Graduate Research (PhD) Opportunities in Hydrology, Climate and Watershed Studies via AGU

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO, USA 🇺🇸

The Hydrology Research Group at the University of Missouri is seeking TWO motivated students to pursue PhD studies in water and natural resources management. Students can enroll in one of the following departments:

Expected start dates are Fall semester, 2023 or Spring semester 2024. The selected candidates will have opportunities to pursue independent research in one or more of the following research projects:

  1. Developing, testing and validating hydrologic, hydraulic, and biogeochemical cycling models for watersheds in the Missouri River Basin, and incorporating machine learning and other novel search algorithms to offer innovative solutions to problems pertaining to water availability, watershed management and water quality.
  2. Developing integrated assessment models to evaluate the economic benefits of water resource infrastructure (dams, reservoirs, levees, irrigation canals, conservation practices and green infrastructure, etc.) on mitigation and risk reduction due to climate change, soil erosion, and enhancement of public access to water supplies.
  3. Compiling existing instrumentation and monitoring technologies, and developing data integration technologies to aid in testing, validating, and improving ecosystem model simulations/predictions.
  4. Developing field instrumentation (e.g., unmanned aerial systems, large aperture scintillometers, weather stations, soil moisture sensors, etc.) and integrating cloud-based data visualization technologies to monitor, estimate, and predict ecosystem fluxes across multiple managed landscapes in the Missouri River Basin.

Successful applicants are expected to conduct high-quality research, present research findings at conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals and assist in teaching. A competitive stipend, tuition support and health benefits will be provided to qualified candidates.

Qualifications: MS degree in a science or engineering discipline (e.g., Agricultural, Biological, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Mathematics, Physics or related fields).

Highly motivated and qualified students with a BS degree (Cumulative GPA > 3.5 in any of the fields listed above) will also be considered.

Strong writing, quantitative, and analytical skills are essential. Successful candidates must be creative, motivated, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively.

Location: All positions are located in Columbia, Missouri, and will require travel to multiple field locations. Successful candidates will join a dynamic and interactive group of students and faculty in the University of Missouri’s various academic divisions including the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, the School of Natural Resources, the Institute for Data Science and Informatics and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Students will also have opportunities for collaborative research with federal scientists at USDA-ARS Agroclimate and Hydraulic Engineering Research UnitUSDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research GroupUSGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, and Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

Contact: For more information about the positions, please contact Noel Aloysius at aloysiusn@missouri.edu

Application Instructions: Please email Noel Aloysius (aloysiusn@missouri.edu) a single PDF including the following:

1) A letter of interest that briefly describes your educational and research background and as well as your research interests/goals (1-2 pages)

2) A curriculum vitae that also includes, if applicable, TOEFL/IELTS English proficiency test scores

3) Unofficial copies of your transcripts, and

4) Contact information of three professional references (referrers will not be contacted initially).

Please make the email’s subject line “Graduate Research Position 2023/24” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately. ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted for further details.

Diversity Commitment: The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff, and students. We seek to hire individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence. The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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