Graduate Research Assistant: Water Decision-Making, University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY

Position Title: Graduate Research Assistant: Water Decision-Making 

Organization: WY-ACT, University of Wyoming

Locations: Laramie, WY & statewide travel

Position Overview: Dr. Corrine Noel Knapp is recruiting a MS student to join her climate adaptation group at the University of Wyoming. This student will work on an NSF EPSCoR-funded project called WY-ACT (Wyoming Anticipating Climate Transitions) project. This project seeks to help Wyoming stakeholders and communities anticipate and prepare for changing water availability. The 5-year grant will support creation of integrative models showing the cascading effects of changed water availability through socio-environmental systems with implications for hydrology, ecology, economics, and dependent human communities. 

This 2-year master’s project will help to conduct several focus groups for the larger project, which will require designing research to understand how stakeholders respond to shifting water availability, explore current use of indicators, and explore tipping points and thresholds of concern. This student will work with a quantitative agricultural economics student to plan, implement and analyze focus group data. The information generated by this activity will help to understand current indicators and tipping points of concern and parameterize baseline response functions. This is an opportunity to work with a large, interdisciplinary team on a relevant and current topic. There will be opportunities for networking across the state and across the project team with graduate students and postdocs from other disciplinary backgrounds. 

The candidate selected will pursue their degree in Environment, Natural Resources & Society within the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. The position is the equivalent of 20 hours/week and will cover 9 credits of tuition during the fall/spring (no summer tuition) and student health insurance.  

Duties: 

  • Require designing research to understand how stakeholders respond to shifting water availability.
  • Explore current use of indicators, and explore tipping points and thresholds of concern.
  • Work with a quantitative agricultural economics student to plan, implement and analyze focus group data.
  • Help to understand current indicators and tipping points of concern and parameterize baseline response functions.
  • Work with a large, interdisciplinary team on a relevant and current topic.
  • Opportunities for networking across the state and across the project team with graduate students and postdocs from other disciplinary backgrounds.

This 2-year master’s project will help to conduct several focus groups for the larger project. 

Qualifications:

  • Possess outstanding written and oral communication skills.
  • Experience collaborating and/or working as part of a team.
  • Experience conducting social science field research, including conducting and analyzing focus groups or interviews.
  • Have an interest in climate change adaptation and working with diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Show creative and flexible thinking, be self-motivated, and able to work independently with guidance and support from project collaborators.
  • Interest OR experience in interdisciplinary and collaborative problem-solving; water issues; climate change adaptation and/or working in rural communities.
  • Applicants will be considered who have a BA or BS in any field, with preference given to social science or interdisciplinary fields.

Salary/Pay: $23,500/year.The position is the equivalent of 20 hours/week and will cover 9 credits of tuition during the fall/spring (no summer tuition) and student health insurance.

Anticipated Start Date: August 15, 2023

Application Deadline: January 15, 2023, at 5 p.m. MST.

How to Apply: Send the following materials as one PDF document to Dr. Corrine Knapp at cknapp4@uwyo.edu with the subject Your Name_Water MS Position”

  1. Cover letter/narrative that explains desire to pursue graduate education, research interests, career goals, and highlights relevant experience;
  2. Resume or CV including degree(s) earned, GPA, and contact information for at least three references;
  3. Unofficial copy of transcripts;
  4. An example manuscript or report written (if available).

Advertisement