Graduate Assistantship in Planning (GIS emphasis)

Land Parcelization Project
The College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point is recruiting for a graduate assistant who will be involved in a spatial analysis of land parcelization in rural Wisconsin. This two-year assistantship will entail utilizing GIS to document and analyze changes in land parcelization over a 100+ year time frame in a sample of Wisconsin locations. Past trends will then be used to develop a predictive model of future parcelization. The results of this project will assist land management agencies and local governments to target land protection strategies (acquisition, easements, etc.) to those areas most likely to subdivide in the future. Results will also be shared with local communities to illustrate potential future consequences of alternative land use policies.

Qualifications

* BS Degree in rural sociology, land use management and/or planning, landscape ecology, forestry or related field with at least a 3.0 GPA in the last two years of your degree period.

* Interest in applying GIS and landscape analysis to real-world planning scenarios

Preference will be given to applicants with knowledge and work history in using GIS for spatial analysis, those with competitive GRE scores, those with thorough understanding of historic land use changes and future land issues in the upper Midwest region, and those with a passionate interest in land use planning and conservation.

Terms
Begins January 2006 and runs for two years. Assistantship provides $13,000-$15,000/year stipend (depending on experience), all research expenses, research-related travel expenses, and State of Wisconsin health insurance. In addition, out-of-state tuition surcharges are waived for non-Wisconsin and international students.

To Apply:
Send (e-mail or regular mail) letter of interest, CV, copies of transcripts and GRE scores, and contact information for at least 3 references by October 1, 2005 to: