part of the project funded by the National Science Foundation entitled "Complex Effects of Telecoupled Activities in the Changing Environment of the Arctic".

Applications are welcome from students with a variety of backgrounds and in a wide range of disciplines, such as anthropology, behavioral science, computer science and engineering, conservation, data science, demography, ecology, economics, environmental science, geographic information science, geography, geosciences, land science, remote sensing, sociology, sustainability science, and other related fields.

The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting research to understand how multiple distant drivers (i.e., tourism, marine shipping, climate change, and natural resource extraction) affect coupled human-natural systems within the Bering Strait region of Alaska, using the integrated framework of telecoupling. The student will be based at MSU but will have opportunities to visit Alaska and interact with collaborators, local communities, natural resource professionals, and other stakeholders in Alaska.

The successful candidate will be admitted by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at MSU and can also be part of the dual degree program with the university-wide Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program or Environmental Science and Policy Program if the student is interested.

The student will be co-advised by Dr. Jianguo "Jack" Liu at MSU and Dr. Jennifer Schmidt at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and will collaborate with others on the project.

Closing Date: November 15, 2021 or until the position is filled.

Start Date: flexible (some time in 2022)

To Apply: Application materials include: (1) letter of application, (2) CV or resume, (3) academic statement, (4) personal statement, (5) transcripts, (6) GRE scores, (7) TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers only), (8) list of 3 references (names and contact information), and (9) up to three representative publications if any. Unofficial copies of GRE, TOEFL and transcripts are OK initially.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.  Application materials and questions should be emailed to: Dr. Jianguo "Jack" Liu (liuji@msu.edu).

• PhD or MS Assistantship

FUNDED GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP OPPORTUNITY in human dimensions of outdoor forest recreation and nature-based tourism  - PhD student preferred; MS will be considered

We seek an individual interested in pursuing a PhD focused on human dimensions of outdoor forest recreation and nature-based tourism.  The goal of the project is to understand the multifaceted nature of the visitor versus local forest recreation user experience in the context of user density, crowding, displacement, conflict, and risk and safety in high-use areas of western Connecticut and the Adirondack Park that provide outdoor recreational opportunities for health and wellness and receive high visitor volume.  Both prospective PhD and MS students are encouraged to apply.  Application review will begin 1 November 2021, and continue until a candidate is selected.  Planned start date is January 2022; a later start date may be possible.

This fully funded project is a collaboration between the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) and University of Connecticut.  The student will be housed in the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment at University of Connecticut.  The student will be co-advised by Drs. Anita Morzillo and Elizabeth Vidon.

Applicants should have: 1) a background in natural resources, forest management, human dimensions of natural resources, landscape ecology, tourism geography, nature-based tourisms, or outdoor recreational geography, 2) interest in basic and applied research focused on the integration of human dimensions of forest recreation data within a landscape context, and 3) the ability to work both independently and as part of a research team.  The student will be expected to present research results at professional conferences, publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets, and pursue extramural funding to supplement their assistantship, as appropriate.  Travel during the duration of the data collection field seasons will be required for this position.  Within the general theme, there is some flexibility in the specific focus of the dissertation or thesis, to be determined based on the interests of the selected applicant.  There is potential for (but not guarantee of) partial support through classroom instruction depending on applicant interest.

For all applicants, a working knowledge of human dimensions of natural resources or nature-based tourism are preferred but not essential.  For prospective PhD students, preferred experiences include completion of a MS degree, experience with field-based data collection, and evidence of contribution of research results to peer-reviewed journals.  For prospective MS students, completion of a Bachelor's degree is required; preferred experiences include further research experience and/or at least two years of post-Bachelor's experience working in a natural resource- or environmental-related field.

Interested students are encouraged to send: 1) a cover letter describing their professional background, relevant research experience and interests, career goals, and reasons for seeking a PhD (or MS) degree, 2) names and contact information for three references, 3) a current curriculum vitae, and 4) copies of transcripts and GRE scores directly to BOTH Anita Morzillo (anita.morzillo@uconn.edu) and Elizabeth Vidon (esvidon@esf.edu) as a single *.pdf document.

Unofficial copies of transcripts and GRE scores are sufficient for initial contact.  GRE scores must be less than five years old.  Potential students must have received a GPA equivalent to a 3.0/4.0 in the last 90 term (or 60 semester) hours of their Bachelor's program.  Do not submit materials to the UConn Graduate School at this time.

Interested individuals may learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Vidon's research program at https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elizabethvidon.weebly.com__;!!HXCxUKc!hajoBiq3Jizu6bmCk4hK5eRwI-ITdhgHszJAOOxkLVpeOZX0HJaKCWV2BzG_$ 

Interested individuals may learn more about Dr. Anita Morzillo's research program at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://anitamorzillo.weebly.com/__;!!HXCxUKc!hajoBiq3Jizu6bmCk4hK5eRwI-ITdhgHszJAOOxkLVpeOZX0HJaKCYiryyAj$ 

Further information about the UConn Department of Natural Resources and the Environment may be found at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.nrme.uconn.edu/__;!!HXCxUKc!hajoBiq3Jizu6bmCk4hK5eRwI-ITdhgHszJAOOxkLVpeOZX0HJaKCRjKRitX$