PhD Research Assistantship in Interdisciplinary Payments for Ecosystem Services 
Research

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West 
Lafayette, Indiana


The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University is 
seeking a doctoral research assistant interested in the intersection of social 
inequalities and payments for ecosystem services to join our program starting 
fall semester 2018. The position is for three years and is part of an 
NSF-funded research project by Purdue University, Utah State University, and 
Brandeis University.

The position provides an annual stipend of $22,850, a tuition waiver, and 
health insurance. The doctoral student will work under direct supervision of 
Dr. Zhao Ma at Purdue University and will interact with all project 
investigators (Drs. Jonathan Bauchet, Laura Zanotti, Claudia Radel, Ricardo 
Godoy) on a regular basis. Project abstract can be found: 
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1660481.

Specific responsibilities include: (1) managing day-to-day communication and 
relationship between research team and field partner in Bolivia, (2) collecting 
quantitative data in the field in rural Bolivia (as soon as summer 2018) as 
part of a randomized control trial (RCT); (3) analyzing this quantitative data; 
and (4) assisting investigators with other research-related project activities. 
While the doctoral student will assist the project, he/she will also be 
encouraged to develop his/her own dissertation research questions to pursue 
within the context of the broader project.

The ideal candidate has an interest in interdisciplinary approaches and 
mixed-methods research, and is either familiar with or interested in  human 
geography, environmental psychology, natural resource decision making, 
political ecology, and/or other natural resource/conservation social science 
discipline(s)/field(s). The ideal candidate also has good oral communication 
and writing skills, attention to detail, and willingness and ability to follow 
instructions carefully and work independently.


Required qualifications include: (1) Spanish-language competency, particularly 
in spoken Spanish; (2) GPA 3.2 or equivalent; (3) minimum paper-based TOEFL 
score of 550 or Internet-based scores of 77 for applicants whose native 
language is not English; and (4) a master's degree prior to fall 2018. Strongly 
preferred qualifications include: (1) experience with survey research; (2) 
familiarity and/or experience with experimental design; (3) experience with 
statistical/econometric analyses; and (4) field experience in the rural Global 
South.

Interested applicants should send a brief letter of interest and a copy of 
their CV (including GPA and GRE scores) via email to Dr. Zhao Ma prior to 
formally applying to the Purdue Graduate School. Review of applications will 
start on January 15, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled. Women 
and underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Purdue 
University is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. For more 
information, contact Dr. Zhao Ma (zha...@purdue.edu<mailto:zha...@purdue.edu>; 
765-494-1790) or visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~zhaoma/Ma/wordpress/.


A bit about the location: West Lafayette-Lafayette, Indiana is situated between 
Indianapolis, Indiana (one-hour south) and Chicago, Illinois (two-hour north), 
and is home to 174,000 residents. We have a diverse community, good schools, 
safe neighborhoods, over 40 parks and extensive trail systems, active Farmers 
Markets, and year-long community festivals and art events.


Zhao Ma
Associate Professor
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

Phone: 765-494-1790
Fax: 765-496-2422
zha...@purdue.edu<mailto:zha...@purdue.edu>

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