MS student in agricultural meteorology or environmental science

Dr. Brian Hornbuckle is recruiting a new graduate student to work towards an MS degree in agricultural meteorology or environmental science starting in May/June 2025 (start date is negotiable).  The work is funded by NASA.  The overall project goal is to determine new ways to use remote-sensing satellites to determine if plants in U.S. Corn Belt agricultural ecosystems are "happy," that is, they have adequate soil water to photosynthesize and do what crops are supposed to do, which is to serve humans by producing one of the five "F's:"  food, feed for cattle, fiber, fuel, or fossil-fuel replacements.  Furthermore, "unhappy" plants do not transpire as much as "happy" plants, and this will decrease the amount of water that moves from the soil into the atmosphere.  Consequently, this work is relevant to both agronomy and weather and climate.  Here is a recent paper on which the student might build:  "The Diurnal Variation of L-Band Polarization Index in the U.S. Corn Belt Is Related to Plant Water Stress."  

The ideal student will have a BS in any physical or life science or engineering discipline (e.g., meteorology, physics, biology, agronomy, environmental science, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering), good quantitative skills, good communication skills in English, some programming experience (any language), and the motivation to enable a sustainable future.  The student will conduct field work each summer at a nearby experiment site, mentor undergraduates, and have a one-semester teaching experience in an introductory agronomy or meteorology class.  The student will become a member of a community of graduate students in agricultural meteorology, meteorology, and environmental science.  Apply or contact me for more information preferably before February 15, but applications will be considered until the position is filled.

https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/bkh/recruitment