GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) – at Boise State University. A position is available for a Ph.D. student to model plant population dynamics at landscape scales. This multidisciplinary project will forecast impacts of environmental change (including climate, human disturbance, and biotic interactions) on the distribution of plants in shrubland ecosystems, including sagebrush steppe in the American west. The Ph.D. student will join our collaborative team of universities who work closely with agencies in the US including the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, and the US Forest Service.The student will participate in: 1) field work that involves remote sensing of landscapes and monitoring plant populations across the Great Basin region and 2) modeling plant population dynamics using a combination of statistical and mathematical approaches, including hierarchical Bayesian methods, spatially-explicit models, and agent-based modeling.  Training in these methods will be provided by team members who offer a diverse range of expertise in ecology, remote sensing, quantitative ecology, and restoration ecology.

Qualifications
Competitive students will have: 1) strong writing and quantitative skills; 2) previous experience in a programming language, such as R or Python; 3) a background in quantitative approaches in ecology; 4) interest in landscapes of the American West. Please address your qualification for each of these points in your cover letter. The position starts Fall (August) 2018.

Stipend and tuition and fees
This position includes support in the form of a graduate assistantships (renewable, 12-month at $25,000), tuition and fee waiver, and health insurance.

About the program and Boise
The Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior PhD is a new and modern graduate program at Boise State University. This program brings together faculty from across multiple academic departments including biological sciences, geosciences, anthropology, and the human-environment systems group to offer relevant courses and provide unique mentorship and training opportunities.  This particular project will draw on molecular, chemical and bioinformatic resources and expertise available through the Biomolecular Research Center (https://brc.boisestate.edu/) and affiliated NIH supported INBRE and COBRE programs and remote sensing expertise through the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (https://bcal.boisestate.edu/). Further, we have created a network of valuable connections in academia, local relationships with federal and state agencies, nonprofits and NGOs, as well as partnerships with international organizations all dedicated to providing students with transformative research and educational experiences for diverse career opportunities. These centers and established networks help students gain diverse skills sets and collaborators to prepare them for broad career opportunities. To learn more about the EEB program, please visit: http://eeb.boisestate.edu/.

Students in this program enjoy living in the beautiful city of Boise, which strikes a perfect balance with close-by outdoor recreational activities as well as a vibrant downtown life. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the capital of the State of Idaho, Boise is frequently featured as a top-ranked metropolis. The city has ample opportunities for world-class outdoor activities year round and a thriving arts and entertainment culture. In 2017, US News and World report ranked Boise the 12th best city to live in the United States. To learn more, lease view “Visit Boise” link at: https://www.cityofboise.org/

To Apply
Please send via email in a single file attachment (include your last name in the file name): 1) a cover letter that states qualifications and career goals; 2) a CV with the names and contacts for 3 references (they do not need to provide a letter of recommendation at this time); 3) copies of transcripts (unofficial are okay); and 4) GRE scores and percentiles (not combined) to Dr. Trevor Caughlin (email: trevorcaughlin AT boisestate.edu). Please put “PhD application” in the subject line.Applications will be reviewed as they are received until 10th of January 2018. If you do not have GRE scores by this deadline your application cannot be considered.  Top candidates will be interviewed in early December and asked to formally apply to Boise State’s EEB program by 20th of January 2018.  All admission decisions must be approved by the Graduate Dean.

Boise State University embraces and welcomes diversity in its faculty, student body, and staff. Accordingly, applicants who would add to the diversity and excellence of our academic community are encouraged to apply.