Two Ph.D. graduate fellowships are available through the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida to conduct research on aspects of adaptive forest management. This prestigious fellowship, granted by the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program, will provide students with academic training in interdisciplinary aspects of adaptive forest management, build communication skills through structured leadership training, and provide mentoring opportunities with natural resource managers outside of academia. Candidates will emerge from the degree program well-positioned for high-ranking employment in the field of natural resource management.
Candidates will be expected to develop a research project within broadly established project guidelines, on topics identified as priorities by natural resource mangers within the state of Florida. These research priorities include, but are not limited to, assessing the effects of mechanical vegetation treatment on scrub habitats, investigating ground cover restoration in flatwoods, evaluating biomass harvesting on nutrient cycling, and investigating the long-term sustainability of any uneven-aged management regimes. Interested applicants will be directed towards prospective faculty advisors with corresponding interests and expertise. Candidates are also expected to complete leadership training courses in the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute and develop professional relationships with a diversity of faculty, students, and resource managers involved in the fellowship program. Requirements for the Ph.D. assistantship: MS in forestry, ecology, wildlife science, natural resource conservation, environmental studies, botany, or a related field; strong quantitative skills and demonstrated writing ability; competitive GPA and GRE scores. Stipend for the Ph.D. assistantships: $ 24,500 annually for three years plus full tuition waiver and health insurance. Interested applicants should send the following: o cover letter indicating primary areas of interest within the broad field of forest resource management (i.e., silviculture, economics, fire, wildlife, biostatistics) o CV o A statement of interest, outlining their reasons for desiring a graduate degree in the area of adaptive forest management and intended future employment. o copies of GRE scores and academic transcripts o one letter of recommendation from a previous employer o name, phone number, and email addressed of two additional references Applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in the forestry profession are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates must be citizens or nationals of the United States. The University of Florida is an equal opportunity and equal access employer. The "government in the sunshine" laws of Florida require that all documents relating to the search process, including letters of application, nomination, and reference, except transcripts, be available for public inspection. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation. Review of applications will begin immediately. Final candidates will be identified no later than May 2010 for a start date in August 2010. For more information, contact Melissa Kreye, P.O. Box 110410, 136 Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0410; 352-846-0848; [email protected]
