########################################################### MS and/or PhD Assistantships - Modeling and Ecosystem Services – North Dakota Fall 2010 ##########################################################
MS or PhD Assistantships are available for Fall 2010 in the following projects in the Department of Earth System Science and Policy at the University of North Dakota. Applications are encouraged from students with quantitative skills and a background in geography, ecology and remote sensing. An interest in learning, or existing skill with, quantitative analysis and programming with IDL or other languages is important. 1. Development of Ecosystem Services Assessments in North Dakota using Modeling coupled to Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis. This project involves application of a range of models to capture carbon sequestration, surface water flow, and habitat change. The products of different model scenarios are combined in a spatial multi-criteria analysis shell (MCAS-S). This project requires aptitude with computer programming, and may involve substantial GIS processing. Experience working with carbon, hydrological or land use models would be an advantage. 2. Development of state and transition modeling of land surface changes in North Dakota with remote sensing data. State and Transition (S&T) models were developed in applied ecology to capture changes in vegetation and land condition, and link these to ecosystem processes. A set of land surface "states" are defined, and changes between these "states" are mediated by variables with critical thresholds for transition to a different state. The variables are affected by drivers of change such as climate, fire, herbivory, land clearing, flooding etc, etc. These S&T models are very useful for upscaling land surface processes to regions and beyond. This project will involve developing a prototype S&T framework and using multiple sources to remote sensing data to define land surface "states" and detecting changes. Interest in and experience with image processing is required. Interest or experience in programming in IDL or another language is also essential. These projects can be tailored to MS or PhD program requirements. All students entering the ESSP Program are required to take the compulsory 20 credit ESSP 501 and ESSP 502 courses in the first two semesters. These courses cover the basics of broad earth system science including the Biosphere and Biodiversity, Energy, Environment and Society, the Geosphereand Earth Observation, the Water Cycle and Hydrology, and Biogeochemical Cycles. Information on the Earth System Science and Policy Program is available at: http://www.essp.und.edu/Default.aspx Applications will be considered until June 1, 2010. Students must meet the requirements for GRE, GPA, TOEFL standards (appropriate to MS or PhD) and meet all the requirements of the Graduate School of the University of North Dakota. A 12 - month GRA and full tuition waiver are available for each of these positions. Long term availability is subject to funding. PhD students are expected to write a grant to support their work as part of the process of proposing their dissertation topic. Interested students should contact Dr. Hill directly at the address given below to discuss the projects. Applications must be made directly to the UND Graduate School (http://www.und.edu/dept/grad/). Michael J. Hill, Professor Department of Earth System Science and Policy Clifford Hall Room 314 4149 University Avenue, Stop 9011 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 58202-9007 Tel: 701.777.6071 Fax: 701.777.2940 E-mail. [email protected] ############################################################# Dr Michael J. Hill Professor Earth System Science and Policy University of North Dakota Clifford Hall, Stop 9011 4149 Campus Drive Grand Forks, ND, 58202 USA Phone: 701 7776071 Fax: 701 7772940 Email: [email protected]
