NSF-Funded MS Geography Research Assistantship at Virginia Tech

Date posted

Oct. 14, 2020 12:00 am

Application deadline

Jan. 15, 2021 12:00 am

Organization

Department of Geography at Virginia Tech

Location

Job description

NSF-Funded MS Geography Research Assistantship at Virginia Tech

Description: A funded MS position in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech is available to start in August 2021. The candidate will work as a research assistant to use spatial metrics to characterize the representation of hurricane precipitation by radar, satellite, and modeling datasets, with a focus on NOAA/Hurricane Research Division hurricane models. Additionally, the student will investigate how large-scale environmental moisture impacts hurricane rainband development. This NSF-funded project involves collaborations with faculty and students at three institutions.

Qualifications: Prospective students should be interested in numerical weather prediction and tropical cyclone research. Experience with computer programming software such as Python or Matlab is essential. Additional training will be available in Python. Familiarity with the Weather Research, and Forecasting (WRF) model would also be valuable but is not required. The successful applicant will have taken courses in meteorology and hold a bachelor's degree in that or a related field. Women and minority students are especially encouraged to apply. 

Department: The Department of Geography at Virginia Tech is a dynamic, growing and collaborative environment with 19 full-time faculty and approximately 25 graduate students. In addition to the M.S. Geography program, the department offers a Ph.D. in Geospatial Analysis, a B.A. in Geography and a B.S. in Meteorology.  More information about the M.S. Geography degree is available on the website: geography.vt.edu/ProStudents/Masters.html

Location: Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, VA, which is situated in the mountains of southwest Virginia, approximately 45 minutes west of Roanoke.  Outdoor opportunities abound in the region, with the New River and Appalachian Trail in close proximity to the Virginia Tech campus.

Contact: Prior to a formal application, students interested in working on this funded project should contact Dr. Stephanie Zick (sezick@vt.edu) and include a recently updated resume or CV.  Application packages will be due January 15, 2021. GRE scores are not required.