University of New Mexico, Department of Biology · New Mexico · assistantship · posted today
We are recruiting a PhD student for a project to quantify the effects of wildfire on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at the University of New Mexico (www.hurteaulab.org), in collaboration with the Alex Webster (https://websterlab.weebly.com/) and Harold Zald (https://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/harold.zald). The 2025 Garnet fire burned the Teakettle Experimental Forest during fall 2025. The area is mixed-conifer and red fir forest and had been heavily impacted by the 2012-2016 drought, resulting in about 30% overstory tree mortality. We had been preparing for a large experimental prescribed fire and have pre-wildfire forest structure, surface fuels, stream flow and aquatic carbon data. In addition to inventory data, there are multiple pre-fire lidar acquisitions. Post-fire measurements began during the 2026 field season. This data set offers the opportunity to use field-based and remotely sensed data to develop an understanding of how the distribution of biomass and burn patterns influence the movement of carbon through and out of the system. The student will work with our team to develop specific questions, while working toward meeting the objectives of the funded research. We are looking for a student that has interest in working across terrestrial and aquatic systems and an interest in using remotely sensed data. We have team expertise in each of these areas. A strong quantitative background and curiosity about forest ecosystems is ideal. Given the current immigration situation in the US, we are only evaluating applications from US citizens and permanent residents. We will not respond to applications from international students. Student support will include some combination of teaching and research assistantships, including summer salary support and research project support. Summer field seasons will be spent at the Teakettle Experimental Forest in the Sierra Nevada of California collecting data. Conditions at Teakettle are rustic. There is a kitchen and bathroom facility, but people sleep in tents. If the adventure of obtaining your PhD is going to be a good and rewarding one, it is important that you find the right advisor for you. I wrote this so potential students can get a sense of my approach. If you read it and are intrigued, I may be a good fit for you. If you read it and are put off, I’m not a good fit for you. If after reading the potential students page on my lab website you are still interested, send me (mhurteau@unm.edu) a single pdf with your CV, one-page statement of research interests, and your unofficial transcripts. UNM Biology doesn’t require GREs and the only thing I think they measure is how well you did on your GREs, so I don’t require them. We use this unofficial application process so you don’t have to spend $60 to figure out if we think you are a good fit for the position. I didn’t have an extra $60 when I was applying to grad school and I figure you probably don’t either. We will begin reviewing application materials beginning on 22 October. The priority deadline for the UNM Biology program is 1 December and we will complete interviews prior to this date. We will ensure that any finalists have the opportunity to speak with everyone on the team and in the lab. We are a hardworking and supportive group that likes to work on research projects that will hopefully leave the world in a little better shape than before we started. Matthew Hurteau Professor Dept of Biology University of New Mexico http://www.hurteaulab.org/
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