We seek a PhD student for a NASA funded project who will estimate the disintegration and decay of standing dead trees using LiDAR. The student will be in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University working with Drs. Sorin Popescu, Georgianne Moore, and Jason Vogel. The student will collaborate with a post-doctoral scientist to collect LiDAR images using both a ground based and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform, and then the PhD student will model how these images relate to changes in a dead tree’s three dimensional structure and aboveground mass. Individuals interested in remote sensing, forest ecology, ecosystem carbon cycling, or ecological modeling are encouraged to apply. Applicants should be comfortable working in field conditions and doing fairly strenuous work. Funds for a generous stipend and tuition are available for three years. Preference will be given to students with a prior MSc in a related field, or applicable experience in a related topic. Candidates available to start in the spring, summer, or fall of 2015 will be considered. Interested individuals should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and university transcripts to Dr. Jason G. Vogel ( [email protected]), Dr. Georgianne Moore ([email protected]) or Dr. Sorin Popescu ([email protected]).
