Position summary: The Global Change Ecology Lab led by Dr. Miriam Johnston at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) invites applications for a graduate student position (MS or PhD) in forest ecology. We combine diverse measurements and models to understand and predict the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate, disturbance, and management, with the ultimate goal of supporting sustainability. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the student will explore the relationship between forest ecosystem resilience and carbon sequestration in the Central Appalachians. There is flexibility in the research question to be addressed; key methods may include remote sensing, dendroecology, eddy covariance, and/or ecosystem modeling, depending on student interest. 

Start date: Fall 2027

About the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science: UMCES comprises a network of research laboratories located across the state with a shared mission to advance scientific knowledge of the environment and to educate the next generation of environmental scientists and professionals. The Appalachian Laboratory (AL) is in Frostburg, Maryland, in the western part of the state. The AL has a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. We prioritize an inclusive and collegial lab culture and look forward to welcoming new students. Students matriculate through the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences program. They are affiliated both with UMCES and The University of Maryland, College Park; degrees are joint between these two universities.