PhD Level Graduate Student Position - Environmental Informatics

The Environmental Statistical Collaborative at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES-CBL) located in Solomons, Maryland is seeking a motivated PhD student to undertake NSF-funded research on graphical species distribution models (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2224702&HistoricalAwards=false). You will be co-advised by Drs. Dong Liang and Hongsheng Bi and will be based at the UMCES - CBL (https://www.umces.edu/cbl) campus in Solomons, MD. You will matriculate in the Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Science Program (https://www.umces.edu/mees), an inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary program that incorporates both natural and social sciences. We anticipate that the student will develop a research program at the interface of ecological statistics, image processing, and marine and estuarine management. If desired, you will have the opportunity to be involved in teaching and public outreach to diverse stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have a degree in marine or natural sciences or in statistics. You will have good oral and written communication skills. You will work with multiple modes of data and carry out collaborative research in multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder settings. Desirable quantitative skills include predictive analytics, geostatistics, and Geographical Information Systems. Students with a strong quantitative background and programming experience (e.g. R or Python) are particularly encouraged to apply. The assistantship will include a 12-month annual stipend of at least $31,350, state health care benefits, and tuition coverage.

To be considered for the position, please submit your statement of interest describing your research interests, experience, and career goals, your CV, and reference information in one pdf document to: cbl-hr@umces.edu. Application received by 1 December 2022 will be given priority consideration but the position will remain open until filled. Selected applicants will be contacted to discuss the position and invited to visit and formally apply to the MEES Graduate Program (Deadline January 14, 2023).

UMCES is an affirmative action, EOE. Individuals with disabilities, veterans, women and minorities are encouraged to apply.