Research opportunities

Research in the lab asks how forests can be restored, managed, and adapted in a rapidly changing world. We combine field measurements, experiments, spatial analysis, and ecological and economic approaches to understand why restoration succeeds in some places and not others and how that knowledge can improve decisions about what to plant, where to plant it, and for whom.

Projects are currently developing across New York and Panama, with opportunities ranging from tree physiology and long-term forest monitoring to assisted migration, community-based reforestation, agroforestry, ecosystem services, and spatial modeling. The form of each opportunity will depend on available funding, project timing, and mentoring capacity.

Explore opportunities for:

Postdoctoral Scholars

Postdoctoral researchers in the lab may develop projects that build from ongoing work in forest restoration, climate adaptation, reforestation, ecosystem services, and environmental decision-making. I am especially interested in supporting researchers who bring complementary expertise, new methodological approaches, or questions that extend the lab’s work in productive directions.

Possible areas of collaboration include climate-adaptive forestry, assisted migration, tree physiology, species and genotype performance, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, agroforestry, community-based restoration, spatial ecology, and the ecological and economic outcomes of land-management decisions. Projects may be based in New York, Panama, or other locations where there is a strong scientific question and appropriate partnership.

Prospective postdoctoral scholars are also welcome to contact me about developing an external fellowship application. Programs that may be relevant include the Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability, the Smith Conservation Research Fellowship, and other national or international fellowships aligned with the proposed research.

To discuss a potential fellowship, email Katherine at kas595@cornell.edu and include:

Your CV
A short description of your research background and current interests
A preliminary project idea or set of questions you would be interested in exploring
The fellowship program and anticipated deadline, if you have already identified one

Please reach out well in advance of the deadline. Developing a strong proposal requires time to refine the research questions, identify collaborators and study systems, and ensure that the project is a good fit for both the fellowship and the lab.

Postdoctoral scholars will be supported in developing their own research identity while contributing to a collaborative lab environment and engaging with Cornell researchers, land managers, conservation organizations, and community partners.

Current Postdoctoral Opportunities

There are no funded postdoctoral positions being advertised at this time. Future opportunities will be posted here as funding becomes available.

Graduate Students

Graduate research in the lab centers on questions about how forests function, how they respond to environmental change, and how restoration and management decisions can be improved.

M.S. and Ph.D. students may work on projects involving forest restoration, assisted migration, tree species and genotype selection, drought and climate responses, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, agroforestry, ecosystem services, spatial ecology, or conservation decision-making. Some students may join established projects in New York or Panama, while others may develop new questions that connect with the lab’s broader research program.

Student projects may combine fieldwork with data analysis, modeling, remote sensing, physiological measurements, or interdisciplinary approaches. The exact balance will depend on the research question, the student’s interests, available funding, and the needs of the project.

I am particularly interested in working with students who are thoughtful about why their research matters, open to learning unfamiliar methods, and willing to contribute to a collaborative research community. Applicants do not need to arrive with every technical skill required for their proposed work. Intellectual curiosity and a willingness to learn are more important than checking every methodological box.

Admission depends on research fit, available funding, and my capacity to provide appropriate mentorship. Graduate assistantships connected to specific funded projects will be advertised here when available. Prospective students with external fellowships or other funding sources are also encouraged to get in touch.

To introduce yourself, email Katherine at kas595@cornell.edu with:

A brief description of the questions that interest you
An explanation of how those interests connect with the lab’s research
Your anticipated degree and application timeline
A current CV or résumé
A summary of relevant research, employment, field, analytical, or community experience

You may also include publications, presentations, writing samples, or links to code, but these are not expected or required.

Please review the lab’s research pages before contacting me. You do not need to arrive with a complete proposal, but it is helpful to identify one or two research themes, projects, or questions that you would be especially excited to pursue.

Current Graduate Opportunities

There are no specific funded graduate positions being advertised at this time. New opportunities will be added here as projects and funding develop.

Undergraduate Students

Cornell undergraduates can become involved in the lab through semester research, summer projects, independent study, honors theses, or paid research assistance, depending on current project needs and available mentoring.

Undergraduate researchers might help collect field data, measure trees, process samples, manage datasets, review scientific literature, create maps, analyze data in R or GIS, develop figures, or contribute to outreach and scientific writing. Students pursuing independent research may also have the opportunity to develop their own question within an ongoing project.

Not every position requires previous research, coding, or field experience. For many projects, curiosity and a willingness to ask questions are the most important qualifications.

Field-based projects may involve working outdoors in heat, cold, rain, insects, or uneven terrain. Other projects may be entirely computer-based or focused on literature, data management, or analysis. Opportunity descriptions will identify any specific requirements.

Students interested in joining the lab should email Katherine at kas595@cornell.edu with:

Their year and major
A short description of their interests
The type of experience they are seeking, such as paid work, research credit, an honors thesis, or summer research
Their availability
Any relevant coursework, employment, research, field, laboratory, coding, GIS, or community experience
What they hope to learn or contribute

It is also helpful to mention a particular lab project or research topic that caught your attention. Students do not need to have a fully formed research idea, but messages that show a clear connection to the lab’s work are easier to respond to meaningfully.

Current Undergraduate Opportunities

Open undergraduate projects and research-assistant positions will be listed here when available. Students are still welcome to make inquiries, but immediate placement cannot be guaranteed.