Position A 12-month funded T.L.L. Temple graduate assistantship (doctoral) is available beginning spring 2020 (applicants with a start date of fall 2020 will be strongly considered) under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Kidd within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (http://atcofa.sfasu.edu/) at Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA (more than 13,000 students) is located in the historic city of Nacogdoches, Texas (population approximately 33,000) within the East Texas Pineywoods Ecoregion.
This assistantship is for three years and carries an annual stipend of $25,000 plus health insurance assistance (if needed). Funding is available to support travel to conduct field research and to present research findings at national and regional-level conferences. Although the State of Texas does not allow for direct tuition waivers, out-of-state students awarded assistantships only pay the Texas resident tuition rate. To further help defray tuition costs, an annual $2,000 scholarship is also available through this program for qualified students. In addition to research, there also will be opportunities for the candidate to gain teaching experience.
Research Focus The successful applicant will conduct research quantifying bottomland hardwood stand dynamics along a flooding and gap-creation disturbance gradient in East Texas. The doctoral student will investigate effects of abiotic (flooding and drought: frequency, intensity, duration; light) and biotic factors on density and composition of overstory, midstory, understory, and ground strata adjacent to the Neches, Angelina, Sabine, and Attoyac Rivers. Further emphasis will be placed on quantifying temporal and spatial patterns (e.g., microtopographical position and location relative to canopy gaps) of establishment and recruitment of natural regeneration.
Desired Qualifications Applicants with a strong interest in hardwood regeneration ecology, disturbance ecology, and stand dynamics are highly desired. Candidates must have earned an M.S. in Forestry or a relatedsubject area by the start date. Applicants must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for master’s degree coursework. If English is not the applicant’s native language, he/she must demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum score required to demonstrate English proficiency on the TOEFL is at least 550 on the paper-based version or 79 IBT (internet-based). Ability to conduct field work in harsh conditions (e.g., heat, insects, standing water, snakes) and maintain a positive attitude is required.
How to Apply Review of applications will begin August 15 and continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit in a single .pdf: 1) a cover letter detailing research interests and experience, 2) CV, 3) GRE scores (if available), 4) unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, 5) contact information for three potential academic/professional references, and 6) an example of your writing to Dr. Rebecca Kidd via email (kiddkr@sfasu.edu).
