Our MS and Ph.D. programs in Natural Resources run on a funded graduate assistantship model. This means that we do not accept general applicants to our program. Instead, students are encouraged to apply only when faculty obtain grant funding to support students and advertise their funded positions on this webpage and on other, discipline-specific pages.
Faculty who are actively recruiting or who are open to prospective student emails are listed below. We suggest only applying to the UVM Graduate College if you are interested in a posted position or if you are encouraged to do so by individual faculty with which you have corresponded. Faculty who are not listed below do not anticipate recruiting students though grant-funded positions this year.
One exception includes several competitive fellowship opportunities that prospective Ph.D. students may be eligible to apply for, listed at the bottom of this page. If you are interested in these opportunities, you are encouraged to discuss them with potential eligible faculty mentors, as specified for each opportunity.
Faculty Accepting New Graduate Students (See Positions Below)
Professor • Director of Forestry Program • Director of UVM Research Forests
anthony.damato@uvm.eduSilviculture, forest ecology, forest management, forest adaptation, forests.
Assistant Professor • Affiliate, Gund Institute for Environment
helina.jolly@uvm.eduTraditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Community-engaged Research, Conservation Sciences, Human Geography, Ethnography, Biocultural Systems, Land Stewardship, and Ecosystem...
Associate Professor • Faculty Fellow, Gund Institute for Environment • Associate Director, Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security (IEDS)
bindu.panikkar@uvm.eduEnvironmental health, community based research, environmental policy, natural resources, Arctic environment and health, environmental health social movements, environmental justice
M.S. & PhD Funded Positions
M.S. Graduate Assistantship - Examining Ecological and Silvicultural Outcomes of Forest Adaptation Strategies (Dr. D'Amato)
Project: Climate change and associated stressors, like non-indigenous insects and diseases, threaten the species and ecological, cultural, and economic values supported by forest ecosystems around the globe. In response to these stressors, the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) experimental network was established to test different co-produced strategies for sustaining key species, ecosystem processes, and values in the context of global change. The University of Vermont (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources) seeks a MS-level graduate student to participate in a research project focused on examining the 10-year ecological outcomes of the ASCC installation in northern New Hampshire, as well as other co-produced adaptation experiments in the region. The MS student will contribute to field-based efforts examining forest structural, compositional, and functional dynamics at ASCC installations and will join a team of collaborators from the University of Vermont, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, and wider ASCC network. They would also work with an extensive group of partners from Tribal, State, and Federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in the region.
This position is available for Fall 2027 and includes two guaranteed years of funding (stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance).
Application:
Interested applicants should supply all application materials to the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) Program (M.S. in Natural Resources) by January 1, 2027 – when applying, please state your interest in this position in the "Statement of Purpose."
Contact:
Dr. Anthony D’Amato (awdamato@uvm.edu, 802-656-8030)
PhD Graduate Assistantship - The Vermont Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Environmental Research Network (Dr. Panikkar)
Collaborative Research Project: E-RISE: The Vermont Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Environmental Research Network (PERN)
About the position: PERN will address nationally relevant research priorities to better understand how PFAS move from contaminant sources to affect public health and ecosystems.
This new National Science Foundation award brings together researchers in engineering, data science, environmental health, ecology, hydrogeology, and biogeochemistry to create new knowledge through field and lab work, and improve education, policy, and participation in STEM fields.
This PhD position based at the University of Vermont will cohort with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and agency professionals advancing the science of forever chemicals across seven Vermont institutions and agencies.
Relevant Skills/Interests/Experience:
A fundamental science or engineering focus with an underlying passion for communication of data describing complex systems and emerging contaminants
Opportunities will include data-driven modeling and analysis of spatial and temporal data, using machine-learning, deep-learning, Bayesian inference, and geostatistical approaches
Application:
Please send questions and demonstrations of interest to any of the advisors/mentors listed below:
Dr. Kristen L. Underwood (Kristen.Underwood@uvm.edu) – UVM Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Matthew Scarborough (Matthew.Scarborough@uvm.edu) – UVM Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Bindu Panikkar (Bindu.Panikkar@uvm.edu) – Rubenstein Sch of Environment & Natural Resources
Dr. Jana Kraft (Jana.Kraft@uvm.edu) – UVM Dept of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
By December 1, 2026 (for a start in Summer or Fall of 2027), complete an application via the UVM Graduate College. Applicants will be asked to submit 3 Letters of Recommendation, Personal Statement, CV/Resume, Transcript; GRE is waived; TOEFL required for international students.
PhD Graduate Assistantship - Understanding Indigenous Perspectives on Forest Stewardship in Maine (Dr. Jolly)
About the position: The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) at the University of Vermont (UVM) invites applications for a fully funded PhD Graduate Research Assistantship to join an interdisciplinary research team examining Indigenous and Tribal Nations' perspectives on forest health, stewardship, and forest-related adaptations to climate change. The incoming PhD student will work in close partnership with Tribal Nations and community knowledge-holders in Maine (USA), and members of the University of Maine. For this transdisciplinary project these partnerships are important, and the student will be interfacing across these collaborators, and institutions over time. The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Helina Jolly, Assistant Professor (study lead), and Dr. Rachelle Gould, Professor, both based in RSENR. The student will also work closely with a project team of foresters, social scientists, and economists, including collaborators addressing complementary economic and ecological research questions within the same initiative.
Key Highlights:
Fully funded for four years (tuition, stipend, and health insurance) through research & teaching assistantships
Opportunity to work with a transdisciplinary team that includes Tribal Nations and interdisciplinary researchers based at the University of Vermont and University of Maine
Note on timing: Our ideal arrangement is unconventional: an immediate start as a part-time employee, followed by enrollment as a student in January 2027.
Details: This position requires the student to be physically located at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, with extended periods of fieldwork in Maine. Remote work is not available for this role. The selected candidate will ideally join the project as a temporary (hourly/term) Research Assistant beginning this term (Fall 2026) and participate in project activities such as team workshops, relationship-building with members of the Tribal Nations, and a scoping study (number of weekly hours in the fall is negotiable). The candidate will then transition to full-time PhD student status in the RSENR PhD in Natural Resources program with Spring admission, beginning January 2027. This phased approach allows the incoming researcher to begin contributing to the project and building relationships with project members and tribal partners immediately, while completing the formal Graduate College admissions process for a January 2027 start as a fully enrolled, funded PhD student.
As a PhD student for this project, you are expected:
Build and sustain respectful, reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations, community knowledge-holders, and partner organizations.
Conduct qualitative research work and travel for extended fieldwork.
Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, community reports, and other agreed-upon outputs, especially those that creatively and effectively share results beyond academic publications.
Assist with project administration, and coordination with project partners and collaborators when needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree (or equivalent research experience) in a relevant field such as natural resources, forestry, environmental studies, anthropology, Indigenous studies, human geography, or a related discipline.
Excellent interpersonal, listening, writing and cross-cultural communication skills.
Will value highly:
Experience working with Indigenous or Tribal communities and/or doing course work on traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous studies
Familiarity and/or experience with community-engaged work, and research methodologies (like doing interviews, surveys)
Application:
To apply, please submit a 200- 250-word summary of your interest in this project highlighting your previous experiences working with communities, Indigenous knowledge system, field work approaches and in general how your qualifications make you a good fit for the position, a CV, contact information for three references, and a writing sample. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the final deadline of October 05, 2026. Please email your application materials to Dr. Helina Jolly at helina.jolly@uvm.edu with the subject line: Prospective Graduate Student_TEK_Last Name.
We look forward to your application and the opportunity to work together in making a meaningful impact on environmental research and community engagement!
M.S. or PhD Assistantship - Human dimensions of fisheries in Lake Champlain (Dr. Bernos)
The Bernos F.I.S.H. lab is seeking a motivated graduate student for a funded MSc or PhD research assistantship focused on the human dimensions of fisheries in Lake Champlain, with a preferred start date of January or May 2027. In our multidisciplinary lab, we study the interactions between fish, peoples, and place. Learn more about our work on our website: https://bernoslab.wordpress.com.
The system: Imagine Lake Champlain - a large lake nested between Vermont, New York, and Quebec with five basins differing greatly in environmental conditions and fish communities. These ecological differences support a diverse fishery targeting species such as black basses, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Walleye, panfish, Bowfin, and more. Some fishers are highly specialized, targeting trophy size salmonid and bass (more than 100 bass tournaments are held on the lake annually!); others are more generalist, targeting diverse fish species close to urban centers. The largest urban centers on the lake’s shorelines are Burlington, Vermont and Plattsburg, New York: both cities are experiencing population growth and are home to an increasingly diverse community, making them a potential source of new and underrepresented participants to the fisheries. Recreational and provisional fishing, which includes both open water and ice fishing, is an important part of the local culture, recreation, and economy. Understanding how fishers interact with the fisheries of Lake Champlain is critical for ensuring both ecological sustainability and positive recreational experiences.
The successful candidate will develop a M.Sc. or Ph.D. thesis focused on one or more aspects of the fisheries of Lake Champlain. They may draw from human dimension research (surveys, interviews, webscrapping, etc.) and fishery techniques (e.g., sampling, telemetry, genetics). While the research questions will be refined collaboratively, the thesis is expected to contribute to our understanding of one (or more) of the following topics:
- The “movement ecology” of fishers and fishes
- Heterogeneity in fishing behaviours, including fishing techniques, harvest rate, motivation, preferences, and decision-making.
- Social and knowledge networks within fisheries systems, including patterns of connections among fishers, management agencies, community organizations, and fishery-related concepts (e.g. stocking, catch and release, commercial harvesting…).
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.
Qualifications: We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. International students are encouraged to apply. Candidates from a range of disciplines will be considered, including fisheries science, ecology, natural resources, human dimensions of natural resources, environmental studies, geography, sociology, anthropology, data science and network analysis, and other related disciplines. Students with interests in interdisciplinary research, quantitative and qualitative methods, modeling and simulations, stakeholder engagement, and social-ecological systems are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants may apply for either an MSc or PhD position. PhD applicants are typically expected to demonstrate a strong foundation for independent research, which many students develop through a master's degree, research experience, professional work, or other relevant experiences.
How to apply: To promote a transparent and equitable selection process, we ask applicants to complete a brief Google Form (Click here) during the initial screening stage. Following this review, selected candidates will be invited for an interview. Finalists will formally apply through the UVM Graduate Application. The questions are designed to help us understand your research interests and long-term career aspirations, and to determine whether this position is a match for your goals and experience. Review of applications will begin on September 1 and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by September 1 for full consideration. If you are encountering issues accessing the form, please contact Dr. Thais Bernos (thais.bernos@uvm.edu) directly.
Competitive PhD Funding Opportunities
Rubenstein Doctoral Assistantship
Rubenstein Doctoral Assistantship Overview
This funding opportunity provided by the Rubenstein Graduate Program will support 2-3 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 Overview 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 1st 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. If you think you are a good candidate for one of these fellowships, we suggest reaching out to potential faculty mentors to discuss this opportunity further.
Advisors will complete and submit the Request Form by January 25th of the calendar year in which the student intends to matriculate.
Gund Institute Ph.D. Fellowships
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.
To qualify for this opportunity, prospective RSENR PhD students must identify and secure support from a Gund Faculty Fellow that is also affiliated with the Rubenstein School. If you think you are a good candidate for one of these fellowships, we suggest reaching out to potential faculty mentors to discuss things further.
Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) Ph.D. Fellowships
Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) is a transdisciplinary initiative based at the University of Vermont (UVM) and McGill University that advances collaborative research, teaching, and leadership for a just and sustainable future. L4E at UVM fosters scholarship that explores economics through the lens of sustainable scale and just distribution over efficient allocation.
Fall '27 funding opportunities and next steps will be posted soon!
Please connect with Julie Starr (julie.starr@uvm.edu) with any questions.Learn more about L4E
External Fellowship Resources
We invite you to review the UVM Graduate College's External Funding webpage for information on other competitive fellowships for which you may be interested in applying, such as the NSF GRFP.
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