Seeking Prospective Grad Student


The dendrochronology laboratory at Utah State University is seeking a highly qualified and motivated student to start a research assistantship in dendroclimatology for the Fall semester of 2016. The research to be undertaken will broadly aim to better understand past climatic variability in the western United States, with emphases on 1) better determining past drought severity in the Intermountain west and 2) the potential for diagnosing climate drivers that could lead to the prediction of extreme droughts in the future.

S/he will be based in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate (https://psc.usu.edu/), and work with other scientists within the Wasatch Dendrochronology Research Group (https://wadr.usu.edu/), the Ecology Center (http://www.usu.edu/ecology/) and the broader research community at USU.

The ideal candidate would have a M.S. degree in climate science, ecology, environmental science or a related field. S/he would be characterized by intellectual curiosity and self-motivation as well as strong quantitative experience and a demonstrated ability to conduct independent research. If interested, please attach a resume or CV to a message that briefly outlines your background and research interests to Dr. Steve Voelker (dr.s.voelker@gmail.com)/) (drstevevoelker.weebly.com).

Utah State University is a Carnegie Doctoral / Research University of more than 20,000 students, nestled in a mountain valley 90 miles north of Salt Lake City. Opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities are plentiful due to USU’s central location with respect to numerous National Parks, Forests, Monuments and Conservation areas as well as local ski resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains. The amazing access to natural resources combined with the relatively low cost of living should make Logan a very desirable location for students who are outdoor enthusiasts.