We are seeking two graduate assistants for an NSF-funded collaborative project aimed at understanding how stormwater management decisions translate to hydrologic and environmental outcomes in urban streams in Cleveland (Ohio) and Denver (Colorado). These funded graduate student researchers will join an interdisciplinary team of scientists that includes ecologists, hydrologists, and social scientists across three institutes. These positions will be within the Departments of Geology and Biological Sciences at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
GA in Urban Hydrology – Department of Geology
The funded graduate student will be part of the dynamic Department of Geology at Kent State University, with additional opportunities for time at Colorado State University. The graduate student will be co-advised by Anne Jefferson (Kent State University, http://all-geo.org/jefferson) and Aditi Bhaskar (Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University,https://www.engr.colostate.edu/faculty/abhaskar/).
The funded graduate student researcher will develop research projects that include using watershed modeling to test the effects of various stormwater management decisions, conducting hydrologic and land use change analyses in urban watersheds, and/or measuring relationships between flow, turbidity, and suspended sediment in urban streams.
PhD applicants are preferred, but exceptional MS applicants will be considered. Four years of funding, as a mixture of research and teaching assistantships, is guaranteed for PhD students who have completed a MS degree. A background in hydrology, with degrees in geology or civil or environmental engineering preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in hydrologic modeling and/or computer programming.
Applications will be considered for January, June, or August 2019 starts. To apply, please send (1) a cover letter with your background, expertise, and research interests; (2) a CV or resume; and (3) unofficial transcripts to Dr. Anne Jefferson (ajeffer9@kent.edu).
GA in Urban Stream Metabolism – Department of Biological Sciences
The funded graduate student will join the Costello Biogeochemistry Lab at KSU and be advised by David Costello (https://costellolab.weebly.com). The graduate student will develop field-based research projects that explore how urban streams function and how restoration and stormwater management in the urban landscape can ultimately influence the energy balance of streams. The student will have the opportunity to develop their own research projects that take advantage of state-of-the-art sensor technology and field sites in urban Cleveland and Denver.
We are looking for an exceptional MS applicant but applicants to the PhD program will also be considered. The Department of Biological Sciences guarantees funding for 2 years for MS students and 4 years for PhD students (includes summer funding). Independent research experience is required and experience with ecosystem ecology or biogeochemistry is preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with strong quantitative skills and a desire to handle large datasets; the graduate student will be asked to implement Bayesian statistical models in the software package R.
We are looking for a student to start in Fall 2019. If interested in the GA in Urban Stream Metabolism, please contact David Costello directly (dcostel3@kent.edu) and provide a CV/resume and a cover letter that briefly describes your background, expertise, and research interests. An official application must be submitted through KSU Admissions, and the admission deadline for Fall 2019 is Dec. 15 (Dec. 5 for international students).
For more information about graduate programs at Kent State please see:
Geology: https://www.kent.edu/geology
Biological Sciences: https://www.kent.edu/biology/graduate-programs