Graduate Research Fellow (C. Sckerl)

Tulane University; New Orleans (LA); In loco; USD 20.000 - 30.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Tulane University invites applications for a Graduate Research Fellow to support urban morphology research across Latin American mid-sized cities. The position emphasizes GIS-based data collection, historical map analysis, and collaborative work with Prof. Catherine Sckerl on spatial modeling.

The fellow will assemble GIS datasets, download maps and population data from INEGI, georeference maps, and contribute to visual language standards for presenting urban change.

Mansioni

• Instruct the graduate research fellow on data collection workflow and GIS-based workflows.
• Systematically search for and download high-resolution historical city maps and contemporary satellite images, filing them under a standard title in the research folder.
• Assemble shape files and population data from INEGI to build base GIS models for each city.
• Georeference historical city maps into the base GIS model and interpret historical city edges to generate shapefile layers.
• Develop a legible graphic language for representing urban morphology and implement it across GIS base files.

Descrizione del lavoro

Position Description

Research exploring urbanization processes in Latin America tends to focus on the rapid urbanization of the region's megacities, overlooking the developmental patterns of mid-sized urban centers. This research project aims to document, analyze, and compare the urban morphology of selected intermediate UNESCO cities in México, including Oaxaca de Juárez, Santiago de Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puebla, Morelia, Mérida, Campeche, and Zacatecas. The project combines historical research methods, visual interpretation, and spatial analysis to trace the distinctive morphological evolution of these mid-sized Mexican cities. The project aims to contribute to recent scholarly efforts that de-center the megacity as a site of analysis.

Supervisor Name

Catherine Sckerl

JOB DESCRIPTION

Catherine Sckerl

Email Address

[e-mail]

Position Title

Graduate Research Fellow

Course Title

n/a

Number Of Positions Available

1

Application Deadline

Aug 14, 2026

Position Description

Research exploring urbanization processes in Latin America tends to focus on the rapid urbanization of the region's megacities, overlooking the developmental patterns of mid-sized urban centers. This research project aims to document, analyze, and compare the urban morphology of selected intermediate UNESCO cities in México, including Oaxaca de Juárez, Santiago de Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puebla, Morelia, Mérida, Campeche, and Zacatecas. The project combines historical research methods, visual interpretation, and spatial analysis to trace the distinctive morphological evolution of these mid-sized Mexican cities. The project aims to contribute to recent scholarly efforts that de-center the megacity as a site of analysis.

Expected Duties

Prof. Sckerl will instruct the graduate research fellow on the data collection workflow as well as GIS-based workflows. The GRF will be tasked with systematically searching for and downloading high-resolution, digital, historical city maps and contemporary satellite images and filing them under a standard title within the research folder. The GRF will be tasked with downloading and assembling shape files an population data from INEGI to build base GIS models for each city. Next, the GRF will work alongside with Prof. Sckerl to georeference the historical city maps into the appropriate base model and interpret the historical edges of the city to generate shapefile layers; using population data commensurate with the historic maps, the GRF will run basic calculations for population density and urbanization rates. The GRF will work with Prof. Sckerl to develop a legible graphic language for representing urban morphology, and then will work to implement these standards consistently across GIS base files.

Proposed Schedule

Weekly coordination meeting + flexible hours up to 12 per week

Position location

In-person/On-campus (Uptown)

Student Preferences

Graduate Student

Application Materials

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Work Sample/Portfolio
• Class Schedule

About Us

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