Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department

Dr. Motallebi is recruiting a Ph.D. student who will study private land conservation and compensation mechanisms. The most important part of this study will be focused on Ecosystem Services Valuation and Modeling for exploring or expanding the environmental markets. As part of this research, we are seeking to explore mechanisms that communicate the value of different ecosystem services to policy makers in the region. The study area will be the Santee and Edisto Basins of South Carolina, which encompass forested wetland and biodiversity-rich ecosystems. The student will serve as a Research Assistant for this three-year project.

Applicants should have a strong background in natural resource economics (specifically non-market valuation), applied statistics, social sciences, or related disciplines. They must be proficient in GIS or will need to take advanced GIS courses. A MS degree is required for Ph.D. applicants. Experience in the field – conservation planning, working with NGOs, and previous research experiences are major plusses. The successful applicant will work in an interdisciplinary environment and will collaborate with the research teams of Dr. Rob Baldwin and Dr. Tom O’Halloran.

Dr. Motallebi’s advising style is through one-to-one interaction. She enjoys regular updates, online problem solving, and in-person discussion. In her lab, students work as a team, helping each other and asking a lot of questions. As a part of this team, we expect to see this Ph.D. student successfully navigate the journey to becoming a scholar in Forestry and Environmental Conservation. The candidate we are looking for is independent, organized, self-motivated, and driven to find answers to complex issues.

To apply, please send your resume, transcripts (unofficial is accepted), and names and contact information for three references to Dr. Marzieh Motallebi at (mmotall@clemson.edu) by July 15, 2022. After an initial screening and interview, we will discuss the Clemson University Graduate School admissions process. You should be prepared to submit a complete Clemson Graduate School application.

Compensation will be at least $20,000 per year, plus tuition, research, and travel support.

Start date is Aug 1st, 2022.