Join us

PhD Positions Opening: Global Change Ecology at Vanderbilt University

Dr. Lin Meng (https://my.vanderbilt.edu/lin-meng/) at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University is seeking 2 fully funded Ph.D. students interested in Global Change Ecology using remote sensing, in situ observation, and modeling. The Meng Lab aims to answer key ecosystem questions: How do climate change and human activities affect terrestrial ecosystems? We study the response of plants to climate changes and human activities such as urbanization and deforestation. We are also interested in carbon and water cycles in terrestrial ecosystems regulated by vegetation dynamics. Research in the Meng Lab is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning from individual trees to global scales.

Research topics for prospective Ph.D. students are open in the field of global change ecology, urban ecology, and tropical ecosystems and will be determined by Dr. Meng and the student. Starting date is Fall 2023.

Qualifications: strong quantitative programming skills and solid background in global change ecology, vegetation remote sensing, and land surface processes. Proficiency in spoken/written English.

Application: The Fall application deadline for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) program is January 1, 2023. Please visit https://gradschool.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/application/index.php for admission requirements and the application process.

These are exciting opportunities to be a part of a fast-evolving and active research field, with significant potential for high-impact publication and visibility of your research. The Meng Lab is committed to strong student mentoring, career and professional development, and recruitment of diverse candidates, especially from underrepresented groups.

Institution Information

Vanderbilt University is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution and is ranked among the top universities in the United States, providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt enrolls approximately 13,800 students from the US and over 100 foreign countries. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, a thriving state-capital city that enjoys a moderate climate, excellent parks and natural areas, a strong and varied economy, and diverse food, music, and cultural opportunities. Vanderbilt University and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences have a strong institutional commitment to recruiting and retaining an academically and culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Vanderbilt is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer.

Contact: Dr. Lin Meng, lin.meng@vanderbilt.edu