*M.S. and Ph.D. opportunities in ecohydrology, ecosystem ecology, and
expert assessment in Arctic and agricultural landscapes*
Two graduate student positions are available in the laboratory of Dr.
Ben Abbott at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Students will
work in an interdisciplinary and international team to develop a project
in one of three areas (details at benabbott.byu.edu
<http://benabbott.byu.edu>):
/1./*/Permafrost climate feedback/*/: using stream networks as
multi-scale sensors of landscape nutrient and permafrost dynamics/
This project combines high-frequency carbon and nitrogen data with
occasional, spatially extensive hydrochemistry throughout Arctic stream
networks to identify the location and seasonal stability of nutrient
sources and sinks in landscapes undergoing permafrost degradation. It
involves fieldwork at Toolik Field Station and synthesis of circumpolar
data.
/2./*/Freshwater landscapes in the Anthropocene/*/: quantifying
catchment resilience to anthropogenic disturbance and nutrient loading /
This project addresses the global eutrophication crisis with new
ecohydrological tools including biogeochemical tracers and
spatiotemporal analyses. Fieldwork occurs in France and the
Intermountain West in catchments with mixed agricultural and urban land
use. The student will also facilitate synthesis activities with a large
group of ecohydrologists from Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and the
Americas.
/3./*/Combining expert opinions to inform policy/*/: assessing risk of
tipping points in subsea permafrost, global wildfire, and cyanobacterial
blooms/
This project uses expert assessment methods to quantify uncertainty and
identify research priorities for urgent environmental issues. The
student will work with an international team to develop and administer a
series of quantitative surveys on response of subsea permafrost and
global wildfire to climate change, and possible shifts in the frequency
and severity of harmful algal blooms.
Applicants should have a B.S. in environmental science, ecology, or a
related field, but excellent candidates from any field (including but
not limited to humanities, social science, sustainability, and computer
science) will be considered. Expected start date is May-September of
2018. Prospective applicants should contact Dr. Abbott
([email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>) by December 30^th with a
CV and Cover letter describing research interests and experience.
Sincerely,
*Ben Abbott*
Assistant Professor
Brigham Young University
Plant and Wildlife Sciences
5113 LSB, 701 E. University Parkway
Provo, UT 84602
801-422-8000
