The Pyrogeography Lab at UC Merced is recruiting a graduate student to work with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues addressing wildfire impacts to vulnerable and marginalized populations in California, starting Fall 2021. The Pyrogeography Lab, run by Dr. Crystal Kolden, focuses on understanding wildfire impacts and mitigation strategies across the human-environment spectrum. The funded project also involves students and faculty from the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design and the UCLA School of Public Affairs, with whom the selected graduate student will be collaborating to better understand how we can best plan for and mitigate the negative impacts of wildfire on the most vulnerable populations and marginalized communities in California. Prospective applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, see UC Merced graduate division requirements. Experience working with GIS/spatial data is a requirement. Applicants from underserved populations are strongly encouraged.
The Pyrogeography Lab is housed in the Department of Management of Complex Systems (MCS), College of Engineering. Prospective students may seek a graduate degree either in MCS or the interdisciplinary Environmental Systems graduate program. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Kolden to learn more about the position and which degree program might meet their long-term goals; please send a CV or resume. GRE scores are not required to apply, and the School of Engineering Dean has waived the application fee for Fall 2021 applicants.