Graduate Research Assistant Position
School of Forest Resources, Maine Image Analysis Laboratory,
University of Maine

Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis of Northern Forest Environments
(Full Assistantships available starting September 1, 2008 or January, 2009)

Qualifications: BS and/or MS in forestry (preferred), natural resources, environmental science, or related field. The preferred candidate will have a strong background in earth sciences and experience in spatial applications (GIS/Remote Sensing) in forestry, natural resources, spatial modeling and statistical analysis. PhD applicants are preferred but promising MS applicants will also be considered for a second position.

For a PhD student, proficiency with Erdas-Imagine (especially) and ArcGIS and spatial analysis software is highly desirable. The PhD applicant should have completed coursework in remote sensing, GIS, and statistics and demonstrated written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by technical publications and/or professional presentations. For MS students, some experience and coursework in these areas are highly desirable.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will conduct research in spatial analysis of forest landscapes, forest change detection, quantitative forest analysis, and predictive modeling. The PhD candidate will work in a team environment and occasionally assist faculty, staff and other graduate students concerning questions and problem-solving in spatial analysis research and applications. The candidate will present occasional guest lectures and assist with laboratory training in undergraduate and graduate courses, however the position and duties are primarily in research. The successful candidate will have some flexibility to select a thesis research topic in the area of remote sensing and spatial analysis. See currently funded research below.

Current Funded Research in the MIAL:

• Satellite Remote Sensing of Forest Environments, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station
• Monitoring the Pingree and Sunrise Forest Conservation Easements in Maine, N.E Forestry Foundation
• Monitoring State-held working forest conservation easements in Maine, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and Bureau of Public Lands
• Developing and testing a third party landscape forest sustainability and biodiversity monitoring system, Northeastern States Research Cooperative (Theme 1), US Forest Service
• Quantifying partial harvest rates, intensity, and residual stand composition among stable and changing forest landowner groups in northern Maine, Northern States Research Cooperative (Theme 3), US Forest Service

Send a letter of interest, resume, student copies of undergraduate and graduate coursework, GRE scores, TOEFL (for non U.S. citizens where English is not the first language), and names and e-mail addresses of 3 references familiar with your education or research experience.

Dr. Steven A. Sader, School of Forest Resources, Maine Image Analysis Laboratory, 260 Nutting Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5755. e-mail: sader@umenfa.maine.edu  URL: www.umaine.edu/MIAL

To MIAL Home Page