Project: Regional Woody Bioenergy System Research
Dr. Paul M. Smith, Professor, Forest Products Marketing, Penn State University is soliciting one or more candidates to pursue an M.S. and/or Ph.D. degree in Forest Resources, Bioproduct Systems Management or Biological Engineering with an emphasis in business and marketing.
The project consists of a large team of academic, industrial, and non-governmental researchers addressing bioenergy and chemical supply chains including feedstock, conversion, system metrics (distribution, life cycle assessment, and environmentally preferred products [EPP] marketing), education, and outreach. As part of the systems metrics team, the EPP group at Penn State will employ social science methodology and analysis to assess stakeholder perceptions of bioenergy systems and perceived customer value of bioenergy products. The candidate will be expected to interact effectively with an interdisciplinary group of industrial, academic and policy researchers including foresters, engineers, wood scientists, chemists, and social scientists in a variety of locations.
In addition to a graduate research assistantship, tuition waivers will be provided to the successful candidate(s). Project-related travel expenses will available and may include project meetings and conference presentations. The successful applicant must be highly motivated, able to work with minimal supervision, and have good English speaking and writing abilities.
Interest/knowledge/familiarity with industrial ecology, environmental economics, cost-benefit analysis, technical and policy implications of bioenergy and chemical supply chain systems, life-cycle assessment, value analysis, and/or survey-based research methods/analysis are a plus.
Application Procedure:
Interested parties should contact Dr. Paul Smith, email: pms6@psu.edu; phone: 814/865-8841.