The Dynamic Ecosystems and Landscape (DE&L) Lab is seeking PhD students enthused and excited about landscape forecasting: How will landscape functioning change as the environment and society change? We are a group of scientists with interests in Global Food Security, Conservation Planning, Forested Landscapes, Forest Management, and Climate Adaptation. We foster a collaborative and supportive atmosphere for conducting the highest-quality landscape-scale science. DE&L is part of both the Center for Geospatial Analytics and the Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University (NCSU). The successful candidate(s) will gain expertise in ecology at the interface of management and social change and will gain experience in geospatial analysis (R and GRASS GIS), data science and statistical analysis (R), and landscape modeling (LANDIS-II). Qualifications Training in ecology (terrestrial, landscape, disturbance, or forest), and experience with GIS and statistics through prior coursework or research activities, are essential. Applicants with a Master of Science degree in a relevant field are preferred. Students should have a strong interest in developing additional expertise in quantitative methods and data science. Preference will be given to those who have published quantitative research, who have presented research at scientific meetings, and who have experience working with spatial data. Competitive applicants will have undergraduate and graduate GPAs of 3.5 or higher, verbal and quantitative GRE scores at or above the 70th percentile, and a GRE analytical writing score of 4.5 or greater. Students with some but not all of these credentials will be considered and are encouraged to submit an application. Compensation Each position will include funding ($26,000/12 months), tuition remission (up to 20 credits/12 months), student fees, health insurance benefits (80% of cost of premium covered), and funding for travel to professional meetings. We will work together to secure project or fellowship funding. Application Instructions To apply, create a single pdf document that includes: (1) a letter of interest that describes your career goals and that specifically addresses the position requirements; (2) a CV; (3) unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts; (4) unofficial general GRE scores (no more than 5 years old by early February 2018) including percentile information; and (5) a list of three references (name, position, institution, email address, and phone number). Before submitting an application, carefully consider the requirements for a PhD degree by examining NCSU policies. Email your pdf document to Professor Robert Scheller ([email protected]). You also are welcome to contact him with questions about the positions. The deadline for applications is 1 January 2018. Review Process After a review of applications, Professor Scheller will invite the most qualified applicants to apply formally to a relevant PhD program at NCSU and will provide an all-expenses-paid campus visit.
