Student Opportunity Announcements
Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship - Great Lakes Aquatic Optics and Satellite Remote Sensing
Description: A motivated, independent, but team-oriented
student is sought to fill a graduate assistantship at the Ph.D.
level in association with the Department of Geological and Mining
Engineering and Sciences and the Great Lakes Research Center at
Michigan Technological University. The position is available
beginning in the summer or fall of 2013. The student will join a
new and developing laboratory focused on utilizing remote
sensing imagery, data analysis, and field and laboratory
observations to characterize optical, biological, physical, and
chemical variability of lakes and oceans to understand how
aquatic systems are responding to climate and ecological change.
The overarching goal of the research is to develop, improve and
expand satellite imagery products for the Great Lakes. The
graduate assistant will aid in the development, refinement and
validation of satellite algorithms for the discrimination of
phytoplankton, harmful algal species, colored dissolved organic
matter, and non-algal particles in the Great Lakes. Particular
focus will be given to the analysis of how these parameters vary
in space and time in conjunction with the physical and chemical
drivers of variability in the lake system. The student will have the
opportunity to aid in field and laboratory data collection of
optical and biogeochemical parameters required for satellite
algorithm development, refinement and validation with state-of-
the-art equipment.
Further information is available online about the Aquatic Optics
and Remote Sensing laboratory
(http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~cbmouw), graduate programs
(http://www.mtu.edu/geo/; http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/)
and the Great Lakes Research Center
(http://greatlakes.mtu.edu/). The student will also benefit from
interactions with the Center for Water and Society
(http://www.mtcws.mtu.edu/) and the Earth, Planetary, and
Space Sciences Institute (http://www.epssi.mtu.edu/).
Qualifications: Interested students should preferably hold a M.S.
degree in oceanography/marine science, limnology, biology,
ecology, environmental science, physics, chemistry, computer
science, mathematics, engineering or related field and poses
strong computing and quantitative skills. Potential applicants
with only a B.S. degree should have at least 2 years of research
experience in an area related to phytoplankton ecology,
environmental optics, or remote sensing and evidence of strong
writing and presentation skills.
How to Apply: The graduate assistantship will have a competitive
stipend relative to the cost-of-living and tuition waiver. To be
considered for the position, an application must be submitted
through MTU’s graduate school
(http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/admissions/apply/). Please
indicate in your application interest in Dr. Colleen Mouw’s
laboratory within the Department of Geological and Mining
Engineering and Sciences. Please also notify Dr. Mouw of your
interest directly via email (cmbouw@mtu.edu) by sending 1) a
brief statement of your research and career goals, and your basic
reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, 2) your resume or CV,
and 3) names and institutions of 3 people you will ask for letters
of recommendation.