M.Sc. or Ph.D. Opportunity: Graduate Student Assistantship in Plant-Microbe Interactions (Spring 2027) at University of Florida (USA)

The Martins Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida (USA) is inviting applications from highly motivated students for M.Sc. and Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship positions beginning in Spring 2027.

The selected students will join the multi-state USDA-NIFA funded research project “Hunting for Healthy Soils”, which aims to understand how soil micro-predators influence microbial communities and improve plant health in organic farming systems.

This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in plant pathology, microbiology, soil ecology, molecular biology, and sustainable agriculture.

Research Project

The successful candidate will participate in the USDA-NIFA funded project:

Hunting for Healthy Soils

The research focuses on understanding how soil micro-predators regulate microbial communities and enhance plant health in organic production systems.

Research activities include:

• Laboratory experiments
• Greenhouse experiments
• Soil microbial ecology
• qPCR analysis
• Metagenomic sequencing
• Bioinformatics analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Scientific writing and conference presentations

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should have academic background or experience in one or more of the following fields:

• Plant Pathology
• Microbiology
• Soil Science
• Nematology
• Molecular Biology

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience with molecular biology techniques
• qPCR
• DNA extraction
• Metagenomics
• Statistical analysis (R or similar software)
• Bioinformatics
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively

What the Position Offers

Successful applicants will benefit from:

• Fully funded Graduate Assistantship
• Research within a USDA-NIFA funded project
• Collaboration with leading research institutions across the United States
• Hands-on laboratory and greenhouse experience
• Training in molecular biology and bioinformatics
• Opportunities to publish scientific papers
• Conference presentation opportunities
• Contribution to sustainable agriculture research

Required Application Documents

Applicants should submit:

• Brief cover letter describing research interests and experience
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Unofficial academic transcripts
•  

Application Deadline

10 August 2026

How to Apply

Interested applicants should email the required documents to the Martins Lab. Email address:  [email protected]. Use the subject line “Graduate Assistantship – Plant-Microbe Interaction: Spring 2027” when sending your email.