Positions:

Graduate Students. Two graduate students are sought to join an interdisciplinary team that integrates ecology and economics for studying forested landscapes. This integrated project takes a systems approach to examine ecological and economic effects of forest management on both public and private lands in a large region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The region is currently managed primarily for timber harvest and deer hunting, with protection of non-game wildlife and promotion of tourism as additional goals. Our objectives are to (1) develop and validate a systems ecological-economic model, (2) conduct simulation experiments and test hypotheses using the model, and (3) use research products for education and extension. The comprehensive model will incorporate a variety of information (e.g., plants, wildlife, especially migratory songbirds, market and non-market values, and management activities) to address many fundamental questions that have important implications for management. The completion of this project will provide critical multi-scale information on ecological and economic responses across managed landscapes, economic trade-offs among various forest products and ecosystem services, and ways to optimize the choice and spatial arrangement of management options on the landscapes to improve and sustain natural resources and ecosystem services. Team members will have opportunities to be involved in outreach activities in which we share information with area stakeholders, and use this information to maximize the applicability of the model.

We are looking for highly motivated individuals to achieve the project objectives and to experience unique interdisciplinary
opportunities. Applicants should have strong interests in systems
modeling, landscape ecology, forest ecology, wildlife ecology, or resource economics. Strong quantitative skills (e.g., computer modeling, mathematics, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and/or statistics) and programming experiences (e.g., C, C++, or Java) are desirable. Salaries and benefits are competitive. The starting date is negotiable.

Interested individuals should provide the following materials as soon as possible: (1) cover letter indicating general and specific research interests/experiences, (2) statement of professional goals (e.g., plans after finishing the training), (3) resume, (4) transcripts, (5) list of three references (names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses), (6) GRE scores, and (7) TOEFL scores (for international applicants whose native language is not English). Photocopies of transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores are okay initially. Reviews of applications will continue until the positions are filled. For additional information about the project, please contact Dr. Jianguo (Jack) Liu (systems modeling/landscape ecology, jliu@panda.msu.edu), Dr. Frank Lupi (resource economics, lupi@msu.edu), Dr. Mike Walters (forest ecology, walters@msu.edu), or Dr. Kim Hall (wildlife ecology, hallkim@msu.edu). In addition to these principal investigators, a number of collaborators from several resource management agencies (e.g., USGS, The Nature Conservancy, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources) are also part of the team. Please email, mail, or fax all application materials to:

Sherrie Lenneman
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
115 Manly Miles Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
517-432-1699 (fax)
lenneman@msu.edu (email)

Postdoctoral Fellows. Applicants should have Ph.D.s in relevant fields. Example topics of research include sustainability theory, methods, and applications; ecological effects of household dynamics; lifestyle and ecological sustainability; human-environment interactions across human-dominated or human–influenced landscapes; coupled human and natural systems; sustainable management of nature reserves; biodiversity conservation; sustainable governance of ecosystem goods and services; integration of ecology with human demography and socioeconomics; agent-based modeling; and scenario simulation.

Graduate Student Assistants. Openings are available at the Ph.D. level. Example topics of research include sustainability theory, methods, and applications; ecological effects of household dynamics; lifestyle and ecological sustainability; human-environment interactions across human-dominated or human–influenced landscapes; coupled human and natural systems; sustainable management of nature reserves; biodiversity conservation; sustainable governance of ecosystem goods and services; integration of ecology with human demography and socioeconomics; agent-based modeling; and scenario simulation.

Potential Fellowships

Interested individuals should prepare (1) letter of application, (2) resume, (3) description of professional experiences and goals, and (4) names and contact information of three references. If available, a copy of transcripts, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (for international applicants) should also be arranged. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Please send application materials to:

Dr. Jianguo (Jack) Liu
Rachel Carson Chair and Director
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
115 Manly Miles Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-5025
Fax: 517-432-1699
jliu@panda.msu.edu