Hybrid Graduate Research Assistant-Urban Forestry bei Virginia Wesleyan University

The Virginia Wesleyan University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is seeking a VWU graduate student to assist part-time with the research project “Community Based Urban Heat Island Mitigation in Portsmouth VA and Surrounding Areas”. The student will help organize and oversee community-based tree plantings in Portsmouth Virginia. The student will assist with activities including identifying planting locations, planting designs and planting logistics, recruiting and communicating with volunteers, and oversight on the planting days. The student will also create outreach materials for the local community and local media outlets. Additional responsibilities may include GIS mapping of the study area and educational outreach. Some work will have the option to be remote, but the student will be required to be in the Virginia Beach/Portsmouth area several times to assess the site locations, meet with collaborators and oversee the plantings. There will also be some in person meetings and volunteer recruitment events in Portsmouth.

The student will work approximately 10 hours per week over a fifteen-week period with compensation of $20/hour. Employment period is contingent upon grant availability.

• Graduate student enrolled in good standing in Virginia Wesleyan University’s Masters in Environmental Studies (MEnv) program.
• Minimum GPA (graduate) of 3.0. Or, for students just entering the program an undergraduate GPA of 3.2.
• Availability to assist with the project for an average of 10 hours per week from August 18 through December 5, 2025.
• Availability all day on the planting days (to be determined in consultation with supervisor).
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the MEnv program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of ArcGIS
• Knowledge of horticulture

Portsmouth VA is ranked “at risk” by the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), with nearly a third of the city’s population living in zip codes deemed “distressed”. These areas also have relatively low tree cover and higher impervious surfaces, potentially leading to extreme heat stress. Urban tree planting can have a mitigating effect on heat stress and can contribute to overall wellness and attractiveness to businesses and customers. For this project, funded by a grant through the VA Department of Forestry, we are measuring urban heat stress in Portsmouth to better target efforts to mitigate extreme heat. Results will be shared with the community, who will be engaged in developing local solutions.  We will then work with the community to plan and carry out an intensive tree planting program in 2025 using native or fruit bearing species for areas that emerge as most distressed based on heat & demographic factors.

The goals of this two year project are to 1) map the urban heat islands (UHI) in Portsmouth, VA by direct on-the-ground measurement using a citizen science model, 2) identify neighborhoods in Portsmouth that are at high risk for extreme urban heat by combining the heat maps with demographic data using GIS analysis, 3) engage the community in a collaborative process to identify intervention solutions, and 4) conduct heat mitigation interventions by removing pavement and planting trees, in specific areas identified through the collaborative community engagement. 

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin August 8, 2025.