Description

This graduate research position in the Landscape Biogeochemistry Lab at the University of Idaho is supported by a USDA Agricultural Management Practices (AMP) award. The student will receive a stipend, tuition, and student health insurance. The student will work with Dr. Zachary Kayler to use minirhizotron imaging systems in experiments conducted at the Deep Soil Ecotron and affiliated AMP field sites. Research activities will include multispectral analysis of root images, development and testing of automated image-processing workflows, and investigation of root distribution patterns in regionally important crop species.

The student will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, graduate students, and technical staff to achieve research and fieldwork objectives. The Department of Soil & Water Systems offers a strong graduate training environment, with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, computing resources, and experimental facilities.

Requirements

B.S. degree in soil science, ecology, environmental science, agronomy, biology, computer science, engineering, or a related field.

Interest in belowground ecology, plant-soil interactions, or agricultural systems.

Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Experience working with scientific datasets and statistical software (R, Python, MATLAB, or similar).

Willingness to conduct fieldwork under variable environmental conditions.