I have openings for two PhD Graduate Assistants in the fall of 2007 to = work in the field of Landscape Ecology and Ecological Modeling. The = candidates will have the opportunity to work on the development and = applications of a forest landscape model, LANDIS. LANDIS is a spatially = explicit landscape model and operates in a raster GIS format, but is a = free-standing program. It is designed to simulate forest landscape = change over large spatial and temporal scales. LANDIS 4.0, is one of the = few computer simulation models that specifically simulate species level = succession, dispersal, coarse and fine fuel dynamics, fuel treatment, = fire disturbance, wind disturbance, insects/diseases, and forest = harvesting. Visit www.missouri.edu\~landis = <http://www.missouri.edu/~landis> for detailed model description and = free download.=20
=20 =20 The PhD graduate assistants are expected to improve the ecological = realism of LANDIS succession and dispersal modules. They are also = expected to design and implement a generic algorithm to simulate = feedbacks of fuel treatment and harvesting to vegetation dynamics, based = on field experiment data. The candidate will develop modeling = applications to assess short to long term effects of forest management = plans on forest health, vegetation dynamics, and fire risk. Specific = issues may include prescribed burnings on fire risk reduction and forest = restoration, managing forest landscape for coping with oak decline, and = interactions of fuel treatments with succession and/or harvesting. =20 Both PhD graduate assistants are expected to collaborate with a team of = scientists and group members, interact with forest managers, present at = national conferences, and write scientific findings for peer-reviewed = journal papers. The stipend for each PhD graduate assistant is = $18,000/year for three years (50% graduate research assistantship). This = stipend covers in-state and out of-state tuition waivers. =20 =20 A qualified candidate should have a background in ecology, forestry, = geography, or closely related fields. Strong technical background in = GIS technology (e.g. ArcGIS) and familiarity with forest landscape = modeling are necessary. Programming skills in C++ and C# are preferred. = =20 =20 =20 APPLICATION PROCEDURE for Graduate Students: Applications will be = accepted until position is filled with initial review beginning no later = than April 1, 2006. Graduate application materials and information about = the School of Natural Resources and the University of Missouri can be = accessed at http://www.snr.missouri.edu/forestry/graduate/index. = <http://www.snr.missouri.edu/forestry/graduate/index.html> html = <http://www.snr.missouri.edu/forestry/graduate/index.html> . =20 Alternatively, application materials may be obtained by writing to: Graduate Programs Director, Department of Forestry School of Natural Resources 203 Anheuser-Busch Hall University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211 U.S.A =20 Dr. Hong S. He=20 School of Natural Resources=20 University of Missouri-Columbia 203M ABNR Building Columbia, MO 65203 Phone: 573-882-7717=20 Fax: 573-882-1992=20 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =20 Hong S. He will attend the US-IALE 2007 Annual Symposium at Tucson AZ. = To arrange an onsite meeting regarding these positions, contact Dr. Hong = S. He through email or phone. =20 =20 =20 For more information about the University of Missouri at Columbia check =20 http://www.missouri.edu/ <http://www.snr.missouri.edu/> = =20 =20 For information about the city of Columbia check these web sites. =20 Columbia's Chamber of Commerce http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/v_community.html=20 =20 Columbia's Visitors Bureau =20 http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/ =20 http://www.columbiaredi.com/Quality/=20 =20
