The Catchen Lab (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcatchenlab.life.illinois.edu%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmid14018%40ad.uconn.edu%7C1160f71881454f80eb0108de25d0c77b%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638989775840611720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BrDWdVoZgtu5FgwF%2BiV3OOaO0TYgDwJSXCOAvh73tTU%3D&reserved=0), in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is recruiting graduate students to join our lab.

Our lab is primarily a computational lab that focuses on the evolution of genome architecture. We blend comparative genomics with population genetics, applying a computational toolset to most of our analyses. We sequence a lot of DNA, focusing on long- and short-read sequencing, combining these data with novel algorithm development in Python and
C++. We accept students with a range of computational experience and
previous students have worked on research projects ranging from purely biological analyses to writing software.

Recent projects in the lab have included significant work in fishes, including the genomics of Antarctic fishes, the genome architecture of killifishes, stickleback genomics, ancient and modern salmon DNA, and investigating the genomic basis of honey bee metabolism.

Some of our students develop software packages; the lab developed the Stacks software for analyzing RADseq data, tools for conserved synteny analysis and genome assembly curation, visualization tools, such as Klumpy, and with some cool stuff under development.

The department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior is housed within the School of Integrative Biology, home to over 30 faculty working in ecology, behavior, conservation and evolution. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers state-of-the-art research facilities such as the Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), the Beckman Institute (several research themes including bioimaging and Molecular Science and
Engineering) and the Grainger College of Engineering. Urbana-Champaign is a pleasant, affordable, university town with good music and restaurants. It has its own airport and is close to three major U.S. cities (Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis).

Students for the Ph.D. are typically funded for 5-years with a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. The deadline for consideration is December 15, 2025.

Please contact Julian Catchen (jcatchen@illinois.edu) if you have questions or want to discuss opportunities in the lab.

“Catchen, Julian” <jcatchen@illinois.edu>

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An MS graduate position is available with Dr. Steve Travers (Evolutionary Ecolgy, North Dakota State University) starting Fall 2026.  The successful applicant will investigate the adaptation of wild plants to warm climates. The two year project will involve:

Experimentally testing heat tolerance of Brassica rapa collected from a range of latitudes Designing variables to measure reflecting tolerance Synthesizing field work and collaborative work on physiology and genetics Opportunities at leadership

Project Description: Variation in plant thermotolerance can result from multiple factors, including adaptation to local thermal climates. In this project, we will conduct a common garden experiment and measure thermotolerance variables in populations from divergent thermal environments toward the extremes of the Brassica rapa U.S. range. We will test three non-exclusive predictions based on the hypothesis of local thermal adaptation: (1) optimal performance temperatures are positively correlated with mean provenance temperature; (2) plants from more thermally variable environments are more thermally plastic than their counterparts from more stable environments; and (3) plants from more thermally variable environments have the widest thermal niche breadths.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in ecology, biology, environmental science or related field Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team and be willing to mentor others Research experience

If you are interested in learning more about the research and the position, please contact Steve Travers at steven.travers@ndsu.edu. You can also learn about the lab at: https://sites.google.com/view/evoecobot/home?pli=1

Graduate Assistantships in Global Change and Forest Dynamics, University of Denver

The Martin lab (duforestecology.weebly.com) invites applications at the Ph.D. or M.S. level to the University of Denver graduate program in Biology, Ecology and Evolution in the Department of Biological Sciences (du.edu/nsm/departments/biologicalsciences/index.html).

We welcome inquiries from candidates interested in how global environmental change is influencing tree demography and forest dynamics across spatial and temporal scales. Observational and experimental studies in the field will be used to build quantitative models of plant-environment relationships and to explore scenarios of forest dynamics under changing conditions; e.g. climate change influences on recruitment, whole-plant carbon budgets in invasive species ecology, and how drought and warming are impacting tree species biochemistry and physiology. Opportunities exist for projects in the montane forests of the Rocky Mountains or the tropical montane forests in the Caribbean. Projects will start ideally on June 1st, 2026.

We seek candidates with proficiency and experience in the following areas:
* Fieldwork ecology experience; love of mountains, hiking, camping, etc.
* Experience in tree ecophysiology, including use of a LI-COR 6800
* Interest or experience using quantitative models of forest dynamics (e.g. SORTIE).
* Statistical, modeling, and programming skills (R, S-plus, etc.).
* Knowledge of the flora and ecology of the Rocky Mountain or Caribbean regions
* Strong written and communication skills, including firsthand experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

Interested applicants should email Dr. Martin (patrick.h.martin@du.edu). Applications received before February 1st 2023 will receive priority.

In your email, please provide a statement of your current and future research interests and experiences, your CV, and contact information for 3 references.

Graduate position in parental care evolution

The Potticary Lab at Northern Michigan University is recruiting a Masters (MS) student to work on the ecology of parental care evolution of burying beetles (start date fall 2026).

In the Potticary lab, we are investigating the ecology of parenting using burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus as a study system. Depending on the interests of the successful candidate, there are several projects on northern Michigan burying beetles that may be available. On-going and planned projects include work on the transgenerational effects of parenting, the impact of ecological variation on parenting strategies, and how communication mechanisms influence parental care strategies.

Applicants with strong interests in evolution, behavior, ecology, natural history, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Desired qualifications include the ability to balance working independently and collaboratively, excellent work habits, and strong writing skills. Projects will involve working with both a laboratory colony containing multiple species of Nicrophorus burying beetles, as well as consistent field work under a diversity of conditions. All projects require the handling of live beetles and their primary food/breeding resource (carrion). No prior fieldwork experience is required, but the successful candidate must be keen to develop their fieldwork skills and comfortable handling insects, or are interested in handling insects.

To apply informally, please send a letter of interest, CV, transcript (unofficial is fine), and contact information for three references to Dr. Ahvi Potticary, apottica@nmu.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is identified (official admissions procedures to follow). All applications received by December 12 will receive full consideration.

For more information on the Potticary lab, please see here: https://ahvapotticary.weebly.com/

For more information on the graduate program at Northern Michigan University, please see here: https://nmu.edu/biology/masters-science-biology

Attachment: Graduate student posting 2026.pdf (application/pdf)

*** NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Awards ***

With support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Michigan State University (MSU), NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Awards are given to students, postdocs, and junior researchers (e.g., assistant professors) to cover expenses associated with attending the meeting of  IALE-North America  (North America Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology), which will be held in Athens, Georgia, April 26-30, 2026. This will be the 25th anniversary of the NASA-MSU Program.

The application materials include a cover letter, application form, abstract, resume/CV, and budget. The abstract should also have been submitted to the IALE-NA meeting website. Applications are judged based on the merits of the applicants’ abstracts, financial needs, and professional backgrounds and goals.

Presentations (oral or poster) should focus on telecoupling (environmental-socioeconomic interactions over distances, such as human and animal migration, species dispersal, species invasion, disease spread, sound/noise transmission, spread of pollutants and wastes, trade of goods and products, flows of ecosystem services, environmental and hydrological flows, foreign investment, technology transfer, water transfer, and tourism) and/or metacoupling. Topics may include applications of the telecoupling framework or metacoupling framework to address issues across landscapes or coupled human and natural systems (e.g., dynamics, pattern, process, structure, function, and sustainability). For more information about coupled human and natural systems, please see: Science and Ambio.

Awardees will also have opportunities to interact with some leading scientists and other meeting attendees, including a special dinner on April 27, and telecoupling / metacoupling workshop #4  (https://www.ialena.org/workshops-2026.html ) and symposium #5 (https://www.ialena.org/symposia-2026.html).

Students, postdocs, and other junior scholars (e.g., assistant professors) from around the world (except former award recipients) are welcome to apply. Please apply here (https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9nsQ6KiZMNCyWFg) . The application deadline is December 15, 2025.

Questions can be directed to:

Dr. Jianguo (Jack) Liu
Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI  48824, USA
liuji@msu.edu

Eastern Washington University invites applicants for our Master of Science program in Biology!

https://www.ewu.edu/cstem/biology/biology-ms/

The EWU Biology MS is a thesis-based program emphasizing research. A variety of specialties are available within the department, including aquatic and riparian ecology, cell biology, fisheries, genetics, microbiology, molecular ecology, physiology, restoration ecology, and wildlife (see https://www.ewu.edu/cstem/biology/faculty-staff/).  Some specific laboratories recruiting students are highlighted below, but other faculty are accepting applicants as well. We welcome applicants from a diversity of backgrounds interested in any of these fields, including those underrepresented in biology.

Dr. Krisztian Magori (kmagori@ewu.edu) is recruiting graduate students to study infectious disease threats to animals and people in relation to climate, land use and biodiversity change in the Inland Northwest; as well as to develop and disseminate best practices to integrate AI into biological data analysis.

Camille McNeely (fmcneely@ewu.edu) is recruiting students interested in stream or wetland ecology, with a focus on invertebrates, restoration, nutrient loading, and/or food webs. Please contact Dr. McNeely for more information.

Dr. Charlotte Milling, in collaboration with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Kalispel Natural Resources Department, is recruiting candidates for 1-2 MS positions evaluating waterfowl ecology in the Pacific Flyway. The Milling Lab at EWU investigates questions related to behavioral ecology and animal-habitat relationships to inform conservation of wildlife populations and their habitat.  Applied research projects that address contemporary challenges of regional relevance (e.g., wetlands management, wildfire, multiple land use) are of particular interest. Projects will combine field-based research, lab-based methods, and advanced quantitative reasoning to advance understanding of ecological processes meaningful to managers and partners in the flyway.  For more information on potential research projects or lab-specific required qualifications, or to express your interest in joining the lab, please email cmilling@ewu.edu.”

Research in Thrikawala Lab can be summarized into one word, “immunotoxicology”. I investigate how environmental and pharmaceutical chemicals affect immunity, altering immune response to infections and injury. I use zebrafish larvae to model infection and injury and use fluorescent microscopy to track real-time immune cell responses. If you are excited to work with an animal model, cool microscopy, and cutting-edge molecular techniques like CRISPR, please contact Dr. Savini Thrikawala via suparathrikawala@ewu.edu.

Financial support is available through Graduate Service Appointments (GSAs, https://www.ewu.edu/apply/graduate/tuition-aid/), which provide tuition-waiver and wages for a 20 hour per week teaching responsibility. Additional funding may be available through grants or contracts to individual faculty advisors.  For full GSA consideration for fall 2026 admission, applications are due February 10, 2026.  Admission requires an undergraduate degree in Biology or a related field, 3.0 GPA, and approval of an EWU faculty member willing to serve as the thesis advisor.  We recommend contacting potential advisors as early as possible in the application process.  The GRE is not required.

Application information: https://www.ewu.edu/apply/graduate/

Biology Department website: https://www.ewu.edu/cstem/biology/

EWU Graduate Programs website: https://www.ewu.edu/grad/

For questions contact: fmcneely@ewu.edu (Camille McNeely, M.S. Program Director, Biology, Eastern Washington University)

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.

Location

EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 11,000 residents 16 miles southwest of the state’s second largest city, Spokane. Our area combines small-town charm and big-city life, floatable rivers and award-winning urban parks, Instagrammable nature spots and downtown market. The metro area is home to more than 600,000 people with nightlife, malls, an international airport, movie theaters, and museums. We also have cafes, restaurants, parks, art galleries, sports teams, concerts and enough coffee for even the fiercest java hounds.

EWU has a strong commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds.  Resources include active Multicultural (https://inside.ewu.edu/mcc/) and Pride (https://inside.ewu.edu/pridecenter/) Centers. EWU maintains a Writer’s Center that works with many of our Biology M.S. students (https://inside.ewu.edu/writerscenter/), and a robust Student Accommodations and Support team (https://inside.ewu.edu/sass/).

The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) is seeking to fill 10 paid REU positions for Summer 2026 at our NSF-funded REU site “Saving Endangered Species and Habitats: Next-generation Education, Research, and Training for Conservation Biologists.” This 10-week REU, held from June 1 to August 7, 2026, will give undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct hands-on, full-time conservation research and gain career-ready skills to improve knowledge of and best management practices for threatened species with the goal of helping to alleviate the global extinction crisis. Students will work with mentors to develop an original inquiry-based research project within one of the following three focal areas: 1) assessing and monitoring species in the wild, 2) understanding species integrity and resilience to anthropogenic threats, and 3) improving captive management of threatened species.

This REU takes advantage of the resources offered by the SMSC, located at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), which provide ample opportunity to learn and conduct research onsite, including lab, field, and/or computational research. Students will be trained in the responsible and ethical conduct of research, and how to effectively promote their findings using various online/social media platforms. Project mentors are conducting impactful, recognized research and all have experience in providing mentorship and professional development experiences for undergraduates. REU students will also participate in a series of career and skills-building seminars with faculty and attend colloquium talks given by experts in conservation, while interacting with peers in team-building activities and social excursions. Students will also enhance their communication skills by presenting their research findings at a final symposium as well as a poster preview for the local community. Successful applicants will be paired with a research mentor based on their interest in this REU’s thematic areas and the best fit of the REU experience for the student’s academic and/or professional or career goals.

As part of the application process, students will need to identify available projects they are interested in working on. A list of available projects and associated mentors can be found on our website at: https://smconservation.gmu.edu/nsf-reu/

This is a fully funded, 10-week paid research experience. Candidates must be available and in residence for the entire 10-week period. All REU participants will receive a $7,000 stipend, up to $500 in travel support to/from the REU site, plus room and board at the residence and dining facilities of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), located at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia. Upon successful completion of the program, students can receive up to $200 in conference participation support.

Who should apply?

Undergraduate students who are very excited about a career in conservation, or interested in related disciplines, such as biology, ecology, genetics, physiology, animal behavior, endocrinology, anthropology, and environmental sciences, are encouraged to apply.

NSF-REU eligibility:

To be eligible for this REU program, you must be (1) at least 18 years old, (2) enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a bachelor’s or associate degree, (3) a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident.

When is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026.

Start preparing your application materials early! This is a competitive program and only 10 students will be selected. Through the online application system (NSF-ETAP), students will need to submit:

Current resume Unofficial transcript(s) for all college/university-level coursework One letter of recommendation from a professor or someone from a professional capacity that can judge your ability to succeed in a research program An essay/narrative that describes your academic and professional interests related to the discipline of conservation and what motivated you to pursue them, as well as your future goals and ambitions and how this REU experience would help you achieve those goals

Apply by following this link to the NSF application portal: https://etap.nsf.gov/.

Create an account and enter SMSC in the search bar, or go directly to our program page: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/7921/opportunity/11407.

If you have specific questions, please contact the REU Faculty Program Director, Dr. Anneke DeLuycker at adeluyck@gmu.edu

The Sianta Lab (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.siantalab.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cdaniel.bolnick%40uconn.edu%7C2803136276a547f856a708de21ad2b63%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638985224811273937%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZOK2ty9a8l3%2Bpg%2BhOV4u0%2B5wVs7MNXUowh2vO%2FP6YPE%3D&reserved=0) in the Department of Integrative
Biology at the University of Texas at Austin seeks a highly motivated and
detail-oriented laboratory technician to play a key role in setting up
and supporting the research operations of our lab. Our research focuses
on understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes driving
phenotypic, genetic, and species diversity in plant systems. The lab uses
field and greenhouse experiments, population genomics, and phylogenomics
and comparative biology to investigate how spatial environmental
variation and local adaptation contribute to speciation. This position
offers a unique opportunity to be involved in the foundational stages of
a lab, contributing to a cutting-edge research program that integrates
ecological, evolutionary, and genomic approaches.

This position will involve general lab setup and management, general plant
care and experiments with plants in the greenhouse, standard molecular
biology techniques, and training and supervising of undergraduate
assistants. This position will likely involve fieldwork in Spring
2026 in California and/or Texas, which may require being away from
Austin, TX for one to a few weeks across multiple trips and may require
camping. Fieldwork would require some driving and a valid driver’s
license. The work will also include data analysis, and there will be
opportunities for publishing research.

Review of applications will start November 17th, 2025 and will continue
until the position is filled. Start date as soon as December 2025,
but is negotiable.

Please see more details here:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Futaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com%2FUTstaff%2Fjob%2FUT-MAIN-CAMPUS%2FResearch-Engineering-Scientist-Associate-I_R_00042901&data=05%7C02%7Cdaniel.bolnick%40uconn.edu%7C2803136276a547f856a708de21ad2b63%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638985224811292782%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0HMqeNDanNbouo5n6w3hGykU1C4AjgVg6F%2BWAKpHdI8%3D&reserved=0

Inquiries about the position can be directed to Shelley Sianta
(shelley.sianta@austin.utexas.edu).

The Elmore Lab (https://sites.google.com/view/elmore-ecology) at Clemson University is seeking to recruit 1 PhD and 1 MS student to join the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation (FEC) under the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology graduate program (https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/forestry-environmental-conservation/students/graduate.html).

Tropical Storm Helene caused widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction across the southern Appalachian region in September 2024. These impacts caused long-term and potentially permanent changes to the distribution, structure, and function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Field evaluations and monitoring are required to understand how baseline ecological conditions changed following these large-scale, geological changes in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Graduate students working on this project will be part of a larger team working to monitor and assess terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. This dynamic and multi-disciplinary team at Clemson University has expertise across the fields of forestry, wildlife, fisheries, and fire ecology. Team members will work closely with federal, state, and non-governmental organizations to communicate findings and inform ongoing, on-the-ground restoration and recovery efforts aimed at focal species, ecosystems and important forest resources.

The PhD candidate will help coordinate a landscape-scale monitoring project and ask questions surrounding how priority bird species (e.g., Kentucky Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Veery, Ruffed Grouse, etc.) respond to hurricane damage and restoration projects. Bird monitoring will use autonomous recording units (ARU) and may integrate other human or citizen science-based surveys into occupancy or population trends. The MS candidate will help coordinate a smaller scale nest monitoring project and ask questions surrounding how priority bird species nesting behavior and success is influenced by hurricane damage and restoration projects. Both projects will compare across disturbed to undisturbed areas and may include questions pertaining to scale and resolution of disturbance on the landscape. Students will have the opportunity to develop some specific research questions and shape their dissertation/thesis to their interest within the above framework.

Each position includes a tuition waiver and a 12-month stipend (PhD = $35k and MS = $30k per year). The position also includes a university computer, funding for professional travel (e.g., conferences and training) or field work, and publication costs for peer-reviewed publications. Positions will be located on campus at Clemson University (https://www.clemson.edu/), a public land-grant Carnegie R1 Research University in a college town setting, on Lake Hartwell, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is about 2 hours from Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, and about 45 minutes from Greenville, SC. Clemson is bound on the north and south by the 17,500-acre Clemson University Forest and the west by Lake Hartwell. The FEC is home of the South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Baruch institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, The National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative, and several other research and education centers. Remote work is not possible as students must take on-campus classes and conduct summer field work in remote areas of Pisgah National Forest just outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

The Elmore Lab and FEC at Clemson University desire to create a diverse community that welcomes people regardless of race, culture, age, gender, sexuality, religion, socioeconomic level, political perspective, physical ability, opinion, value, or experience. We value and believe that each member of our team enriches our research experience by contributing to the understanding and engagement of science while being included and respected. We also recognize that effective mentorship is an important influence for student outcomes, experiences, completion, satisfaction, and success. We expect a mutual exchange, mentor-mentee relationship founded in respect, personal rigorous goals to be set, and we do everything in our ability to achieve those as a team.

PhD applicants must have a MS degree and MS applicants must have a BS degree in wildlife ecology, natural resources, environmental science, geography, GIS, or closely related field. The desire to publish peer-reviewed scientific articles is required, and ideal applicants will have evidence of both written and oral communication skills. Applicants demonstrating advanced modeling and computational skills, including proficiency in R and/or GIS programs (or demonstrating a desire to learn these skills) will be highly competitive. Applicants should demonstrate that they have the ability to lead and manage an independent research project, but also be a part of collaborative team efforts. Commitment to bird conservation is a must, and demonstrated experience conducting bird field work highly desired. For the PhD position, applicants with experience processing ARU data and/or integrating multiple data sources at broad spatial scales will be highly competitive. For the MS position, applicants with experience tracking individual birds or conducting nest studies will be highly competitive.

To apply, please send a single merged PDF that includes a letter of interest and qualifications, full academic CV, unofficial transcripts, and contact information for at least 3 professional references to jaelmor@clemson.edu with “Bird response to disturbance graduate position” as the email subject. I welcome informal inquiries about the position. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until successful applicants are found. The positions will start in January or May of 2026.

Announcement: Summer REU position in plant disease ecology – University of Florida

The Flory Lab (www.florylab.com) at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, FL is seeking an undergraduate for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position for summer 2026. This position is part of a larger research project funded by the NIFA/NSF/NIH Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease program aimed at understanding the mechanisms of pathogen spillover across ecosystem boundaries mediated by an invasive grass. With the help of mentors, the REU student will develop an independent project, acquiring skills in question formulation, experimental design and execution, data analysis, and science communication. Experiments for this project may involve inoculating invasive, native, and/or crop plants with a fungal pathogen to test possible causal relationships observed in the field. The REU student will work closely with Jason Sckrabulis, a postdoc in the Flory lab, and Luke Flory, one of the project principal investigators, and will interact with other UF researchers involved in the project. Previous REU projects in the lab were very successful, leading to publication (REU participant bolded):

Benitez L., A.E. Kendig, A. Adhikari, K. Clay, P.F. Harmon, R. Holt, E. Goss, and S.L. Flory. 2022. Invasive grass litter suppresses a native grass species and promotes disease. Ecosphere. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3907

Kendig A.E., V.J. Svahnström, A. Adhikari, P.F. Harmon, and S.L. Flory. 2021. Emerging fungal pathogen of an invasive grass: Implications for competition with native plant species. PloS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237894

Applicants must be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program with an anticipated graduation date after September 2026 and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (including possessions/territories). The ideal candidate will be interested in pursuing a graduate degree or career in ecology, evolution, environmental science, or biology following graduation. Previous experience in plant disease ecology is not required.

The REU position is 10 weeks in duration during summer 2026 with a flexible start date and a total stipend of $5100. Transportation and housing are not included.

To apply, send the following to Jason Sckrabulis at jason.sckrabulis@gmail.com (if possible combined as a single Word or PDF file):

A brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience, interest in the position, and career goals (maximum one page, single spaced)

A resume or CV

Undergraduate transcript (official or unofficial)

Contact information for two references (faculty members are preferred)

Please email Jason with any questions. Review of applications will begin immediately, with a final submission date of January 15, 2026, with an offer being made by February 15, 2026.

—

Jason Sckrabulis (he/him/they/them)

Website