The Palmquist Lab at Marshall University is recruiting for a funded MS position focused on improving climate change forecasts for dryland plant communities through an integration of process-based simulation modeling and field-derived measures of plant water uptake. Our research focuses on quantifying vegetation dynamics over space and time and identifying how the relative importance of ecological processes structuring plant communities changes with spatial and temporal scale. In addition, a key goal of our research is to understand how pattern and process in plant communities will be altered in the face of global environmental change. An important motivation for our work is to address ecological questions at large spatial scales to inform landscape conservation. We collect field data, use existing large observational data sets, and implement remote sensing and simulation modeling to address these goals in drylands of the western U.S., forests and woodlands, and salt marshes. Additional information about the lab can be found at http://www.kylepalmquist.org/.
RESEARCH FOCUS: The successful candidate will improve forecasts of western U.S. dryland plant community responses to climate change by integrating field-derived plant water uptake. These water-limited ecosystems are undergoing rapid environmental change due to multiple stressors (climate change, increases in wildfire activity, species invasions) and represent some of the most threatened systems in North America. This project will use an individual-based plant simulation model to quantify the impacts of climate change on plant species biomass for a variety of dominant species in western U.S. drylands. The student will participate in field research during the summers of 2025 and 2026 in collaboration with the Kulmatiski lab at Utah State University (https://andrewkulmatiski.wixsite.com/kulmatiski-lab). REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of and experience in drylands of the western U.S. A background, including relevant course work, in ecology and statistics, and strong communication skills. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in ecological modeling and computer programming is highly desirable. EXPECTATIONS: The successful candidate will be expected to conduct high-quality research, serve as a teaching assistant within the Department of Biological Sciences, present their research to the scientific community at regional and national meetings, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. TIMELINE: The position is available starting June 2025, when fieldwork will begin. The student will begin coursework in August 2025. FUNDING: Funding will consist of a combination of research and teaching assistantships for two and a half years. A 12-month competitive stipend and full tuition waiver will be provided. HOW TO APPLY: Interested students should apply by submitting the following to Dr. Kyle Palmquist (palmqu...@marshall.edu): 1) short statement of research interests and career goals (no longer than 1 page), 2) CV, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4) contact information for three professional references. Please include: “improving climate change forecasts for drylands” and your name in the email subject. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the deadline: December 15th, 2024 11:59pm ET. I will contact you to discuss your research interests and goals for graduate school to determine if you would be a good fit for the lab. If selected, a full application must be submitted to the Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. Faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences have expertise in a variety of biological fields, including but not limited to ecology, evolution, herpetology, and physiology. More information about the Department and its programs can be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/biology/. Application requirements for admission to the DBS graduate program can be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/biology/admission/. Marshall University is located in Huntington, an affordable college town located on the Ohio River in the beautiful state of West Virginia. The town is small enough to get around on foot and bike, but large enough to support a variety of restaurants and other cultural activities. Huntington and the surrounding area offer ample recreational opportunities (hiking, skiing, rafting), along with proximity to larger cities, including Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH, and Columbus, OH. In the Palmquist Lab, we highly value and encourage work-life balance. I strongly encourage students from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. Feel free to contact me with questions at any time. Kyle Palmquist Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences Marshall University Huntington, WV 25755 phone: 304-696-3987 email: palmqu...@marshall.edu<mailto:palmqu...@marshall.edu> website: kylepalmquist.org twitter: @kyleapalmquist To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://community.esa.org/confirm/?u=RhPWqPxFwODKvbkiT32nkIqRrsiSgulp
