Doctoral Graduate Research Assistantships in Dynamics GIS Available
Posted: Tue November 3, 2009 4:52 pm by Melissa Scott Brown
Geoinformatics and Center for Spatial Analysis at the University of Oklahoma has two Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) in Dynamics GIS starting Spring 2010 for four years. We seek two doctoral students with interests in the representation and computation of geographic dynamics in GIS. Both positions will be part of multidisciplinary research teams working on two projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation. One project is on the development of CyberCommons for Ecological Forecasting in the Central Plains. The CyberCommons team includes researchers from Ecology, Biology, Computer Science, and Geoinformatics in Oklahoma and Kansas. The other project is to understand social networks (SOCNET) with complex, nonlinear systems in GIS for geographically integrated histories. The SOCNET team includes historians, GI scientists, computer scientists, and mathematicians in Oklahoma, Idaho, and a group of international collaborators
Both GRA positions will be housed at the Center for Spatial Analysis at the University of Oklahoma and are expected to pursue interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Geoinformatics on the respective topical areas. The two GRAs are part of a larger group of GRAs and postdoctoral fellows to be recruited concurrently by faculty involved in each of the projects to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and transdisciplinary innovation.
Both GRA positions carry competitive graduate stipends ($20K for 12 months), tuition waivers, and health benefits. All CSA GRAs are expected to participate in outreach activities that promote GIS awareness on campus, in the state, and in professional organizations. The ideal candidate would have some if not all of the following qualifications: 1) a B.S. or M.S. in a discipline related to the respective project; 2) strong quantitative skills that include experience with statistics, computational modeling, and programming; 3) prior research experience; 4) desire to have broad-based and multidimensional education and research development; and 5) demonstrated commitment to a career as a scientist in GIS or Geoinformatics.
To apply, please email a letter of interest, a current CV or resume including GPA and GRE scores, and contact information (names, titles, and email addresses) for at least three professional references to May Yuan (myuan@ou.edu). Applicants should make a convincing argument that they have the ambition and determination to rapidly progress through a graduate program and complete their Ph.D. degree in four years, the writing proficiency needed to publish research findings.