The Geography Program in Montana State University’s Department of Earth Sciences is currently recruiting a Graduate Research Assistant (Master’s or PhD level) to work on a joint USDA-funded research project. The project involves Montana State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Wyoming. Research and extension will focus on the intersection of energy development opportunities with community and agricultural sustainability challenges in rural areas that host unconventional oil and gas drilling in the Marcellus (Pennsylvania), the Bakken (Montana and North Dakota), and the Upper Green River (Wyoming) regions. The project is an excellent opportunity to cultivate skills and expertise in resource geography, energy policy, community development, and applied research.
The Graduate Research Assistant at Montana State will perform project coordination duties, conduct literature reviews and background research, field-based interviews and focus group activities, and will participate in community-based workshops. In working with the project, the GRA will work closely with Montana State’s highly regarded Community Development program (http://www.msucommunitydevelopment.org/index.html).
MSU holds a Carnegie “very high” ranking for research accomplishments, is located in fun and scenic Bozeman, MT (http://www.montana.edu/about/bozeman/). Resource geography is a key focus of our energetic and productive Earth Science department which maintains a cohort of about 50 graduate students.
Preferred qualifications include a major in Geography, Economics, Political Science or Sociology, competency in statistics, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrated enthusiasm for research.
Please send a CV, a statement of research interests, a writing sample, contact information for two references, GRE scores, and unofficial transcripts to Julia Haggerty. For information on the graduate program in the Department of Earth Science visit http://www.montana.edu/earthsciences/programs/graduate/index.html.
The Department’s full application deadline is February 1, 2015.
Please direct questions and inquiries to Dr. Julia Haggerty, Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University.
Julia Hobson Haggerty, PhD
Assistant Prof. of Geography
Department of Earth Sciences
Montana State University
E-mail: julia.haggerty@montana.edu
Telephone (US): (406) 994-6904 | mobile : (406) 600-1766