Ph.D. Assistantships for Underrepresented Students in Marine Science at NC State University

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Geospatial Analytics at the Center for Geospatial Analytics (geospatial.ncsu.edu) at North Carolina State University is accepting applications from U.S. citizens/permanent residents who have been historically underrepresented in the marine sciences for a newly funded project beginning Fall 2023. All admitted students will receive research assistantships with a $30,000 annual stipend, health insurance, and tuition waiver, renewable for up to four years.

This grant is focused on the ecological impact of oyster restoration in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. Potential projects involve population modeling, benthic habitat studies, and the use of active and passive underwater acoustic data to monitor marine species. Students with a background and interest in quantitative ecology, geospatial modeling or machine learning are encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants will receive training in field-based methods (e.g., biological sampling, seafloor mapping, and water column imaging) and advanced data analytics techniques (e.g., model development, geospatial statistics, and machine learning) with broad applicability in the marine sciences. Opportunities to obtain scuba and scientific diver certifications will be available to interested students. We welcome applications from individuals with undergraduate training in the biological or physical sciences, geosciences, mathematics, computer science, or closely related fields. This opportunity is part of a large oyster restoration program led by the NC Coastal Federation. It includes collaborators with NC Central University, the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, and private contractors. For more information, please contact Dr. David Eggleston, eggleston@ncsu.edu, 252-222-6301 and Dr. Del Bohnenstiehl, drbohnen@ncsu.edu, 919-515-7449.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Our program includes:

• Multidisciplinary advising from over a dozen departments across the university
• Curriculum offering core courses in topics such as remote sensing, geovisualization, and data data mining, as well as discipline-specific electives
• Experiential learning including a professional seminar, conference travel opportunities, and geospatial externship

Our values:

• Prioritizing student mental health and well-being
• Open data and data ethics
• Environmental and social justice
• Collaboration, community and equity

Additional details and complete application instructions are available at go.ncsu.edu/geospatial-phd. Interested students are also encouraged to contact Rachel Kasten, Graduate Services Coordinator (rachelkasten@ncsu.edu), with any questions about the Geospatial Analytics program.