We are looking for PhD students interested in joining our research group at University of Miami (amyzanne.org).Students would join an interactive lab group and develop an independent research focus in line with ongoing lab projects.Broadly we study how biotic interactions impact biogeochemical cycles. Many in our group explore how plant construction influences community structure and function (from morphology to genes) of biotic decay agents, such as microbes and termites. Our lab also examines the consequences of these interactions for ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycles, especially in USA, Australia, Chile and Brazil as climate changes.New lab projects will be based in the New World Tropics including south Florida coastal systems, Chilean fjords and Antarctica coastal systems in collaboration with Eduardo Castro (University of Talca) and Brazilian savannas and wetlands in collaboration with Rafael Oliveira and Natashi Pilon (University of Campinas).Other lab projects include solar radiation impacts on litter and wood decay, microbiome assembly on leaves and fruits, and macroevolution and functional ecology of plants, termites and microbes around the globe.The fully funded graduate program will be completed at University of Miami. If you are interested in working with us, send an email to me (Amy Zanne: aezanne@gmail.com) with brief details about your research interests and experiences, why our group is a fit for you and why you want to go to graduate school. A TOEFL exam may be required depending on applicant background.For information about applying to the program, go to the University of Miami, Department of Biology website (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbiology.as.miami.edu%2Fgraduate%2Findex.html&data=05%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C06fc9fda2dca47fc5f1108dbbf431917%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638314067130132757%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=15wyjwmslZK69%2Bkf23%2FvLmpGs2IW6Gtk%2BxpHf%2FKkx6c%3D&reserved=0). For fall 2024 admission, the application deadline is 1 December 2023. Students from Brazil and Chile especially encouraged to apply. I am happy to answer any further questions you might have.