Graduate Opportunity at Purdue University: Changes in Response to Mortality from Emerald Ash Borer in Old- and Second-Growth Forests
We are seeking a motivated MS or PhD student to become part of a collaborative project between the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center of the USDA Forest Service and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University. The project will use long-term data to study changes in forest structure and composition in response to tree mortality from the emerald ash borer. Past change and potential trajectories of change will be examined at the gap scale within an old-growth forest where all trees were first measured and mapped in 1926. The project will also examine change at the landscape scale across a network of plots established throughout Indiana in the mid-1990s.
The position begins in January 2022 and includes a graduate stipend, tuition waiver, and access to employer assisted health insurance.
Applicants should have a GPA of 3.2 or higher. GRE scores are not required, but may be submitted.
Desired qualifications: an undergraduate or graduate degree in forestry, botany, ecology, plant science, biology or a related field (MS degree preferred for PhD applicants, exceptional candidates with only a BS will be considered); experience conducting field research; training and/or experience in woody species identification; classwork or experience analyzing data in program R; interest in forest ecology, silviculture, and invasive insects.
To apply: Prospective applicants should send, via e-mail attachment, a brief letter of interest, CV (including GPA and contact information for three references), and unofficial transcripts to Mike Saunders (msaunder@purdue.edu ) or Mike Jenkins (jenkinma@purdue.edu ). Applications are being considered now and will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.
Women and individuals from other historically under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Purdue University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action employer.
About Purdue: Purdue is a land-grant university of over 40,000 students and was ranked the 9th best public university in the U.S. by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue is an easy drive from Indianapolis and Chicago. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) is housed administratively in the College of Agriculture (#8 world ranking); emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches across a broad spectrum of natural-resource sciences; and offers vibrant, nationally ranked graduate programs in ecology, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife. The West Lafayette-Lafayette area is home to a diverse community with a population of 174,000, good schools, safe neighborhoods, over 40 parks and extensive trail systems, active farmers' markets, and year-round community festivals and art events.