PhD Position: Air Curtain Burner, Pine beetle, Willingness to Pay and Environmental Impacts
State University of New York (SUNY) , College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
Dr. Mariela Cavo
Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Economics,
Environmental Economics and Watershed Management
Department of Sustainable Resources Management
1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Phone: (315) 470-6561 | Email: mcavo@esf.edu | Office: 310A Bray Hall
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) seeks a motivated PhD student to lead a unique project that combines environmental economics with fire management and ecological repercussions of fuel management approaches. The project will investigate the social perception and willingness to pay for ecosystem services associated with the use of Air Curtain Burners (ACB) as a management approach of woody debris left by the Southern Pine Beetle-induced tree mortality in New York.
BACKGROUND & PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis; SPB) is a native but destructive pest affecting the Long Island Pine Barrens in New York (LIPB). SPB-induced tree mortality and its mechanical mitigation efforts have left behind massive amounts of woody debris, affecting the structural composition of the forest. This fuel, along with its traditional disposal methods, increases the risk of wildfires, reduces the value of recreational services, and emits CO2 and particulate matter (PM2.5) that pose climate change and human health concerns, respectively. SPB eradication is not likely, and no salvage market exists for affected wood.
We are recruiting a student who will be tasked with reviewing and synthesizing existing literature on ACBs –an alternative management approach that traps, in an air curtain, smoke particles from wood burning, reburning them and reducing emissions while also producing useful biochar. Additionally, the student will conduct fieldwork, collecting data in the forest, focusing on ecological repercussions such as soil carbon, CO2 and PM2.5 emissions, fuel loading, tree regeneration, and herbaceous layer development. The student will also assess LIPB users’ social perception of ACBs compared to prescribed fires and their willingness to pay for associated environmental benefits.
Results will guide policy-making decisions regarding the use of ACB in New York State and provide advanced knowledge towards creating sustainable and resilient-to-climate-change communities.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This position is for a PhD candidate in the Forest Resources Management program at SUNY ESF and includes a full tuition waiver and monthly stipend for 3 years, including summer months. Advising will be provided by Dr. Mariela Cavo, Dr. Andrew L. Vander Yacht, Dr. Cole Gross, Dr. Jaime Mirowsky, and others from SUNY ESF’s world renown faculty. The work will occur in close association with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, the Montana US Forest Service, and the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange. Dr. Cavo will serve as the student’s major professor and, as a member of ESF’s Bioeconomy Cluster, will facilitate access to the cluster’s associated expertise.
QUALIFICATIONS: Students with related interests, peer-reviewed publications, fieldwork and project management experience, data analysis skills, effective communication abilities, and a degree in environmental economics, forestry, forest resource economics, or closely related field are encouraged to apply. A bachelor's degree in these fields is acceptable, but applicants must hold a master's degree to be eligible for the PhD program.
SUNY ESF: Located in Syracuse NY, ESF is among the oldest (est. 1911) and most prestigious schools of forestry in the US. ESF manages 4 field facilities on >25,000 acres that provide excellent opportunities for research. ESF students enjoy the benefits of a small institution but also access the resources of larger and adjacent Syracuse University. The Sierra Club listed ESF among the nation’s top “Cool Schools” and The Princeton Review names ESF as one of the nation’s best colleges for 2024 and ranked ESF as the #2 Green College.
TO APPLY: To begin the process, please email a CV, statement of interest, and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Cavo (mcavo@esf.edu). Please also consult the Department website (http://www.esf.edu/fnrm/) for application details (click on admissions). The desired start date is July 1st of 2024, but later or earlier dates are possible. Review of applications will begin on February 26th, 2024. The position will remain open until filled. Email Dr. Cavo with questions.
