If available, current Graduate Research Opportunities within the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability will be included below. We encourage you to periodically check this page for new positions. Thank you for your interest!
Due to the high volume of inquiries, graduate coordinators and faculty who are not currently accepting students are unable to meet to discuss program opportunities. We strongly encourage you to review posted openings and reach out only to faculty actively recruiting students.
Current Graduate Research Opportunities
Landscape Modeling Lab, Wetland Loss
Description: The Landscape Modeling lab seeks a graduate student to start in August 2026. Research in the lab focuses on the remote sensing of wetland dynamics in both interior and coastal systems, aiming to identify processes related to ecosystem resilience and long-term landscape change. This successful applicant will work on a funded project centered on remote sensing models of wetland conversion and loss in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA (ND, SD, MN, IA, MO), as well as the landscape consequences of wetland loss. As part of this, the applicant will conduct fieldwork in wetland prairie landscapes, which are remote, hot, treeless, and often muddy environments. Field collection will include vegetation, water, and near-surface remote sensing data. The applicant will lead a field team and coordinate with rural landowners for site permission and access. The applicant will also be responsible for networking with collaborators and stakeholders. Training in field skills, data science, and geospatial informatics will be provided.
Salary: Students will be supported with a GRA and at least 0.5 years of GTA at $41,000 per year, with initial support of 2 years for MS students or 4 years for PhD Students. Tuition and health insurance are included during GRA/GTA appointments.
Required qualifications: Candidates must be able to conduct independent field research and be able to lead a field team of inexperienced researchers. The ability to work outdoors in hot, physically demanding environments is required. A US driver’s license or international equivalent and the ability to navigate long hours in remote rural locations are required. This project also requires strong project management and organizational skills. A bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum 3.0 GPA are required.
Desired additional qualifications: Experience in wetlands research, vegetation, remote sensing analyses, programming in a statistical language, data science, and reproducible workflows are useful skills. Experience with unmanned aerial vehicles and a UAV pilot’s license may also be useful. A strong background in either environmental science, ecology, geography, or remote sensing is additionally helpful. For PhD student applicants, demonstrated evidence of scientific productivity, such as an MS degree, is preferred.
Location: This position is within the Landscape Modeling Lab in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. We are located in Fort Collins, CO, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains. There is abundant open space and hiking trails nearby.
Timing: Start date is August 2026 at the start of the CSU fall semester.
Degree program: Students can apply to MS or PhD research degrees in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, or to the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology.
To apply: The lab strongly encourages all applicants to apply, regardless of demographics. Please apply through the links above for the appropriate degree program. Please apply by Dec. 1, 2025, for full consideration, and no later than Feb 1, 2026. As part of your application, please include a statement of purpose that addresses your interests and goals, and you must also include a curriculum vitae/resume with your application. In your statement of purpose, please include your past research experience, your field work, leadership and project management experience, your ability to be a field crew leader, and whether you have a valid driver’s license. Please address questions to Dr. Jessica O’Connell, [email protected]. For more information about the lab, see: www.landscapemodeling.net
PhD Researcher to join the Water, Environment, and Society Research Group
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) at Colorado State University (CSU) seeks a PhD student to conduct original research on water governance. The PhD student will be supported by the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability through a combination of Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant positions for 3 years. The position will be based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with possible travel required for data collection in the field.
Research lab: The Water, Environment, and Society Research Group seeks a graduate student to start in August 2026. We conduct interdisciplinary and social science research on issues related to the governance of water, natural resources, and the environment. The group’s research aims to understand how institutions shape tensions, tradeoffs, and transformations in water resource systems at local, regional, and international (transboundary) scales. The successful applicant will contribute to the Water, Environment, and Society Research Group by producing original research in one or more of the following areas: water-energy-food governance, groundwater sustainability, ag-urban water tensions, transboundary water conflict and cooperation, or climate adaptation in water supply systems. The specific research topic will be co-developed with advisor guidance and approval. Research will require field collection of qualitative data through interviews, focus groups, participatory methods, and/or surveys following appropriate human-subjects research protocols. Collaboration with CSU or external research centers or stakeholder entities is encouraged. Watershed Science Graduate Program at CSU
The Watershed Science MS and Ph.D. programs in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at CSU are internationally renowned, and the completion of a graduate degree is excellent preparation for a career in governmental agencies, private industry, teaching, or research. Join us, and you will work at the cutting edge of new research on watershed science and sustainability. Collaborating with some of the world’s leading water and sustainability scientists, you will explore solutions to global problems related to water resources, food supplies, land use change, climate change, and environmental justice, amongst others.
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability in the Warner College of Natural Resources is committed to inclusion in our instruction, research, service, and outreach. Warner College and ESS members hold themselves accountable for fostering a college community rooted in inclusive mindedness. Warner and ESS students, faculty, and staff uphold and embrace CSU’s principles of community: respect, inclusion, integrity, social justice, and service. Everyone is welcome. The Warner and ESS communities recognize the disparities that exist within the field of natural resources and therefore call on individuals whose passions and work align with our college’s effort to make change.
Warner College and ESS support an environment where identities, cultures, experiences, and ideas are recognized, valued, and appreciated. Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Geography, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Geosciences, Sociology, Natural Resource Management or a related field;
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (Graduate School’s admission requirement)
- Ability to conduct field (social science) data collection (may require travel)
- International applicants: must meet CSU Graduate School’s English proficiency requirements
Desired Qualifications
- Experience collecting qualitative data via interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys
- Experience conducting qualitative content analysis and/or policy analysis
- Experience interacting with stakeholders and/or practitioners
- Knowledge of water policy and legal frameworks
- Experience writing peer-reviewed journal articles
- Prior teaching experience
- Self-starter with the ability to conduct independent research and contribute productively in teams
Location: The position is within the Water, Environment and Society Research Group in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University.
Position Funding: The position will be supported by a combination of Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant support providing a stipend of $1,969 monthly (subject to change at the University level), initially budgeted for 3 academic years, plus health insurance and tuition. To Apply: To be considered for the position, applicants will need to submit an official application to the “Watershed Science PhD” via the CSU Graduate School Admissions portal at https://gradadmissions.colostate.edu/apply/. Please visit https://warnercnr.colostate.edu/ecosystem-sustainability-apply/ to view full application instructions. As part of your application, please include a statement of purpose that addresses your research interests and goals, and a curriculum vitae/resume with your application. In your statement of purpose, please include your past research experience; your field work, leadership, and project management experience; your experience working with qualitative data; and your prior publishing experience. Please also submit a writing sample, e.g., a published article or manuscript for which you are the sole or lead author. You can submit this in your Graduate School application under “Additional Materials” or email this to [email protected]. For full consideration please submit all materials by February 1st, 2026 (23:59 MST). However, the position will remain open until filled.
Questions? For questions about the position, please contact [email protected]. For questions about the department or application process, please contact [email protected].
PhD Candidate: Improving agricultural management in an Earth system model | Start Date: Fall 2026
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) at Colorado State University (CSU) seeks a PhD student to join a collaborative project that explores the impacts of ‘climate-smart’ agricultural management practices on soil carbon and the social and environmental factors that influence farmer adoption rates. The PhD student will focus on improving the representation of agricultural management in the Community Land Model.
The PhD student will be supported for 3 years by an NSF DISES project within the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability as a Graduate Research Assistant and for two semesters as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The position will be based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Research Project: The PhD student will 1) work to develop a representation of cover crops in the Community Land Model (CLM) and will 2) run and analyze simulations with cover crops and other types of management (tillage, residue management) that are represented in the model to understand the role of agricultural management on soil properties and processes. Results from these simulations will be used in surveys, interviews, and focus groups with farmers, which will iteratively help to guide the model development process.
Research Lab: The successful candidate will be based in the Ecological Climate and Global Change (ECGC) Lab under the supervision of Dr. Danica Lombardozzi and will work closely with collaborators at Oregon State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Research in the ECGC lab is interdisciplinary, and academic training in ecology, environmental sciences, Earth system science, or similar are all valued.
Ecosystem Sustainability Graduate Program at CSU
Many physical, ecological, and social factors interact to shape the future of our ecosystems and societies. CSU’s innovative graduate program in Ecosystem Sustainability enables students to develop core competencies in ecosystem science—the study of organisms and the environment from a systems perspective—and apply that knowledge to address real-world issues. We help develop leaders in ecosystem and sustainability science: a new generation of practitioners able to address complex, integrated social and ecological problems, in collaborative partnerships with researchers, resource user,s and decision-makers. Our graduates have the tools to understand complex scientific questions and the leadership and collaborative skills required to address current and future issues in sustainability. The program serves as a foundation for a wide range of careers, including academic professions, and work in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and corporate and entrepreneurial environments.
Join us, and you will work at the cutting edge of new research on ecosystem science and sustainability. Collaborating with some of the world’s leading ecosystem and sustainability scientists, you will explore solutions to global problems related to water resources, food supplies, energy, greenhouse gas management, land use change, climate change, and environmental justice, amongst others.
Faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability in the Warner College of Natural Resources uphold and embrace CSU’s principles of community in our instruction, research, service, and outreach: respect, inclusion, integrity, social justice, and service. Warner College and ESS support an environment where identities, cultures, experiences, and ideas are recognized, valued, and appreciated.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in ecosystem science, environmental science, Earth system science, or a similar field;
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (Graduate School’s admission requirement)
- International applicants: must meet CSU Graduate School’s English proficiency requirements
Desired Skills & Qualifications:
- Previous research experience (MS preferred)
- Understanding of agricultural management and its roles in changing soils and climate
- Experience coding in Python, R, Fortran, or similar languages
- Experience using and developing process-based ecosystem or Earth system models
- Strong data management and analysis skills.
Position Funding: This position includes a GRA for 3 years funded by an NSF DISES proposal and a GTA in Ecosystem Science & Sustainability for two semesters.
Stipend: The Graduate Research Assistant stipend is $2555 monthly during the academic year (subject to change at the University level) and $5110 monthly during the summer, initially budgeted for 3 years, plus health insurance.
Application Details: To be considered for the position, applicants will need to submit an official application to the “Ecosystem Sustainability PhD” via the CSU Graduate School Admissions portal at https://gradadmissions.colostate.edu/apply/. Please visit https://warnercnr.colostate.edu/ecosystem-sustainability-ph-d-degree/ to view full application instructions. Please note that the GRE requirement has been waived. For full consideration, please submit all materials by February 1st, 2025 (23:59 MST) and ensure your qualifications for the position are clearly highlighted in your resume and statement of purpose. Position will remain open until filled.
Questions? Please contact Danica Lombardozzi, [email protected], or the ESS Department at [email protected]