PhD Student Position - Post-fire Reforestation

The Earth Systems Ecology Lab (www.hurteaulab.org) at the University of New Mexico is recruiting a PhD student for a tree regeneration project. Post-fire reforestation in the southwestern US typically has low survival rates because of heat and drought, a challenge that is likely to worsen with ongoing climate change. We have been working to develop predictive models to increase the probability of planted seedling survival. If you are interested in post-fire vegetation dynamics, reforestation, microclimate, or some combination therein, consider applying to join us. Chris Marsh and I have just initiated a USDA funded project that includes; planting 10,000 seedlings , deploying 400 microclimate sensors and collecting conventional and thermal imagery using drones, aiming to better characterize the thermal environment which affects seedling survival and growth.
If you are interested in undertaking research to help post-fire reforestation efforts, this is the project for you. Student support will include some combination of teaching and research assistantships, including summer salary support and research project support. If the adventure of obtaining your PhD is going to be a good and rewarding one, it is important that you find the right advisor for you. I wrote this so potential students can get a sense of my approach. If you read that and are intrigued, I may be a good fit for you. If you read it and are put off, I’m not going to be a good fit for you.
 
If after reading the potential students page you are still interested, send me (mhurteau@unm.edu) or Chris Marsh (chrisdmarsh@gmail.com) a single pdf with your CV, one-page statement of research interests, and your unofficial transcripts. UNM Biology doesn’t require GREs and the only thing I think they measure is how well you did on your GREs, so I don’t require them. We use this unofficial application process so you don’t have to spend $60 to figure out if we think you are a good fit for the position. I didn’t have an extra $60 when I was applying to grad school and I figure you probably don’t either.
 
We will begin reviewing application materials on 1 October. We will ensure that any finalists have the opportunity to speak with everyone in the lab. We are a hardworking and supportive group that likes to work on research projects that will hopefully leave the world in a little better shape than before we started.