[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD positions at the University of Colorado-Boulder: Changing fire dynamics across ecosystems

[Erika Marín-Spiotta]

Date:    Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:59:56 -0400
From:    =?windows-1252?Q?Jennifer_Balch?= <jkbalch at PSU.EDU>
Subject: PhD positions at the University of Colorado-Boulder: Changing fire
dynamics across ecosystems

PhD positions are available in Dr. Balch=92s Fire Works lab at the Univer=
sity
of Colorado-Boulder for the fall 2015 semester.=20

APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY ARE DUE DECEMBER 1st.

Research in the lab focuses on the intersection of disturbance dynamics,
ecosystem thresholds, and coupled human-natural systems. We examine how
global environmental change=97including shifting fire cycles=97alters pla=
nt
communities and ecosystem function. Our research balances cutting-edge
fieldwork with analysis of global ecological data to examine how human
changes to fire patterns are encouraging forest-savanna transitions,
degrading ecosystems, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Together w=
ith
an international community of collaborators, we work across disciplines a=
nd
scales=97from individual organisms to entire ecosystems.

One PhD position will be part of a larger collaborative project exploring=

the climate and land use drivers of invasive-grass fueled fires across th=
e
western U.S. Non-native, invasive grasses are increasing fire activity
globally, yet the mechanisms driving the initiation and perpetuation of
novel fire regimes remain largely unknown. This project will use remote
sensing and spatial analysis to investigate the climate and land-use
mechanisms that promote fires in invaded and native ecosystems=97for one =
of
the most prominent cases of a potentially irreversible grass-fire cycle.
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), which was introduced to North America in th=
e
mid-1800s, now dominates over 40,000 km2 of the intermountain west. This
collaborative research project will address the following questions about=

how climate, land use, and fire interact across invaded and native
ecosystems of the intermountain west: i) How do fire regimes and fire
probability vary in invaded and native ecosystems? ii) What are the clima=
te
and land-use predictors of fire activity in these landscapes? iii) What i=
s
the geography of current and future fire risk, under mid-century climate =
and
land-use change scenarios? (This position will be supported through a
NASA-supported Research Assistantship and department Teaching Assistantsh=
ip,
which cover tuition and stipends.)

Other PhD opportunities exist on changing fire dynamics, but are dependen=
t
on strong student initiative and creativity. Please see my website for ot=
her
current research themes. I am open to student proposals to explore questi=
ons
within the scope of my overall research program. There are opportunities =
for
highly competitive students to get support via Teaching Assistantships, o=
r
other outside funding.=20

Applicants should have a Bachelor=92s or Master=92s degree in ecology,
geography, biology, forestry, or other field related to environmental
studies. Prior research experience, particularly using remote sensing dat=
a
or GIS is a plus.

Please see my website: www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~balch

The PhD students will be enrolled in the Department of Geography at
CU-Boulder: http://geography.colorado.edu

See here for how to apply:
http://geography.colorado.edu/grad_program/admissions_and_applications

APPLICATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY ARE DUE DECEMBER 1st.

If you are interested in working with me as a PhD student, please send me=
 i)
a paragraph or two telling me what types of research questions you are
interested in; ii) a brief description of your career goals or what you h=
ope
to get out of graduate school; iii) your c.v.; iv) an "unofficial"
transcript; v) =93unofficial=94 GRE scores; and vi) a writing sample. (No=
te,
this requested information is separate from the formal application requir=
ed
by the Department of Geography.)

Best wishes,
Dr. Jennifer K. Balch

Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
The University of Colorado-Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309-0260

Email: jennifer.balch at colorado.edu
Twitter: Fire Works Lab @DrBalch
Website: www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~balch
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.ucar.edu/pipermail/es_jobs_net/attachments/20141017/8ba4a65b/attachment-0001.html