The Agricultural and Applied Economics Department in collaboration with Hufford 
and Nippgen Research Labs in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department 
invite applications for a student seeking to complete a Master of Science 
degree in agricultural economics with a focus on the economics of land 
reclamation and ecological restoration.  The student will work with a team of 
researchers on an NSF-funded project to explore reclamation outcomes at sites 
in Wyoming affected by large surface mining disturbances.
The core research program will comprise:

  *   Evaluating the effects of topographic restructuring on vegetation 
recruitment, species diversity, soil moisture, surface runoff, sediment export, 
and erosion. Assessing ecological and hydrologic conditions using on-the-ground 
fieldwork, UAV-based remote sensing (multispectral and Lidar), and parsimonious 
hydrologic models. The entire team will participate and assist in this data 
collection process.
  *   We will model sets of recovery functions taken from field and remote 
sensing measurements by the ecology and hydrology teams to assess the success 
of alternative approaches to ecological restoration over a period of years. 
From these analyses, stochastic cost effectiveness and risk modeling will be 
assessed.
  *   Finally, we will explore how regulatory frameworks govern reclamation 
goal setting by agency scientists, Land managers, and reclamation operators and 
its relation to reclamation science. This will be accomplished using the 
recovery functions to identify alternative reclamation goals and assess 
potential risks and changes in priorities.

Team members include Dr. Roger Coupal, (Agricultural Economics), Dr. Kristina 
Hufford (Ecology), and Dr. Fabian Nippgen (Hydrology). The successful applicant 
will receive a full graduate assistantship, which includes tuition and fees for 
up to 12 credit hours per semester, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. 
The student will have opportunities to work with state agency personnel and 
engineers who regulate and design land reclamation of disturbed lands.  The 
student will be guided and supported by the full team to gain some depth and 
understand details of data collection from ecological field studies, remote 
sensing data results, and the modeling frameworks for stochastic cost 
effectiveness analysis.  Research outcomes will predict how well different 
reclamation methods meet regulatory requirements and assess associated risks.
Preferred applicants should have a B.S. in a natural resource science or 
economics with an associated academic background in natural resource or 
biological sciences, or related work experience. Qualifications include a keen 
interest in environmental economics and reclamation, and ecological restoration 
practices. Familiarity or experience (at bachelor's level) in natural resource 
management and use of ecological or remote sensing information is also of 
interest . Quantitative skills will be taught but some background in analytical 
economic and statistical data analysis skills will be preferred. In addition to 
the MS degree, students will have the option of earning a graduate certificate 
in reclamation science, and experience in UAV flight planning.
TO APPLY: Interested students can reach out with questions by contacting Dr. 
Roger Coupal, cou...@uwyo.edu<mailto:cou...@uwyo.edu> ,  or any of the team 
members for specifics. More information about UW Graduate Programs and the 
online application process is at https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/apply.html . 
To apply, please send the following information to Dr. Coupal: (1) a one-page 
statement describing your interest in the project and relevant aspects of your 
background, (2) a resume or CV, and (3) the contact information for three 
references. Formal review of applications will begin February 1, 2024 and 
continue until the position is filled. The preferred start date is early- to 
mid-summer 2025, though flexible, with classes beginning Fall 2025. The 
University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, Wyoming. More can be found at 
https://www.visitlaramie.org/. The University of Wyoming is an Equal Employment 
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

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