An MS research assistantship is available with Dr. Nicole Zampieri (Dendroecology and Disturbance Lab, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida) and Dr. Jeffery Cannon (Landscape Ecology Lab, Jones Center at Ichauway) starting Fall 2026. The successful applicant will investigate how disturbances such as hurricanes influence plant composition. The research will leverage available long-term data with new field investigations. The student will be appointed as a Graduate Assistant at University of Central Florida, and the student’s work will be co-sponsored by the Jones Center at Ichauway. Financial support is available for two years, starting in Fall 2026, and includes a stipend ($21,000/year) and tuition waiver. Health insurance is covered by the University of Central Florida for graduate students. The student will be expected to TA during semesters sponsored by UCF (approximately one year of the two year appointment).

Link to full advertisement: https://nicolezampieri.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/3/3/143396975/ms-advertisement-2025.pdf

Project description: Hurricanes are a powerful but understudied ecological force in the southeastern US, where landscapes have historically been shaped by frequent disturbances. Hurricanes have only recently gained recognition as an ecologically important and recurrent disturbance, with most forests in the Southeast experiencing cyclone-force winds about every six years. Understanding how these storms influence ecosystem structure and function is critical for predicting future dynamics in a region experiencing both intensifying storm regimes and rapid environmental change.

This proposed research will investigate the long-term impacts of hurricanes on community composition using established long-term monitoring datasets. By combining these data with a historical record of hurricane windfields, the student will examine how single or repeated exposure to storms shapes patterns of plant diversity, abundance, and recovery over time. In addition, the project will explore how management interventions, such as prescribed fire or salvage logging, influence the trajectory of community composition following disturbance. This work will contribute to a growing body of knowledge on hurricane ecology, helping to illuminate how recurrent storms interact with management and shape the trajectory of southeastern ecosystems. The work will involve leveraging longterm datasets with newly collected field data.

Required Qualifications:

•?????Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, forestry, wildlife sciences, environmental engineering, geography, geospatial science, or a related field.

•?????Conduct ecological research creatively and independently, with guidance from mentors

•?????Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team and be willing to mentor others and assist with lab members’ research when needed

Preferred Qualifications:

•?????On-the-job training will be provided as needed, but previous experience in vegetation surveys, and collecting/processing ecological data is preferred

•???? Ability to complete field work in the woods, involving some strenuous physical activity (walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, and lifting) under demanding field conditions (i.e., with exposure to heat, humidity, insects, poison oak/ivy)

•?????Possess a current driver’s license valid in the U.S. and be able or willing to learn to drive a 4WD truck on both highways and dirt roads

•?????Prior experience with research including data analysis using R, SAS, JMP, SPSS, and/or other statistical software, scientific writing for publication in peer-reviewed journals

If interested, please email to Dr. Nicole Zampieri (Nicole.zampieri@ucf.edu) and Dr. Jeffery Cannon (Jeffery.cannon@jonesctr.org) (1) a letter of interest that discusses your research and education qualifications; (2) a resume/CV; (3) unofficial transcripts, (4) contact information for three professional references, and (5) a writing sample. The deadline for applications is November 6th, and review of applications will begin immediately. Interviews will be scheduled for the following week on November 10th and 12th.

The selected applicant will be required to apply and meet the requirements of the graduate program in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Florida. Details on the full application process to the can be found at https://sciences.ucf.edu/biology/graduate/applying/. Applications to the University of Central Florida Department of Biology are due December 1st, 2025.

Nicole Zampieri is an incoming Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Florida. For more information about the department, visit https://sciences.ucf.edu/biology/. Additional information on the Landscape Ecology Lab and the Jones Center can be found at https://lab.jonesctr.org/cannon/.