Two to three research assistantships are available for students to pursue their master’s or doctoral studies in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Funding for the assistantships is primarily from the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Depending on the projects a student chooses, partial support also may come from the North Dakota Corn Growers Association or other commodity groups, state or federal agencies.
One research assistantship is in the area of precision agriculture, including variable rate machinery calibration and testing, new equipment development, auto-steering and sensors. The remaining positions are in the bioenergy/bioprocessing area, including bioproducts from corn stover or corn grain, biomass handling and preprocessing, and bioproduct quality evaluation.
Funding is available for two years for master’s study and three years for doctoral study, both starting immediately. Additional support may be available depending on project performance. For a master’s degree, candidates with a bachelor of science degree in any field of engineering can apply. For the doctoral degree, a master’s degree in any field of science and engineering is required.
Experience and background in the specific areas related to the project will be an advantage but not necessary. Candidates should be prepared to learn and work independently as well as in groups, and outside their current educational and research backgrounds. The assistantships are available only to U.S. citizens.
For additional information, contact Lori Buckhouse at 1-7273 or lori.buckhouse@ndsu.edu. To apply, go to www.ndsu.edu/gradschool.