The University of Minnesota Silva Lab and Dr. Marcella Windmuller-Campione are seeking a PhD student to work on a collaborative project researching forest soils and above and below ground carbon dynamics in peatland ecosystems. The student will work with investigators in the Department of Forest Resources, the Natural Resource Research Institute, and multiple natural resource management agencies (state, counties, federal, private, and non-profit), to holistically evaluate peatland forest communities across a chronosequence following harvesting. The research will involve summer field work at project sites in northern Minnesota and will utilize field and lab experimental approaches. The student will be responsible for conducting field and lab work in support of project goals, analyzing data, and preparing peer-reviewed publications.
The start date is somewhat flexible, but ideally the student would begin field work in early summer 2024 with classes beginning the following fall at UMN Twin Cities. Three years of guaranteed funding are available to cover stipend (~ $23,000 annually), tuition waiver, and health insurance, with additional support likely from teaching and research assistantships.
Qualifications: B.Sc. and M.Sc. with emphasis in forest soils, ecohydrology, forestry, forest management, forest ecology, silviculture or other relevant fields. Applicants must be able to work independently in both lab and field settings, but also interact cooperatively with lab members and collaborators.
Please contact Marcella Windmuller-Campione if interested in the position – [email protected].