There are opportunities for students to gain a Master of Science Degree in Earth System Science and Policy at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND in projects focused on the dynamics of regional ecosystems in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. Research topics can include assessment of regional ecosystem services, regional ecosystem modeling, remote sensing of grasslands and savannas and analysis of land use/land cover change impacts. Projects could make use of skills in GIS, image processing, programming, and spatial modeling which are developed during coursework. As outlined in a previous advertisement, the Sheyenne National Grassland provides specific opportunities for MS research projects that involve close interaction with the US Forest Service.
Full tuition waivers are available for successful applicants. Grand Forks and the University of North Dakota provide good opportunities for students to gain part-time employment to support themselves. Students from a wide range of fields such as Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Climatology, Hydrology, and the Social and Political Sciences are encouraged to apply as there are opportunities in other interdisciplinary research areas as well.. Applications from students in the nearby states (ND, SD, MN, MT, WY, WI) and Canadian Provinces (SK, MB) are particularly encouraged. Earth System Science and Policy is an interdisciplinary department which focuses on environmental sustainability. The ESSP Department has faculty with diverse expertise including earth science, ecosystem science, agronomy, glaciology, hydrology, climate science, environmental economics, and environmental policy. Three degrees are offered through the department: Master of Environmental Management (M.E.M.), M.S., and Ph.D. All students must complete 20 credits of compulsory coursework in Earth System Science and Policy 501/502 during the first two semesters of their degree. Interested students should see the UND Graduate School website (www.und.edu/dept/grad/<http://www.und.edu/dept/grad/>) for application instructions, and the ESSP Departmental web page (http://essp.und.edu/) to explore the range of courses and faculty expertise. Students can contact Dr. Michael J. Hill for further information at (701) 777-6071, or by e-mail: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Recommended deadlines for application are February 1st for a March 1st decision, and April 15th for a May 15th decision. Tuition waivers are provided on a first qualified basis. Students must apply to the UND Graduate School in the first instance, and satisfy all application requirements before they will be assessment by the Department. For more information, see the following websites: The University of North Dakota: www.und.edu<http://www.und.edu/> The UND Graduate School: http://www.und.edu/dept/grad/ UND Earth System Science and Policy: http://essp.und.edu/ Grand Forks Visitors Bureau: http://www.visitgrandforks.com/main.php
