Graduate Research Assistant

Position Description: The UConn NRE Ecohydrology lab (http://www.jamesknightonhydrology.com/) is recruiting one full time Master’s student with possible start dates of September 1, 2024 or January 1, 2025. The position is fully funded to carry out research on hydrological modeling, nutrient transport, and outreach to northeastern US farmers.

Overview: The graduate student will work in the Ecohydrology Lab under the supervision of Assistant Professor James Knighton and collaborate with scientists from American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the University of Vermont (UVM). Our research project will involve the development and calibration of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) models of agricultural systems. The SWAT+ models will be used to evaluate a suite of Best Management Practices (BMP) for retaining nutrients on farms and improving crop yields. We will aggregate model outputs and build a tool that allows farmers to rapidly estimate the benefits of implementing different combinations of BMPs on their farms. We will participate in collaborative workshops with AFT, UVM, and regional farmers to refine the tool and assist farmers in designing nutrient management plans. We will communicate our research findings to these organizations and discuss the potential for integration of research into further on-farm environmental management efforts. The prospective student will also gain experience in teaching and grant writing.