Description
Responsibilities: The student(s) working on this project will develop mapped floodplains in rural and low-population areas of Maine, where detailed hydrologic and hydraulic studies have not yet been conducted. Gaps in flood hazard data limit the ability of state and local agencies to assess flood risk, plan mitigation strategies, and support emergency management. Student(s) will use high resolution elevation data and advanced modeling techniques to calculate 100-year floodplain surfaces, building upon previously successful approaches used in other New England watersheds. Community engagement and participatory research activities will include outreach, facilitation of community meetings, and a diversity of science communications. Projects are co-supervised by University of Maine Faculty in the School of Wildlife Ecology and the School of Food and Agriculture, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The student(s) will also work closely with scientists at the USGS New England Water Science Center. Good communication skills are essential as the student will be responsible for frequent coordination and reporting.
Compensation and benefits: Minimum $28,000 MS/$31,333.33 PhD per year paid bi-weekly, minimum 65% of medical insurance premium for students and up to 50% for one dependent, minimum of 50% of dental insurance premium for students, and minimum of 13 credit hours of tuition. Funding is renewed annually, dependent upon funding availability and student performance. For Ph.D. students, 4 years of research assistantship is anticipated, for M.S. students, 2 years of research assistantship is anticipated.
Degree options: One student will be co-advised by Drs. Rachel Schattman and Christina Murphy, the other will be advised by Drs. Noah Charney and Christina Murphy; there is flexibility to take a graduate degree in either Biology (with concentration in Ecology), Wildlife Ecology, Plant Soil and Environmental Sciences, or Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Preference for a program should be stated in applicants’ cover letters.
Location: Students will be based at the University of Maine, in Orono, a flagship R-1 institution and friendly community in the small and bike-able town of Orono, near the City of Bangor. The campus is surrounded by forests, bogs, rivers, and lakes set in the famous Hundred-Mile Wilderness of the Appalachian Trail and the spectacular coastline of Acadia National Park. Waterways, and hiking, biking and ski-trails on the campus doorstep provide opportunities for four seasons of outdoor recreation.
How to apply: Please send a cover letter, CV, transcripts, three references (names and contact only) via https://forms.gle/D9KWzioit8TC9qV27. Please title your submission documents using the following naming convention: “LASTNAME_FILETYPE_STREAM”, for example: “Smith_coverletter_STREAM”.
Application deadline: September 30st, 2026
Notification date: November 15th, 2026
Desired position start date: January 19, 2027, or as arranged.
Requirements
For M.S. and Ph.D. applicants, a B.S. in biology, agricultural sciences, or equivalent is required. For Ph.D. students, an M.S. in similar fields is strongly preferred. Prior field and laboratory experience, and an interest in socio-ecological systems are essential. Must have a desire to contribute to a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. Prior experience in data management and GIS is desirable but not required.
