PhD Scholarship Announcement
'Quantifying the role of thermokarst basins and lakes for the Arctic carbon cycle using remote sensing and GIS in Alaska and Siberia'
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Advisors: Dr. Guido Grosse and Dr. Vladimir Romanovsky
Application Deadline: April 30, 2008
We are inviting applications for a PhD scholarship in remote sensing and spatial analysis of thermokarst and thermokarst lakes in Siberia and Alaska. The scholarship is related to our new NASA research project: “Assessing the spatial and temporal dynamics of thermokarst, methane emissions, and related carbon cycling in Siberia and Alaska”. The funding is available for three years and covers salary, PhD tuition, a computer workstation, satellite imagery, and travel support for participation in professional meetings and field expeditions in Alaska and Siberia.
For further information, please visit: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/snowice/Permafrost-lab
Project goals for the PhD scholarship candidate:
The PhD candidate will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team of collaborators working on the characterization of thermokarst lakes using remote sensing as well as geophysical, biogeochemical and paleontological characterization to quantify and model the impact of thermokarst on Arctic carbon dynamic. We will work on different scales from local study sites to broad regions in Siberia and Alaska. The PhD candidate will focus on remote sensing using a variety of sensors (Landsat, Ikonos, Hyperion) to characterize thermokarst and related features in high detail at study sites in Siberia and Alaska. This work involves the further development of thermokarst-related land cover classifications and thematic GIS maps based on remote sensing data, digital elevation models and field data. These local results will serve as a base for local thermokarst carbon budget quantification and as input for sophisticated 3-D numerical thermokarst-landscape models of our collaborators. The study site data will be used to develop scaling rules for upscaling and mapping thermokarst in large regions in Siberia and Alaska using medium resolution satellite data (MODIS) and ancillary information, like digital elevation models and existing thematic maps. A second goal for the PhD is to
quantify changes in thermokarst-related features using time series of high-resolution imagery (aerial, Corona, Prism, Ikonos) and fielddata (DGPS) in selected study areas in Siberia and Alaska.
The PhD candidate will be responsible for image processing and analysis, the spectral and spatial characterization of thermokarst in the study areas, the generating of land cover classifications to upscale field results and the production of thematic maps relevant to thermokarst.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's or equivalent degree in science (remote sensing,
geophysics, physical geography, or geology) and should have a strong background in
research, optical image processing and analysis, and spatial data analysis. We expect a general interest in climate studies, the Arctic, permafrost, and intensive field work. Applicants must have good written and verbal communication skills.
Applicants are requested to submit an application in English that includes (1) a short description of qualifications and research interests, (2) curriculum vita that provides relevant academic, employment, and personal details, (3) authorized transcripts of course work and authorized copies of diplomas of university degrees, all translated into English, (4) short list of references, (5) two letters of support from previous employers or supervisors, and (6) English proficiency certification. The successful candidate is requested to apply for enrollment as a PhD student at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (http://www.uaf.edu/admissions/apply/index.html#grad).
The PhD study is expected to start as soon as possible.
Please mention this PhD scholarship announcement in your graduate school application
and notify us of your application by email:
Dr. Guido Grosse
Phone: (907) 474-7548
Email: ffgg1@uaf.edu
and
Dr. Vladimir Romanovsky
Phone: (907) 474-7459
Email: ffver@uaf.edu
For further information about admission and employment as a graduate student at the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the Geophysical Institute in particular please visit
http://www.uaf.edu/admissions
and
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/students.html