Deadline: Sat, 04/06/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University Job Field: Forestry GIS/Technology Job Type: Assistantship Location: Indiana Location Detail: West Lafayette, Indiana Job Description: Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources in West Lafayette, Indiana, is seeking applicants for a Ph.D. assistantship in silviculture/biometry to start in August 2024. The successful candidate will use emerging digital technologies (e.g., ground-based and UAS-based lidar, multispectral, and RGB systems) to estimate responses to tree- and stand-level manipulations. A primary focal area of the research is the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE; www.heeforeststudy.org), a large multidisciplinary research project examining the relationship of silvicultural practices to changes in plant and animal species within forests across Indiana. A wide breadth of other silvicultural trials and experiments may be investigated as well. This position requires the acquisition and synthesis of data collected using emerging digital technologies with existing field-based observations. The individual is required to obtain an FAA107 certificate for UAS operations and will become skilled at data acquisition with UAS. Likewise, it is expected that the individual be able to spot errors in digital data streams as related to real on-the-ground measurements (e.g., 60 m trees do not exist in Indiana). Potential focal areas for research may include developing UAS-based data acquisition and analysis protocols in very young forests (<30 years old) or testing precision of repeat-measure, UAS-based data for tree- and stand-level growth. The Institute for Digital Forestry (https://ag.purdue.edu/digital-forestry/) is a multidisciplinary team of scientists developing and implementing new digital technologies and expertise to measure, monitor and manage urban and rural forests for social, economic and ecological benefits. As part of the Institute, this individual will have access to resources in multiple Colleges at Purdue, cutting-edge computing capabilities, and mini-grants and other resources for collaborations and for travel to scientific conferences. Qualifications: • M.S. in Forestry or closely-related field • Minimum GPA of 3.2 in B.S. and M.S. programs • 6 months of ecological research field work experience • Strong oral and written communication skills • Valid driver’s license with a good driving record • FAA 107 certificate for UAS operations (preferred, not required) • Demonstrated technical and scientific writing Miscellaneous: The position is funded for four years and will be based at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. The HEE field sites are located near Bloomington, Indiana. Therefore, the position will require travel between campus and the field throughout the year depending on data needs. The individual may occasionally collect field data in adverse environmental conditions typical of southern Indiana. Salary: $30,000 per year + graduate student remissions Benefits: Subsidized health, vision and dental How to Apply: Interested individuals should first contact Dr. Mike Saunders (msaunder@purdue.edu; 765-430-1440) before submitting a formal application to Purdue’s Graduate School (http://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/). Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
