Utah State University invites applications for a PhD-level graduate research fellowship in the Sociology of Water to assess stakeholder alignment among articulated water values and vulnerabilities across socio-ecological scales, sectors, and gradients in the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area (WRMA). This fellowship opportunity is part of a multi-year, NSF funded study aimed at understanding water resource sustainability in the urbanizing WRMA in Northern Utah (see www.iutahepscor.org for more information). The successful applicant will be expected to:
(a) Synthesize literature on the social dynamics of water values and vulnerabilities and approaches to assessing stakeholder alignment;
(b) Contribute to ongoing mixed methods data collection and analyses to understand alignment among water values and perceived vulnerabilities (and associated social, economic, ecological, and infrastructural indicators) across stakeholders, scales, sectors, and socio-economic and landscape gradients in Utah;
(c) Incorporate research methods and findings in dissertation chapters and co-authored publications; and
(d) Participate in iUTAH doctoral fellow mentoring activities.
The successful applicant will implement mixed methods alignment analysis techniques to identify synergies and disconnects affecting water resource decisions across the WRMA. In addition to professional development as a natural resource sociologist, this student will be expected to explore interdisciplinary connections essential to understanding complex water systems in dynamic landscapes.
The home department for this student will be Sociology (Sociology, Social Work & Anthropology) at Utah State University. However, all iUTAH fellows are expected to work in an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional research team that includes researchers from USU, the University of Utah, and several other Utah universities. Full doctoral research fellowship support for a qualified student on this project is initially guaranteed for 3 years at a rate of $20,000 per year (plus a full tuition award), with expectations and opportunities to pursue supplemental funding from internal and external sources in future years.
Prospective students should contact Dr. Courtney Flint (courtney.flint@usu.edu) for more information: please include a current resume and statement of research interests with your inquiry. Application deadline is February 1, 2014.
Why Utah? The Wasatch Front of Northern Utah offers a stunning landscape for work (and play). The Wasatch/Cache National Forest provides unlimited outdoor recreation year-round. Housing costs are lower than the national average, and there are diverse cultural opportunities. Northern Utah is a short trip from the most scenic National Parks in the USA, including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Grand Teton, Great Basin, and Yellowstone.
Follow