PhD Assistantship: Land use change and remote sensing in Eastern Europe

A PhD research assistantship is available to study long-term agricultural land use change in Eastern Europe with satellite remote sensing. Our project goal is to study long-term agricultural land use change in Central and Eastern Europe, a region that has experienced several major socio-economic transformations during the 19th and 20th centuries (i.e., WW I; the end of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy; WW II; the rise and fall of socialism; and the eastward expansion of the European Union). We will use topographic maps dating as far back as the 1840s to quantify long term change, and we will analyze recent changes from Landsat satellite time series data. The project team includes land use scientists from Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland, and builds on several prior projects on land use change in Eastern Europe and Russia. The position we are seeking to fill now will focus on the remote sensing portion of our project.

This project will be housed in the SILVIS laboratory in the Department of Forest Ecology and Management.

Current annual stipend levels are $20,400 per year before taxes, plus tuition remission and health care benefits. Financial support is provided by NASA and available for three years. A start date by September of 2011 at the latest is strongly preferred, but a later start date may be negotiable for exceptional candidates.

A MS degree in geography, environmental science, forestry, wildlife ecology, or other related disciplines is required. Applicants with a BS degree will only be considered if substantial relevant experience can be shown. A solid working knowledge of remote sensing, GIS, and statistics is required. Good English writing and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to work in a team, are essential. Knowledge of a Slavic language and familiarity with Eastern Europe is a plus.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and review will continue until candidates are chosen. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. The position to open to both US citizen and international candidates. Interested applicants are asked to e-mail the documents listed below to our Student Services Coordinator Sara Rodock (in ONE PDF file please).

Please specify in your letter when you would be available to start. – Cover letter outlining research interests, academic and professional backgrounds – Resume/CV – Copies of transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable at this point) – GRE scores if available – Reprints if available – Names and contact addresses of three references