Position A 9-month funded teaching assistantship (M.S.) is available beginning January 2020 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 two years (9 months/year; Fall and Spring academic semesters) and carries a monthly stipend of $1,500/month plus health insurance assistance (as needed). Renewal for the second year is contingent upon a satisfactory performance during the first year. Excellent opportunity exists for summer hourly employment. 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. Applicants pursuing a B.S. in Forestry or a related-subject area are highly desired to ensure capacity to assist in teaching sophomore-level Forest Ecology laboratories to undergraduates enrolled in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry & Agriculture.
Desired Qualifications Applicants with research interests in disturbance ecology, dendroecology, regeneration ecology, stand dynamics, or other areas of applied forest ecology are encouraged to apply. Candidates must have earned a B.S. in Forestry or a related-subject area by the start date. Applicants must have an overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale). 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). Strong communication skills are required in order to be successful in teaching laboratories. Ability to conduct field research 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 a single .pdf document including: 1) a cover letter detailing your research interests and experience, 2) CV/resume, 3) GRE scores (if available), 4) unofficial undergraduate transcript/s, and 5) contact information for three academic/professional references to Dr. Rebecca Kidd via email (kiddkr@sfasu.edu).
