Hello! I am interested in recruiting a PhD student to University of Nevada Reno, to join our research group, Ecohydrology and Ecosystem Processes (tinyurl.com/EEPLabAllenUNR). We study terrestrial ecosystems and how physical and physiological processes interact to determine how water is stored in soils and plants, how water is partitioned between returning to the atmosphere versus percolating downward to aquifers and streams, and how these processes affect the structure and function of vegetation.
The prospective student would focus on the role of plant leaf litter in modulating soil evaporation. This work would support a project recently funded by NSF: Macroscale Study of Forest Litter Effects on Precipitation Interception and Soil Water Budgets. An abstract is provided here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2530208. This project will involve field research in diverse ecosystems around the US, a local manipulative experiment, simulation modeling, all with a team of myself and Professor John Van Stan at Cleveland State University, as well as a group of ~3 graduate students between our groups. Our goal is to provide a supportive, engaging environment, as well as the tools and training to work towards students’ education and career goals.
Ideal candidates are self-motivated, passionate, and creative critical thinkers. I am open to applicants from any and all backgrounds. Many but not all projects in my group are field-based, and I will make field research opportunities available regardless. Useful skills for the type of work we will do include experience with data analysis, stats, and coding (Python, R, MATLAB, etc), tinkering with field instruments and sensors, teamwork and collaboration, persuasive writing.
If you’re interested in working together, contact me – Scott Allen (scottallen@unr.edu) – by October 10th. Please include a one-page letter that tells me about your interests, your experiences, and goals. Please also provide me with a CV or resume, contacts for professional references, and unofficial transcripts.
What else?
Candidates will have the option of entering through either the Graduate Program in Hydrological Sciences (GPHS), the graduate program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB), or Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES). These programs are part of the UNR Graduate School and students are encouraged to read through the program-specific and graduate school websites for more information about eligibility, admissions. We can discuss these things further over Zoom as well. These programs tend to have strong cohorts providing opportunity for community.
Also, in case you don’t know, Reno is a cool city – it’s my favorite of places that I’ve lived. People are nice. Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant. There is an impressive arts community for a city of this size. I want to disclose that Reno can be expensive, so let’s talk about that too to avoid any surprises.
