Drs. Steven Hall and Amaya Atucha in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working Masters of Science (MS) student to conduct research on water quality in Wisconsin's cranberry production systems, with a start date of January 2025. The position will be supported through a Research Assistantship. The work will address how to best measure and manage water quality in cranberry farms (known as "marshes"), taking into account their diverse water sources and interactions with other agricultural and natural ecosystems.

The ideal candidate will have strong field and laboratory research experience and preferable prior coursework related to water quality, soil, and agriculture. The project will involve frequent travel between Madison and central Wisconsin to conduct field measurements from early spring through late fall, so driving experience and a tolerance for inclement conditions (cold, heat, rain, mosquitoes, etc.) are essential. Also, the project will involve close interaction with cranberry grower collaborators, so strong communication skills and an interest in applying science to real-world problems are highly desired. The student will be expected to contribute to chemical analysis of samples in the lab, and to conduct quantitative syntheses of their data, so experience and/or interest in learning statistical computing (i.e., R software) are also necessary.

Application

To apply, please submit a one-page cover letter with contact information for at least two professional references, along with your Academic CV (including GPA), via email to steven.hall@wisc.edu and atucha@wisc.edu.