Two graduate research positions (PhD and MSc) are available in Dr. Steven Gray’s lab at the University of Massachusetts, Boston for the fall 2014 semester. Research in the lab is highly interdisciplinary and focuses on integrating social (surveys, cognitive mapping, social-network analysis) and environmental (watershed/hydrological modeling, population distributions, climate change projections, by-catch rates) datasets to model and understand the dynamics of social-ecological systems.
Currently, a major focus in the lab is developing and testing a participatory modeling software called Mental Modeler (see http://www.mentalmodeler.org) in a variety of environmental planning and research contexts. These contexts include marine spatial planning in Ireland, coastal hazard planning in the Pacific Islands, conservation agricultural planning in Nepal, understanding bushmeat trade dynamics in Tanzania and modeling recreational fishermen decision-making in Germany. This work is highly collaborative and therefore students can expect to work with a range of scientists (e.g. ecologists, economists, cognitive scientists, sociologists, agronomists, oceanographers) and stakeholder groups (e.g. natural resource managers, bushmeat hunters, fishermen, farmers). Students who join the lab will be enrolled in the Environmental Science graduate degree programs offered by the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts, Boston (http://www.umb.edu/academics/environment/grad). Students will be supported through Teaching and Research Assistantships, which cover tuition and stipends with supplemental funding provided by NSF, NOAA, and USGS funded projects. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resource management, anthropology, geography or another field related to interdisciplinary environmental science. Successful candidates must demonstrate an aptitude for research and the ability to work independently. Prior research experience in computer modeling (e.g. agent-based modeling), survey design and administration, statistics, or software development is preferred, but not required. The application deadline to be considered for these positions is January 31st. Interested applicants should send a written statement of graduate research interest, a copy of their CV or resume (including GPA and GRE scores), and names and contact information for two references via email to Dr. Steven Gray (email [email protected]) prior to formally applying to the UMass Boston graduate school. The University of Massachusetts, Boston is an urban public research university located (as you might guess) in Boston, Massachusetts-- an amazing place to live and work (and learn!).
