The Statistical Ecology and Forest Science Lab in the Department of Forestry and Envrionmental Resources at North Carolina State University is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student for the Fall 2026 semester. The student will work under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Doser and will serve as a graduate student teaching assistant for one semester during the two-year program. The M.S. student’s research will encompass the topics of software development, forest biometrics, and forest management. In addition to leading research, the student will be expected to participate in regular collaborative meetings, present results at professional meetings and conferences, and publish findings in reputable academic journals.
The M.S. student’s research will focus on updating and modernizing the Loblolly Decision Support System (LobDSS) software, a forestry decision support software tool for informing loblolly pine plantation management. While LobDSS has been widely used by practitioners across the U.S. South, it was written as software that is no longer supported on modern computers, which has the potential to render it completely defunct as operating systems continuously evolve. Software modernization of LobDSS will ensure it remains a viable tool for forestry practitioners for decades to come. This work will be done in collaboration with Dr. Rachel Cook and the Forest Productivity Cooperative, and will provide numerous opportunities to form connections with private stakeholders across the U.S. South.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina with occasional travel to professional meetings and conferences.
Qualifications:
Funding and Timeline: This M.S. Assistantship includes a competitive annual stipend, health insurance benefits, and coverage of tuition costs. Funding is guaranteed for 2 academic years. The start date is the Fall 2026 semester.
Application: Interested candidates should email Dr. Jeff Doser (jwdoser@ncsu.edu) with (1) a cover letter (maximum one page) describing your research interests, career goals, and past experience; (2) a resume/CV; and (3) contact information for three professional references. Candidates will be reviewed immediately upon receipt of the application with a final application deadline of April 24, 2026.