The Environmental Biogeochemistry and Paleolimnology Lab is always looking for enthusiastic students to join our team. Our lab uses a variety of tools to address a wide variety of projects. Our present focus is on mountain lake and stream environments addressing topics such as climate change, atmospheric deposition, and land-use effects on ecology and biogeochemistry. If interested, please send a brief description of your research interests, your CV, copies of your most recent transcript and the names and contact information of three references to [email protected]. Informal inquiries are also welcome.
Graduate students at USU are funded through graduate research assistantships or fellowships. Graduate fellowships for strong students are available through the National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, Utah State University, and the Quinney College of Natural Resources. Canadian students can find fellowships through the National Science and Engineering Research Council. Graduate stipends are increasing over the next 3 years to meet the MIT cost of living for shared accommodation.
Undergraduate students can acquire research assistantships through the Quinney College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Program and through USU's Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Program
technicians - various (Fall 2023)
About Logan and Utah State University
Utah State University is located in the city of Logan, Utah, a town with approximately 50,000 residents. Situated in a valley between the Wellsville and Bear River mountain ranges, Logan offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities including local ski resorts, biking, and hiking trails. Logan is just a short drive to Salt Lake City, as well as many National Parks, Monuments, and Conservation Areas. The low cost of living makes this area an attractive place to live, play, and work.
Housing Costs
The cost of living in Logan, UT is affordable but like everywhere prices are increasing. The Watershed Science Department is working towards increasing student pay substantively to keep up with inflation. Forbes lists the cost of living in Logan at 6% below the national average. “Housing in Logan varies by quality and price. College Factual estimates the average cost for housing in Logan, Utah is $2,160 for the academic year. On-Campus housing ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 per semester, with utilities included. Off-campus housing can be as low as $250 per month or $2,250 for the academic year. Off-Campus housing usually does not include utilities, and this can cost an extra $100 per month, per person. Off-Campus housing may also require a deposit upon signing of a housing contract. Typically, the deposit is the amount of one month's rent, and the deposit may be returned upon moving out of the housing unit. “
Recreation
Logan, Utah is situated at the foot of the picturesque and easily accessible Bear River Mountain Range, just across from the rugged Wellsville Mountains, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Logan is consistently ranked among the safest small cities in America, and outstanding recreational opportunities abound in the nearby mountains. We are also just a few hours away from the red rock country of southern Utah, the wild Uinta and Wind River ranges, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone. The view outside our windows reminds us daily of our charge to better understand and conserve our natural resources.
Watershed Science Department
The Department of Watershed Sciences is a powerhouse in the science of ‘wet’ ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, and the watersheds that feed them. We are deeply committed to fundamental research and making that science useful for wise planning, management, and restoration, and are well-positioned to study and solve complex, interdisciplinary problems with our cadre of ecologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, biogeochemists, and others.
As one of the most productive research entities at Utah State University, we are engaged in a wide variety of fundamental and applied projects. Our research spans some of the most remote and wildest parts of the world to densely populated urban areas. While much of our research is focused on specific watershed systems, we are informing policy and management at the scale of some of the largest and most charismatic resources in the world, including the Mississippi, Columbia, and Colorado rivers, the Mekong Delta, and the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the big questions that cut across our research groups include:
How do climate, geomorphology, biogeochemistry and hydrology interact to influence biodiversity and species interactions at different spatial scales?
How is global climate and environmental change manifesting at regional and local scales? What are the implications for water availability, aquatic biodiversity and species interactions, water quality, and recreation?
How have humans modified water, sediment and nutrient dynamics? How do specific policy and management practices affect ecosystem health and resilience?
How can we most effectively and sustainably restore the structure and function of lake, wetland, stream and riverscape ecosystems?
We have a very supportive and inclusive culture in the department. Diversity enhances our research, teaching, and outreach contributions by infusing our community with a variety of ways to understand the world, identify challenges, and deliver solutions. We welcome opportunities to engage with traditional knowledge and we continually strive to provide a safe environment that is open to all. We support and seek to live out Utah State University’s statements on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Land Acknowledgement.