GRADUATE OPPORTUNITY
Program: Early Successional Habitat Restoration
Entity: Clemson University
Location: Southeastern United States
Funding: Available
Start date: May or August 2026
Deadline: January 4, 2026
Description:
Historically, early successional or grassland habitat covered much of the Southeastern U.S. There are significant research gaps regarding early successional habitat restoration in the southern Appalachian Mountains & Piedmont. This Ph.D. position is an exciting opportunity to address some of those gaps! Depending on student interest, topics may include increasing early successional piedmont or pocket prairies in suburban & urban landscapes, restoring old fields, transitioning to open woodlands in forestry landscapes, enhancing pollinator & wildlife habitats, or collaborating with Southeastern tribes to restore culturally significant species.
Qualifications:
-A master's degree in a relevant field (ecology, environmental science, forestry, biology, or a related field) with a publication as first author preferred.
-Some experience with field research techniques, data management & visualization, statistical analysis & programming in R, written & oral science communication.
-Be a US citizen with a valid US driver's license.
How to Apply:
-Please submit the following materials as a single PDF file to shotali@.clemson.edu: A cover letter (< 2 pages) that addresses: How have your academic, research, or professional experiences prepared you for this independent, research-intensive Ph.D. opportunity? What motivates you to pursue a Ph.D. now, & how does this align with your long-term research or professional goals? What specifically interests you about this Ph.D. project theme? Share examples of times when you identified & maximized an opportunity for learning & growth, & how you plan to approach such opportunities as a Ph.D. student at Clemson.
-A CV.
-Contact info for 3 references.
