Graduate Students in Hydrology & Climate Informatics for Sustainability

Description

We are seeking for highly-motivated PhD students, starting in spring or fall semester in the year 2020. The new students will have an option to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Earth System Science, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, or Biosystems Engineering, and will have the opportunity to participate in the NSF Research Traineeship program on improving resilience to climate variability and change through data-informed decision making. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to design and conduct research in one or more of the following areas: 1) applying climate information and satellite earth system big data to improve environmental or agricultural management decision making; 2) analyzing impacts of climate variability and change and associated hazards on natural and human systems; 3) improving hydroclimate or agroclimate system modeling, monitoring, and forecasting at relevant scales. The new students will be expected to conduct original research, present research findings in national or international conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. A competitive fellowship or research assistantship for the projects sponsored by USDA/NIFA, NSF, NOAA, and Auburn University with full tuition waiver will be provided to qualified candidates. Please visit our group website for more information: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/~dzt0025/.

Qualifications

1. A M.S. degree in a science or engineering discipline, such as meteorology and climatology, geographic information science, biosystems engineering, hydrology, agronomy, ecology, environmental science/engineering, physics, and others. A deserving candidate with a B.S. degree will also be considered for a combined M.S. and Ph.D. program. 2. A strong analytical and quantitative skill as demonstrated within academic transcripts and/or publication records. 3. Computing and statistical skill (e.g., with R, Python, or Matlab) and experience with geospatial data analysis and numerical modeling are advantageous. 4. Possess or demonstrate a potential for excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Application Instructions

Please apply for admission to the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences through the graduate school of Auburn University (http://graduate.auburn.edu/prospective-students/application-instructions/). Application materials include CV, personal statement, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and official GRE score. TOEFL/IELTS score is required for international applicants. Prospective students are also encouraged to contact Dr. Di Tian (tiandi@auburn.edu) via email using the subject "Prospective Graduate Student" to discuss their interests.

Contact Information

Dr. Di Tian, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, 226 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA; Telephone. (334) 844-3819; Email: tiandi@auburn.edu.

University Information

Auburn University is a land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. The campus is located in the city of Auburn, which is a beautiful university town ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top ten list of the best places to live in the United States for the year 2009.