PhD Position in Ecology, Geospatial Data Science, and Agricultural Sustainability at Boise State University

Boise State University's Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Graduate Program is recruiting a new Ph.D. student to join a research team focused on developing remote sensing tools for climate-smart land management in the western United States. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of ecology, geospatial data science, and agricultural sustainability, contributing to USDA-funded research on monitoring and restoring mesic and riparian ecosystems. Research directions include developing deep learning and transfer-learning models to classify riparian tree species and woody vegetation using fused lidar–optical–radar data, quantifying spatiotemporal patterns of woody vegetation recovery in restored mesic systems, and linking tree species distributions to carbon storage, water availability, and biodiversity services in agricultural landscapes. The student will also contribute to open, scalable monitoring tools for land managers, ranchers, and conservation practitioners. The position is co-advised by Dr. Jodi Brandt and Dr. Trevor Caughlin, with close collaboration in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB) Program and the Human-Environment Systems (HES) group, an interdisciplinary community committed to actionable, stakeholder-driven environmental research. Applicants should have training and interest in remote sensing, geospatial analysis, machine learning or deep learning workflows, image classification, lidar processing, or multisensor data fusion. Experience in ecology of riparian or mesic ecosystems is desired but not required. Strong quantitative, computational, and programming skills (e.g., Python, R, GEE) are expected. Preferred applicants will hold a Master’s degree and have prior research experience in remote sensing, spatial data science, ecological modeling, or related fields. The position is fully funded for the first two years by NASA and USDA grants, with a minimum salary of $33,000/year, full tuition and fee waiver, and health insurance. Funding for the final two years will be sought through grant proposals, with Teaching Assistantships available if external funding is not secured. The position can begin at any time, but no later than Fall (August) 2026. To apply, submit a single PDF including a cover letter, CV, names and contact information for three references, and unofficial transcripts to Dr. Trevor Caughlin at [email protected] with the subject line 'PhD application – EEB program'. Applications are due by January 5th, 2026. Keywords: Ecology, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Data Science, Agricultural Sustainability, Climate-smart Land Management, Deep Learning, Riparian Ecosystems, Mesic Systems, Biodiversity Services.