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Resources related to careers in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

Position description: The successful applicant will conduct qualitative data analysis based on semi-structured interviews and Net-Maps with coffee farmers in Colombia, focusing on their social interactions (with peers and others) and the implementation of sustainable practices (e.g. agroforestry, soil conservation). They will also support additional research activities related to the project, contribute to the preparation of at least one peer-reviewed article, and collaborate with an international team of scholars based in Australia, Sweden, and Colombia. The selected candidate will pursue the Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.

Desired qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree with coursework in social sciences and environmental studies.
• Qualitative data collection and analysis skills (e.g., semi-structured interviews).
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with an interdisciplinary and international group.
• Proficiency in Spanish.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for the last two years (60 hours) of coursework leading to bachelor’s degree.
• International applicants: Proof of English proficiency is not required at this application stage. However, if selected as a top candidate and recommended to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, you will need to meet the Graduate College’s English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate Admission(International Applicants | Graduate College) by December 15^th 2025.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with data analysis in NVivo.
• Familiar with Social Network Analysis theory.

Support: Full tuition, health insurance, and a stipend for nine months during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 academic years. In addition, a two-month summer stipend will be provided for the 2026–2027 academic year.

How to apply: Send the following items in one single PDF to Dr. Maria Alejandra Garcia at mariaag@illinois.edu before October 20^th 2025 11:59 p.m. CT: 1) one-page cover letter; 2) CV (including GPA); 3) Name and contact information (email) of three references; 4) one writing example (link or PDF). Use the subject line: Master’s Student Application. If selected as a top candidate, Dr. Maria Alejandra Garcia will recommend you apply to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and you will need to be ready to submit the required documentation by December 15, 2025.

About the place: The successful applicant will join me in my new Lab to advance research that supports more sustainable and just rural territories. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (Home | Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences | Illinois) is a vibrant interdisciplinary department within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (Home | ACES | Illinois) in the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (U of I) (Home | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign). U of I is a land-grand university that prioritizes applied and basic research, and ranks #9 in Top Public Universities and #33 in National Universities in the United States according to the 2025 News & World Report of America’s Best College rankings (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges).