The Sustainability Evaluation and Applied Data Science Lab (SEADS) at University of South Dakota specializes in the integration of Systems Design and Applied Data Science for environmental and socioeconomic evaluation in South Dakota and beyond, with focus on water/air/soil security, climate resilient agriculture, and the ethics and governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Job Description
A graduate assistantship is available for a qualified Research Assistant (GRA) to join the SEADS lab. The student will conduct research on a 2-year NSF funded project on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The student will complete coursework and graduation requirements leading to a Master of Science in the Department of Sustainability and Environment. This assistantship includes an annual salary of $20,500, tuition remission, and support for conference travel and professional development. Anticipated start: January 2027
Qualifications
- A previous undergraduate degree in Sustainability and/or Environmental Science. Applicants from more broad disciplinary training across Engineering, the Natural and Social Sciences, with evident experience or interest in solving Sustainability problems, are also encouraged to apply.
- Quantitative aptitude and familiarity with Life-Cycle-Assessment software (e.g., Open LCA) and coding-based analysis of tabular and/or spatial data (R, Python, MATLAB, GIS, Stata, etc.).
- Strong writing and verbal communication skills, ability to work independently and jointly with multifunctional teams, and managing project timelines.
Before applying, please contact Dr. Guillermo Marcillo at guillermo.marcillo@usd.edu with the subject line SEADS_GRA_LCA and attach the following materials into one single PDF:
- A recent Curriculum Vitae (CV),
- Unofficial transcripts showing GPA and courses taken
- A Statement describing interest, background, and experience
- Official English scores for international applicants (TOEFL > 79, IELTS > 6)
- Names and contact of three academic references
For further information please visit the following links: Department of Sustainability and Environment: Department of Sustainability and Environment University of South Dakota, Graduate School Admissions: Graduate Admissions Vermillion, South Dakota: Life in Vermillion, SD.