*Graduate Research Opportunities in Water Studies and Sustainability*
Our research group at the University of Missouri <https://missouri.edu/>
is seeking 1-3 motivated students to pursue MS/PhD studies in water and
natural resources management. Students can enroll at either the College
of Engineering (at Bioengineering <http://bioengineering.missouri.edu/>)
or the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (at the School
of Natural Resources <https://snr.missouri.edu/>).
Expected start dates are spring or fall of 2019. The successful
candidates will have opportunities to pursue independent research in one
or more of the following research projects:
1)Developing, testing, and validating watershed-scale hydrological and
biogeochemical cycling models for the Mississippi-Missouri River Basin
to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability, impacts of land management,
and weather/climate on water, suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus
fluxes.
2)Developing watershed-scale hydrological models to evaluate the
efficacy of conservation practices to reduce suspended solids,
fertilizer and pesticide runoff from point-, and diffuse-pollution
sources in Missouri watersheds.
3)Evaluating the impacts of wetland flooding on water table dynamics at
Big Oak Tree State Park in southeast Missouri. Research activities
include field measurements, monitoring, and simulation modeling.
4)Measurement, estimation and validation of actual evapotranspiration
(ET) in agricultural landscapes in central Missouri. Research activities
include a) Setting up large aperture scintillometers (LAS) and measuring
surface fluxes over agricultural landscapes, b) Developing/validating
evapotranspiration algorithms using LAS fluxes, and c) Validating ET
estimates from simulation models and remotely-sensed data.
5)Evaluating deficit irrigation methods to improve water management in
smallholder rainfed agriculture. Research activities include setting up
and monitoring smallholder agricultural plots at the University of
Missouri Agricultural Experimental Station in Columbia, MO.
Opportunities to collaborate with researchers in South Africa and the
Democratic Republic of Congo are included.
Successful applicants are expected to conduct high-quality research,
present research findings at conferences, publish in peer-reviewed
journals, and assist in teaching. A competitive stipend, full tuition
waiver, and health benefits will be provided to qualified candidates.
Successful candidates will join a dynamic, interactive group of students
and faculty at the University of Missouri’s Department of Bioengineering
<http://bioengineering.missouri.edu/> and the School of Natural
Resources <http://snr.missouri.edu/>. Students will also have multiple
opportunities for collaborative research with scientists at USDA-ARS
Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Group
<https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/columbia-mo/cropping-systems-and-water-quality-research/>,
USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/cerc>, Missouri Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit <https://www.coopunits.org/Missouri/> and the MU
Informatics Institute <https://muii.missouri.edu/>.
*Qualifications:*
A BS and/or MS degree in a science or engineering discipline (e.g.
Agricultural, Biological, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Mathematics, Physics or
related field). Strong writing, quantitative, and analytical skills are
essential. Successful candidates will be creative, motivated, and
capable of working independently as well as collaboratively.
*Application Instructions:*
Please email Noel Aloysius (aloysi...@missouri.edu
<mailto:aloysi...@missouri.edu>): 1) A letter of interest that briefly
describes educational and research background, as well as research
interests/goals (2-3 pages); 2) A curriculum vitae that also includes
GRE and, if applicable, TOEFL/IELTS scores; 3) Unofficial copies of
transcripts; and 4) Contact information of three professional references
(referees will not be contacted initially). Please write “Graduate
Research Position” in the subject line. Review of applications will
begin immediately.
Noel Aloysius
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Natural Resources
Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering &
School of Natural Resources
University of Missouri
1406 E. Rollins St., Room 227
Columbia, MO 65211
+1 573 882 7328
aloysi...@missouri.edu<mailto:aloysi...@missouri.edu>
https://engineering.missouri.edu/faculty/noel-aloysius
https://cafnr.missouri.edu/person/noel-aloysius