The student will work with Dr. Sandra Correa, an Associate Professor in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, and Dr. Padmanava Dash, a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University (MSU). The student selected for this project will be trained to process remote sensing imagery to characterize physical and chemical aspects of coastal rivers and assess spatial and multi-year variation. We expect the selected student to submit grant proposals to leverage funds for fieldwork, travel, and participation in professional conferences. In addition, the student will help prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, present results at professional conferences, provide support as a teaching assistant, and complete the requirements for an M.S. degree in 2 years. If the student already has an MS degree, it could also be converted to a Ph.D. position, depending on the candidate’s background and goals.

Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, forest engineering, agricultural engineering, environmental sciences, geosciences, geography, or a related field, and knowledge of remote sensing and satellite imagery analytical tools are required. Technical expertise using ArcGIS Pro, Python, and Google Earth Engine is highly desirable. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is required. For non-native English speakers, a TOEFL score of 550 PBT or 79 iBT (Internet-Based Test) or an IELTS score of 6.5 (International English Language Testing System) is required for admission to the MSU Graduate program. GRE scores are optional.

Start date: review will begin immediately and close when filled. Start date is January 2026.

Helpful links: Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture: https://www.cfr.msstate.edu/wildlife/  Correa River Ecology Lab: https://riverecologylab.org/