Funded PhD Research Assistantship in the Department of Geography at Kent State University

Position Title: Graduate Research Assistantship in Social-Ecological Dimensions of Wetland Restoration

Job Category: Graduate Research Assistantship

Start Semester: Fall 2026

Apply By: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled

GRA Salary: Four years of funding including stipend and tuition remission

Location: Kent, Ohio

Duration: Four years

Overview: Dr. Patrick Bitterman in the Department of Geography at Kent State University is seeking a PhD student to join a funded, interdisciplinary research project exploring decision constraints, environmental governance, and wetland restoration science in Ohio's Western Lake Erie Basin. The project, funded through the ODHE Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI), investigates the conditions under which wetland restoration gains social traction (or encounters resistance) across northwest Ohio. Using survey research, focus groups, governance network analysis, and spatial modeling, we examine how institutional fragmentation, policy design, and landscape identity shape restoration outcomes in the Great Black Swamp region. The work bridges human geography, ecology, and public policy, and the student will collaborate across departments and with external partners throughout the project.

The student will work closely with the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program, which will provide access to unique ecological performance data and established stakeholder networks across the region. This is an opportunity to conduct policy-relevant, interdisciplinary research in one of the most consequential water quality landscapes in the Great Lakes region.

Qualifications:

  • Master's degree (completed prior to start date) in geography, environmental social science, or a related field.

  • Experience or strong interest in qualitative and mixed-methods research, including focus group facilitation, semi-structured interviews, qualitative coding, and thematic analysis.

  • Experience or strong interest in survey design and analysis.

  • Familiarity with social or social-ecological network analysis.

  • GIS and spatial analysis skills.

  • Familiarity with wetland ecology or restoration policy, environmental governance, or human dimensions of water resource management is a plus.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary research team, including engaging with agency partners, farmers, and other stakeholders.

  • Motivation to contribute to publishable research with direct relevance to policy and management.

The selected candidate must also meet qualifications for and be successfully admitted to the PhD program in Geography at Kent State University. This is an in-person, on-campus position.

To apply: Send a CV and statement of interest to Dr. Patrick Bitterman at pbitterm@kent.edu.