Graduate Student Positions Available in Study of Coupled Systems TWO FIVE-YEAR POSITIONS supported by the National Science Foundation and The Ohio State University are available starting Autumn Semester 2017. This interdisciplinary research project will examine the environmental conditions that lead to human territorial behavior in pastoral ecosystems as well as how territoriality shapes the environment. The project will evaluate a conceptual model that explains pastoral territoriality as a dynamic coupled system, particularly challenging a linear history of progressive human degradation of pasture lands. Based in the Dhufar highlands of Southern Oman, the project will provide new insights into whether the dynamics of woodland-grassland-woodland cycling are coupled with pulses in human territorial behavior. Project findings will have significant implications for examining interactions between people and pastoral environments over time in the U.S. and elsewhere. The five-year research plan engages and trains students and new interdisciplinary research professionals in complex social-ecological systems thinking at all levels from high school through post-doctoral studies.
We seek candidates for two, multi-year, graduate research assistant members of a research team headed by faculty Joy McCorriston, Mark Moritz, and Ian Hamilton with international partners in Oman, USA, UK, and Germany. The graduate studentships, open to all BA, BSc, MA and MSc candidates, have full tuition and stipend for degree study in either Anthropology or in Evolutionary Ecology and Organismal Biology (EEOB) at The Ohio State University. We are looking for students eager to join an interdisciplinary team that combines archaeological research in Oman (Middle East) with agent-based modeling of social-ecological systems. We are committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunity in STEM fields and students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM are encouraged to apply. Archaeology Graduate Studentship: This student will bring prior archaeological excavation experience and coursework in archaeology to this project along with a strong motivation to acquire multiple new research skills. Desired experience includes some combination of the following: archaeological survey and mapping, field illustration, laboratory analysis in the archaeological or archaeo-biological sciences, or geomatics (GIS, GPS, remote sensing), languages (especially Arabic), international experience. Candidates should have a strong science background and an interest in human evolutionary ecology. Candidates will need to become competitive applicants to the OSU Anthropology PhD program. Please send a preliminary cover letter by email and if asked, be prepared to follow up with a CV, references, and a university transcript (unofficial is acceptable) to Professor Joy McCorriston ([email protected]), Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University Behavioral Ecology Graduate Studentship: Candidates should bring a background in research and coursework in behavioral ecology, resource ecology, applied mathematics or complexity science to this project. Experience in computational behavioral or ecological modeling (particularly individual- or agent-based modeling) or foraging behavior (particularly resource defense and habitat use) is desired. Candidates will need to be competitive applicants to the OSU Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology PhD program. Please send a cover letter, CV, and list of references to Professor Ian Hamilton ([email protected]), Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Organismal Biology, Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University. Please include the phrase “Agent-Based Models in Human Territoriality – YOUR NAME” in the subject of your message. Review of applications for this position will begin November 1, 2016.
