POSITION TITLE: phd grad assistantship

Hiring Organization/Employer:  Mississippi State University
Application Deadline:  8/1/2026
Education Required:  M.S. or Equivalent
Location:  Starkville, MS

Description:  

 We are seeking a Ph.D. student with an interest in the intersections of drone-based
LiDAR technology and bird habitat conservation to lead an assessment of microtopography in
Gulf high marsh systems in association with prescribed fire. The study is part of the second
phase of the multi-institutional Firebird project, sponsored by the NOAA RESTORE Science
Program and will be co-led out of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and
Geosystems Research Institute at Mississippi State University. The study will include field data
collection of very fine spatial resolution LiDAR and ground-based vegetation surveys in
estuarine high marsh areas occupied and unoccupied by the federally threatened Eastern Black
Rail on sites in Florida and Texas. The aim of this study is to: 1) assess species-habitat
associations with fine-scale differences in marsh microtopography; 2) understand effects of
prescribed fire on microtopographical structure in these systems; and 3) optimize methods of
drone-based LiDAR data collection across different sensors and flight parameters. Field data
collection will take place during winter and summer of 2027–2030. The student will learn
advanced fundamentals of small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS), LiDAR sensor calibration and
data post-processing, vegetation data collection, and statistical modeling of species-habitat
associations. The student will interact closely with partners in the Firebird project, which
represents an active collaboration among multiple federal and state agencies, non-profit
organizations and universities and will have the opportunity to present at regional and national
meetings and conferences. Although the research will primarily be focused on advanced remote
sensing analyses, the ideal candidate will have an interest in applying remote sensing to
questions to assessing characteristics of Eastern Black Rail habitat. Data will be used to help
inform recovery efforts for Eastern Black Rail and high marsh restoration efforts in Gulf
ecosystems.
The student will also be part of the Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Lab at
Mississippi State University, which is a is a research consortium of spatial and quantitative
ecologists dedicated to the management and conservation of wildlife from individuals to
communities and their associated landscapes. The position requires strong remote sensing, field,
and quantitative skills, along with the ability to work and think independently. The position also
requires strong writing skills for proposal and dissertation/publication development.  

 

Compensation & Benefits:  

 

 Position includes $28,000/yr stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance  

Preferred Qualifications:  

 M.S. or equivalent degree in geosciences, remote sensing, geomatics, wildlife
and fisheries sciences, biological sciences, natural resource science, conservation biology, or
other related fields with GPA >3.0. Applicants must be self-motivated, safety-oriented, able to
work independently in both cold and hot/humid weather conditions. The student must have
extensive experience with remote sensing data, quantitative analysis, and scientific writing.
Experience with sUAS (drone)-based field operations, LiDAR data post-processing, and research
in coastal marsh environments is preferred but not required. Please indicate if you currently hold
a FAA sUAS Part 107 remote pilot certification in your application. 

 

 

How to Apply:  

 

  To apply please email the
following materials to Kristine Evans (kristine.evans@msstate.edu) with a subject line as follows
(YOURNAME_HighMarshMicrotopographyAssistantship), and attachments including: 1) a
cover letter describing interest and professional goals; 2) a resume/CV; 3) contact information
for three references; 4) copies of academic transcripts (unofficial are acceptable), and GRE
scores (if applicable). A writing sample will be requested following interviews. Application
review will begin in June 2026 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.  

 

 

 

Contact:  

  Dr. Kristine Evans (Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture)

  662-325-3167  kristine.evans@msstate.edu