Ph.D. Assistantships in Remote Sensing and Forest Ecology University of Wisconsin - Madison Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Two positions are available for highly motivated graduate students interested in pursuing Ph.D.s in remote sensing applications to forest and landscape ecology. Research areas available for study include: (1) assessment and modeling of the effects of insect defoliation on forests of Wisconsin, the Upper Midwest and adjacent Canada, (2) modeling/mapping forest composition and nutrient status in the Upper Midwest and/or Appalachian Mountains, and (3) assessment of long-term forest disturbance and land cover change in the Upper Midwest and/or Appalachian Mountains. These assistantships are available to begin in the summer/fall 2006 based on funding from NASA and USDA-CSREES for research at several sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Appalachian Mountains. The successful candidates will work with a multi-disciplinary research team from the University of WisconsinMadison, U.S. Forest Service, University of Maryland and Canadian institutions. Students will be responsible for developing remote sensing methods to characterize forest processes and linking those approaches to field-based measures of forest ecosystem attributes. Working under Dr. Phil Townsend (http://forest.wisc.edu/facstaff/townsend.html), students will join the research team in the Forest Remote Sensing Lab in the Department of Forest Ecology and Management (http://forest.wisc.edu) at UW-Madison. A listing of current projects can be found at http://forest.wisc.edu/facstaff/townsend/projects.html. For more information, please contact Phil Townsend at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Candidates should have the following skills: - Educational background in landscape/forest ecology, geography, forestry, environmental science, or a related discipline; - Interest in remote sensing, forest ecology, and ecosystem dynamics (e.g., insect or other disturbance agents, forest change, or nutrient cycling); - Experience and/or some background in techniques of remote sensing analysis; - Motivation to work independently and to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals; - Proficiency with GIS (e.g. ArcGIS) and/or statistical analysis software. - Students with Masters degrees are preferred, but exceptional candidates without the Masters degree will be considered. - Excellent English writing and verbal communication skills are essential. Potential applicants should submit the following (electronically) to Dr. Phil Townsend at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include Ph.D. student application in the subject line of your email. - Cover letter summarizing research interests and academic and professional background - Resume/CV - Copies of transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable at this point) - GRE scores, if available - Names and contact information for three references (no letters at this point) Ph.D. assistantships are available for 3-year periods and include an annual stipend ($18,120 for 2006-2007), health insurance and a tuition waiver (see http://www.wisc.edu/grad/). Applications will be reviewed upon receipt; review will continue until candidates are chosen. Applications received by January 10, 2006 will be guaranteed consideration. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. University of Wisconsin and City of Madison The University of Wisconsin - Madison is a major research university in the United States (www.wisc.edu) ranking 2nd in research expenditures among all U.S. universities and first among public universities. Total student enrollment is 41,000, of which 11,400 are graduate and professional students. UW-Madison has a long history of excellence in theoretical and applied ecology, conservation biology, geography and remote sensing science. Madison, Wisconsin consistently ranks as one of the top places in the United States to live, work, and study. It is Wisconsin's capital city, with a vibrant community of approximately 300,000 that combines small town charm with a wide variety of leisure and cultural opportunities. For more information on campus and town see http://www.uc.wisc.edu/profile/. Phil Townsend, Associate Professor Department of Forest Ecology and Management University of Wisconsin-Madison 1630 Linden Drive, Russell Labs Madison, WI 53706 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
