Economics of Decision Making, Ecosystem Services and Future of Dams - University of Rhode Island

Post date: Dec 6, 2015 1:04:59 AM

M.S./Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship in Economics of Decision Making, Ecosystem Services and Future of Dams - University of Rhode Island

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at the University of Rhode Island is seeking applicants for a graduate research assistantship in M.S. or Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. An applicant is sought for research on economics of individual and group decision making, hydrological ecosystem services, and future of dams in New England. The research will involve using laboratory experiments, surveys, and other methods to understand public preferences for ecosystem services from dams and the decision making processes of groups and individuals. This research is part of a solutions-based, interdisciplinary research program on future of dams, bringing together natural and social scientists and stakeholders in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. Using dams in New England as a model system, the team will examine the economic, technological, ecological, social, and political trade-offs associated with different kinds of dam decisions.

This assistantship is available beginning in Fall 2016. The M.S. or Ph.D. graduate research assistantship pays annual stipends (including summers) with a full tuition waiver, health insurance and other fees. The assistantship can be renewed for a total of two years for an M.S. and three years for a Ph.D. candidate, conditional on performance. The faculty and postdoctoral researchers in the research consortium will serve as mentors.

We encourage applications from candidates with a strong interest in economics of water and individual and group decision making. The candidates must meet all required qualifications for the Ph.D. program in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at URI. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are preferred along with completion of undergraduate courses in calculus, statistics or econometrics as well as intermediate microeconomics. The research program is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty and student team.

For more information on this project, please contact Dr. Emi Uchida (Associate Professor, euchida@uri.edu) or Dr. Todd Guilfoos (Assistant Professor, guilfoos@uri.edu). For questions about the Ph.D. program in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at URI, please contact Dr. Hiro Uchida (huchida@uri.edu).