Graduate student opportunity in modeling forest disturbances at the University of Idaho Three years of funding is available for a PhD student to study forest responses and vulnerability to climate change and natural disturbances (wildfires and bark beetles) as part of an interdisciplinary NSF-funded project in the Pacific Northwest. The overarching goal of this integrated ecological and socioeconomic project is to support policy and other decision-making processes at the local, regional, and national scales to reduce the risk of wildfire becoming a disaster and increase community and ecological adaptive capacities. Specific objectives include incorporating a model of bark beetle outbreaks into ecohydrology models, determining responses to climate change and management actions, assessing interactions with wildfires, and quantifying impacts to water, carbon, and other ecosystem processes and services. Desirable qualifications include quantitative skills, familiarity with mechanistic ecosystem modeling and computer programming, excellent written and oral communication skills, and a research-based MS thesis. Students have the opportunity to receive a degree in either Geography (www.uidaho.edu/geography) or Environmental Science (www.uidaho.edu/envs). Outstanding applicants for an MS degree will be considered. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV, GPA, GRE scores, and a statement of interest to Dr. Jeffrey Hicke (jhi...@uidaho.edu). Inquiries via email or phone (208-885-6240) are welcome.
