[ECOLOG-L] Assistantship in the Effects of Fire on Residual Timber Quality

[Saunders, Michael R]

I am seeking an M.S. or Ph.D. student for research of the influence of 
prescribed fire on the quality of residual overstory trees. This work is funded 
by the Joint Fire Sciences Program and the U.S. Forest Service - Northern 
Research Station. It will take advantage of existing studies on the Hoosier 
National Forest, Indiana State Forests, and NSWC-Crane and broaden the scope of 
existing work to a large portion of Central Hardwood Forest region.

Specifically, the incumbent will install a retrospective study of fire damage 
over 20+ sites in each of the Wayne, Shawnee and Mark Twain National Forests, 
building on effects begun in the Hoosier this past summer. Relationships 
between tree grade and lumber grade will be determined by harvesting over 200 
trees collect from all sites.  In additional, this individual will be partially 
responsible to maintain a long-term research study on Morgan-Monroe and 
Yellowwood State Forests and NWSC-Crane.  This study follows a variety of trees 
of differing species and tree grades designated within over 20 burn areas, 
installs fire monitoring equipment on a subset of individuals when prescribed 
fires occur, and documents prescribed fire damage to these individuals for 
several years after each fire.


Work will be on remote field sites and in harsh environments typical of 
southern Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. Preference will be given to 
candidates with strong mensurational skills, tree/lumber grading experience, 
and fire and/or chainsaw certification. To meet FNR departmental requirements, 
candidates must have a B.S. or M.S. degree in forestry, wildlife or a closely 
related field, and a minimum GPA of 3.2; GRE scores must be above the 50th 
percentile on verbal and quantitative sections and above 4.0 on the analytical 
writing section. Departmental assistantships are awarded at $19,430 (M.S.) and 
$22,295 (Ph.D.) per year, and include a subsidized insurance plan.


This position is for a Spring 2017 (preferred) or Fall 2017 admission. Purdue 
deadlines for materials for spring admission is September 15, but that deadline 
can be delayed slightly for qualified candidates.  Interested individuals MUST 
CONTACT Dr. Mike Saunders prior to formally submitting materials.


CONTACT:  Mike R. Saunders, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, 
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR), Purdue University.  Email:  
msaun...@purdue.edu; Phone: 765-430-1440?


Purdue University is an equal opportunity-affirmative action employer.?

[ECOLOG-L] Assistantship on the Effects of Fire on Residual Timber Quality

[Saunders, Michael R]

I am seeking an M.S. or Ph.D. students for a long-term research project 
investigating the influence of prescribed fire on the quality of residual 
overstory trees. This work, funded by the U.S. Forest Service - Northern 
Research Stations, will take advantage of 15 prescribed burns being conducted 
over the next two years on studies at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment 
(www.heeforeststudy.orghttp://www.heeforeststudy.org) sites and study sites 
at NSWC - Crane, both in southern Indiana.



Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible to select a variety of trees of 
differing species and tree grades within each burn area, install fire 
monitoring equipment on a subset of individuals, and document fire damage to 
these individuals.  This long-term project will then relate fire temperatures, 
fuel levels, and other environmental variables to declines in tree grade over 
repeated fires and time.  The incumbent will also install a retrospective study 
of fire damage over 20+ sites at the nearby Hoosier National Forest.



All candidates must be U.S. citizens due to security restrictions at NSWC - 
Crane.  Work will be on remote field sites and in harsh environments typical of 
southern Indiana.  To meet FNR departmental requirements, candidates must have 
a B.S. or M.S. degree in forestry, wildlife or a closely related field, a 
minimum GPA of 3.2 and GRE scores above the 50th percentile on verbal and 
quantitative sections and above 4.0 on the analytical writing section.  
Departmental assistantships are awarded at $18,329 (M.S.) and $21,020 (Ph.D.) 
per year, and include a subsidized insurance plan.



This position is for either Fall 2015 or Spring 2016 admission.  Interested 
individuals MUST CONTACT Dr. Mike Saunders 
(msaun...@purdue.edumailto:msaun...@purdue.edu) prior to formally submitting 
materials.



Purdue University is an equal opportunity-affirmative action employer.



Mike R. Saunders

Associate Professor of Hardwood Silviculture

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University

715 State Street

West Lafayette, IN  47907