PhD Research Assistant – Forest Science & Remote Sensing

Research Assistant Position for a PhD Student in Forest Science and Remote Sensing at Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI). Michigan Technological University, in collaboration with USDA's Northern Research Station, is launching a research project relying on remote sensing and field measurements to develop invasive species spread maps supporting active management of wetland ash forests. Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been sweeping across the region, where over 2.1 billion ash trees are at risk. The primary objective is to develop tools for early detection and rapid response to locate and eradicate potential invasive species. The study will be conducted in lowland forests by Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Minnesota using remote sensing images such as Sentinel-2. Requirements: MS degree in forestry, forest science, natural resources or ecology; excellent written and oral communication skills; strong analytical and statistical background in remote sensing; experience publishing in professional journals; keen research interest in forest science. Desirable: valid US driver's license and programming with R and Python. The assistantship covers 3 academic years, including tuition. Start as early as spring 2027. To apply: submit a single PDF with CV, transcripts, statement of research interest and plan, and names and emails of three references to Fengjing Liu ([email protected]) and Randy Kolka ([email protected]). Review continues until a candidate is identified; subsequent application to Michigan Tech's Graduate School is required.