We are seeking for two PhD students and two MS students to join an NSF
funded “Signals in Soils” project and characterize biotic and abiotic CO2
fluxes from irrigated dryland agricultural systems in the Rio Grande Valley
at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Students could join the
Departments of Geological Sciences (https://www.utep.edu/science/geology/)
or Biological Sciences (https://www.utep.edu/science/biology/), or the PhD
program of Environmental Science and Engineering, and will be part of an
inter-disciplinary collaborative team between UTEP and Texas A&M University
AgriLife Research Center at El Paso.



This project will test the extent to which pedogenic carbonate accumulation
in irrigated dryland soils emits an important anthropogenically-induced CO2
flux to the atmosphere. Students will work with a team of a biologist, a
geochemist, a soil scientist and a civil engineer to provide essential
knowledge of how irrigation intensity, water chemistry, soil texture, and
crop type affect calcium carbonate formation. Students will collaborate
with scientists to combine eddy-covariance, isotopic, and geochemical
techniques with novel UAV-based remote sensing to develop multi-scalar
approaches to capture and model spatiotemporal variation of abiotic CO2
exchange from ecosystem to atmosphere. Students will work with the team to
develop their projects according to their primary interests and to gain the
skills and confidence for making independently driven intellectual
contributions. Education and outreach opportunities are available.



We seek applicants who have desire to advance carbon flux monitoring with
expanded tools and basic knowledge of ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry,
isotopic techniques, hydrology, or carbon cycling. It is preferred but not
required if you have experience with automated sensors and data-logging
systems, instrument maintenance in field conditions, data analytical and
statistical skills, a programing language (e.g., R or python), or
experience with eddy covariance systems/data.



We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and diverse research
environment. Applicants will be considered regardless of age, color,
disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or
ethnic origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic
information. More on UTEPs support and commitment to diversity, equity, and
inclusion can be found here:
https://www.utep.edu/provost/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/



If you are interested, please contact Dr. Lixin Jin ([log in to unmask]) in the
Department of Geological Sciences and Dr. Marguerite Mauritz-Tozer (
[log in to unmask]) in the Department of Biological Sciences and
Environmental Science and Engineering. We will answer any questions you
have about the project and application to the MS or PhD programs.
Applications will ultimately be submitted through the Graduate School (
https://www.utep.edu/graduate/).


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