Project: Relatively little is known about the best strategies for restoring and adapting forests to climate change in ways that sustain biodiversity, carbon storage, and forest-based economies. In particular, there is growing interest in how assisted migration and adaptation tree planting are able to sustain these values under uncertain future conditions. 

To address knowledge gaps, the University of Vermont (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources) seeks a M.S.-level graduate student to participate in a project evaluating the restoration and climate adaptation potential of Northern Forests with a focus on ecological and cultural keystone species like red spruce. The student will join a collaborative team of scientists and managers from UVM, the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, The Nature Conservancy, and an extensive group of partners from federal, state, private, and NGO organizations and leverages a network of experimental sites in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The student will focus on understanding the physiological, phenological, and growth responses of seedlings from diverse genotypes under different site and silvicultural contexts. This includes evaluating the potential for assisted migration as a strategy to sustain keystone species and associated ecosystems under future climate conditions. This work will contribute directly to developing best practices for seed sourcing, propagation, and climate- adaptive reforestation. A primary goal is to co-produce actionable science that informs reforestation decisions and helps sustain ecological and economic benefits of Northern Forest ecosystems.

Application: This position is available beginning Summer (or Fall) 2026 and includes two guaranteed years of funding (stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance).

Interested applicants should supply all application materials to the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) Program (MS in Natural Resources) by February 1, 2026 – when applying, please state your interest in this position in the "Statement of Purpose.“

Contacts:

Dr. Pete Clark (pwclark@uvm.edu), RSENR

Dr. Anthony D’Amato (awdamato@uvm.edu), RSENR 

Dr. Steve Keller (stephen.keller@uvm.edu), PBIO

Project: The RAAIN Lab (Restoring Attention and Affect in Nature), directed by Dr. Sara LoTemplio, is recruiting a fully-funded (including summer) 5-year PhD student to start in the Fall of 2026! This student will work on projects aiming to understand how nature contact influences brain activity, cognition, and stress physiology. Specifically, the student will be working on projects using EEG (electroencephalography). No experience with EEG is necessary to apply! However, past research experience in any discipline and coursework in psychology/neuroscience is highly valued. 

Contact: Please email Dr. Sara LoTemplio with your CV and a short description of your interests in the lab at Sara.lotemplio@colostate.edu . (Note: Dr. LoTemplio is currently based at Colorado State University but is moving to UVM starting in January of 2026). 

For more information about the RAAIN lab, see our website: https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/raainlab/

Rubenstein Doctoral Assistantship Overview

This funding opportunity provided by the Rubenstein Graduate Program will support 1 to 2 new PhD students each year with 3 full years of assistantship funding to increase the number of highly qualified doctoral students who will bring unique perspectives, experience, and skills to the PhD in Natural Resources program. Please see the attachment for further details on the qualifications, funding, and application process. 

The University of Vermont is committed to inclusive excellence and its admissions practices reflect that university-wide commitment. Using a nuanced, holistic, and multi-faceted admissions process, we seek to build a campus community with myriad talents, experiences, goals, backgrounds, perspectives, and interests. Applicants are strongly encouraged to share their unique lived experience with us as part of the application process. 

Prospective students must complete and submit an application to the UVM Graduate College on or before January 1^st for our Fall start term cycle. Students should specifically reference conversations that have taken place with their intended faculty advisor in their Statement of Purpose. 

Students must be nominated by a RSENR Graduate Faculty member, who will serve as your advisor, to be considered for this funding opportunity. Advisors will complete and submit the Request Form (see pg. 3 of attachment) to RSENR_Grad_Coord@uvm.edu by January 24^thof the calendar year in which the student intends to matriculate. 

The Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont supports outstanding PhD applicants interested in conducting interdisciplinary research on major global environmental challenges. With Gund PhD Fellowships, students receive attractive funding packages, world-class faculty mentors, real-world experience collaborating with leaders in government and business – and a deep understanding of complex global sustainability issues.

Learn more about Gund Research Fellowships

BilDS is a training program, a training program that integrates with existing Ph.D. programs across the UVM campus in biology, plant biology, plant and soil sciences, mathematics, computer science, engineering, natural resources, and cellular, molecular and biomedical sciences. Traineeships provide core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. 

Learn more about BilDS

Responsibilities

The Rubenstein School has many teaching assistantships available each academic year starting in September. Graduate teaching assistants lead field and indoor laboratories, facilitate discussion sessions among small groups of undergraduates, assist with evaluation and grading, and run workshops and help sessions. Typical assignments are for ten hours a week.

Qualifications

Teaching Assistantship assignments are competitive and based on undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and requests from student advisors.