Stephen F. Austin State University

The College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello is seeking applicants for a M.S. Assistantship available beginning January 4, 2027. The assistantship is half time and carries an annual stipend of $19,200 plus tuition and fees.

Project: An assistantship is available for a self-motivated M.S. graduate student. Bottomland hardwood forests are biodiversity hotspots in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, where red oak species play a significant role in sustaining ecosystem functions and services. This ecosystem is currently highly fragmented due to historical degradation, but there have been important efforts toward its restoration in recent decades, positioning it as a world-class exemplar of ecological restoration. This project attempts to assess the growth, survival, and physiological responses of red oak species to diverse silvicultural intensities at establishment. This project also emphasizes the importance of these forests as carbon sinks and their potential values in carbon credit markets. The student will receive training in the silviculture and ecophysiology of these forest types, ecological restoration, and related areas.

**Requirements: ** Applicants must have a 2.7 overall undergraduate GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate courses and satisfactory GRE scores. A B.S. degree in a natural resources-related field is also required. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver’s license or obtain one within 60 days of starting employment. Overnight travel is required as well as the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.