POSITION TITLE: MS Assistantship

Hiring Organization/Employer:  MIssissippi State University
Application Deadline:  12/31/2026
Education Required:  Bachelors
Location:  Mississippi State, MS

Description:  

 The Department of Forestry in the College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University is seeking applicants for a funded M.S. assistantship to examine the
professional readiness of forestry graduates and the competency needs of employers across public, private,
and non-profit natural resource sectors. The student will be advised by Dr. Arun Regmi and will join the
social dimensions research program in the Department of Forestry.

 

 

Compensation & Benefits:  

 $20,000 annual stipend, plus tuition waiver and health insurance. Start date: January 2027
preferred; Summer or Fall 2027 start dates are negotiable. 

 

 

Responsibilities:  

 This research will investigate how existing educational experiences prepare students for careers in the field
and evaluate employer expectations for entry-level professionals. By engaging recent graduates, employers,
and other stakeholders, the project will identify areas of alignment and potential gaps between educational
preparation and professional competency needs. The student will contribute to all aspects of the research,
including survey and protocol development, data collection, stakeholder engagement, qualitative and
quantitative analysis, scientific writing, and dissemination of findings. The position offers opportunities for
professional development, conference presentations, interdisciplinary publications, and applied research
training, along with engagement with the state and federal natural resource agencies that partner with MSU
as a land-grant institution. 

 

 

Preferred Qualifications:  

 Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, applied
social science, or a related field. Candidates should have strong written and oral communication skills, the
ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team, and an interest in social
science research in natural resource contexts. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, creative, and
eager to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.

Previous coursework or experience in human dimensions of natural resources or related social
science disciplines, experience with survey research or program evaluation, familiarity with statistical
software (e.g., R, Stata), and a record of scientific writing would be a plus.

How to Apply:  

 Email Dr. Arun Regmi (a.regmi@msstate.edu) a cover letter describing your interest, a CV, unofficial
transcripts, test scores (e.g., GRE, IELTS, TOEFL), and contact information for two professional references.
Review begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Please contact Dr. Regmi with any
questions.