Funded Graduate Student Positions at University of Georgia

Position summary: Fully funded graduate student positions (2 PhDs, 1 Masters) are available to participate in a NASA funded project (Carbon Cycle Program) developing remote sensing based GPP products for estimating coastal marsh blue carbon across the Southeastern United States. This project involves data synthesis of remotely sensed data with eddy covariance flux tower products, biomass measurements, and other biophysical coastal marsh parameters. This work involves geospatial analysis of near-surface and satellite data sets (primarily MODIS), as well as field campaigns that will assess the carbon budgets for different coastal landscapes using portable eddy covariance towers, estimation of plant photosynthesis rates, and intensive field sampling.

Responsibilities: Graduate students will assist with maintaining and analyzing data from multiple eddy covariance flux towers. This includes comparisons of eddy covariance measurements with other instruments at the sites, satellite derived products, and data management. Students also will travel monthly to remote coastal marsh sites to maintain equipment, deploy experiments and participate in field data collection.

Required qualifications: Candidates must have proven abilities to conduct independent research and to work as part of a scientific team. Experience in data analysis, strong quantitative skills and the ability to work in a marsh environment are also required. Experience in or an interest in learning R or Python also are required. Additional skills in interpretation and synthesis of eddy covariance data, primary productivity and photosynthesis modeling also would be helpful. A strong background in statistics and plant or landscape ecology also are suggested, but the drive and willingness to learn these skills is acceptable.

Students will join the Mishra Lab in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia. The assistantship will include a salary commensurate with education level (M.S. or Ph.D.), tuition waiver, and health benefits. Interested candidates should send an email describing their past experience and their motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in the above research topic, along with a CV, GRE scores, and the names and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Deepak Mishra (dmishra@uga.edu) or Dr. David Cotten (dcotte1@uga.edu ) or Jessica O’Connell (jessica.oconnell@uga.edu), Department of Geography, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30606. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Georgia values diversity and all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. UGA is in Athens, GA, a vibrant mid-sized city with abundant shopping, restaurants and cultural experiences.