PhD and MS opportunities in mammalian reproduction by Javier delBarco Trillo (05 Oct 2026 17:22 EDT)
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MS and PhD openings are available in my research group (Javier delBarco-Trillo’s lab: about.illinoisstate.edu/jdelbar) in the School of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University to start in the fall of 2027. My research topics are quite diverse, including sexual selection (sperm competition), olfactory communication, urban ecology/evolution, and animal behavior. Current projects for example are investigating how urbanization affects ultrasonic vocalizations and sperm function. Although I’m happy to supervise projects in various topics and organisms, I’m particularly searching for prospective students interested in projects centered on how sperm physiology is affected by factors such as urbanization and altitude.  I’m mostly interested in supporting self-driven, independent, and imaginative students with high proficiency in written and spoken English, and with experience collecting and analyzing data.

If interested, please send (jdelbar@ilstu.edu) a copy of your CV, a copy of your course transcript, and a one-page cover letter explaining your background, any research outcomes to date, your future research interests and expectations, and what type of research projects you would envision developing in my lab. Please include “Graduate Student Application 2027” in the email subject line. After an initial screening of applications, we will set up Zoom meetings in the next few weeks. Preferred candidates will then be encouraged to formally apply to our graduate program, which deadline is February 1, 2027. Please see this website for more information about our graduate program and its admission requirements: https://biology.illinoisstate.edu/academics/graduate/

Ph.D. Assistantship at University of Florida (Summer or Fall 2027) – Effects of regenerative management on nutrient cycling, soil health and soil microbial ecology in organic systems of North Florida by Maltais-Landry,Gabriel (05 Oct 2026 09:30 EDT)
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We are seeking a Ph.D. student to join an interdisciplinary team at the University of Florida working on regenerative management in organic systems. The Ph.D. student will be chaired by Dr. Gabriel Maltais-Landry (https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainable-nutrient-management-systems/) and Dr. Sunny Liao (https://sunnymicrobiome.weebly.com/) both in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences. The student will focus primarily on nutrient cycling in crops and soils, soil health, and soil microbial ecology, with the goal of better integrating biologically and chemically mediated processes to better understand and assess soil health. The student will conduct field and laboratory experiments to evaluate how regenerative management practices, including reduced tillage and more diverse cover cropping, as well as different fertility and pest management strategies, affects various crops (corn, carrot, peanut, and watermelon) in organic production systems. They will also apply molecular-based techniques to characterize microbial communities and investigate their functions within these agricultural systems. The assistantship is expected to start in Summer (May) or Fall (August) semester of 2027 and includes a twelve-month stipend and full tuition coverage over a four-year period.

The student will focus on several of the following areas:

– Nutrient cycling, including measurements of nutrient cycling in crops and soils, and nutrient budgets;

– Soil health, including measurements of different biological and chemical indicators;

– Soil microbial ecology, including amplicon sequencing and qPCR measurements;

– Other research focus areas chosen by the student to develop independent research that is complementary to measurements and experiments conducted as part of the main project.

The successful applicant will have all or some of the following:

– A degree in soil sciences or related disciplines – a MS degree is preferred but applicants with a BS and a strong record of relevant research/work experience will be considered;

– Experience conducting field work in agroecosystems, ideally sampling crops and soils;

– Experience with protocols related to nutrient cycling and soil health;

– Experience with microbial techniques such as amplicon sequencing and/or qPCR;

– Experience with statistical analyses (regression, ANOVA), ideally in R, and interest in expanding data analytical skills to more advanced methods, including bioinformatics;

– The capacity to work outside in hot and humid conditions during the Florida summer;

– A valid US driver’s license is preferred, but applicants with a valid international driver’s license that can obtain a US license within two months of starting the position will be considered.

Before applying officially, interested applicants should contact Dr. Gabriel Maltais-Landry (maltaislandryg@ufl.edu) and/or Dr. Sunny Liao (sunny.liao@ufl.edu) directly with a one-page letter of research experience and interests, a CV, and contact information (no letters required) of three referees, all in a single pdf file. Interested applicants should reach out by October 31, 2026, and be ready to formally apply to the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences and/or the School of Natural Resources and the Environment by the end of December 2026. Only selected applicants will be encouraged to formally apply.

• FULLY FUNDED PHD SCHOLARSHIP

• Monash Postgraduate Scholarship in Animal Behaviour and Evolutionary Ecology

• School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

• The School of Biological Sciences at Monash University is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship to an outstanding student for research in one of the following projects:

• – Diversification and conservation of Australia’s lizards (Prof. David Chapple): Species diversity, ecology and conservation status of northern Australia’s remarkable lizard fauna under climate change, invasives and habitat loss. (Lab:

https://www.chapplelab.com

• )

• – Why is genetic variation for fitness so high? (A/Prof. Tim Connallon): Meta-analysis and modelling of why additive genetic variance for fitness is so high, and what it means for adaptation and population viability (no prior modelling experience needed). (Lab:

https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/biological-sciences/staff/timc

• )

• – Endosymbiont interactions and evolutionary conflict (Prof. Damian Dowling): How mitochondrial, Wolbachia and nuclear genomes interact to shape host fitness, reproduction and adaptation. (Lab:

https://damiandowlinglab.org

• )

• – Physiological basis of response diversity (Dr Giulia Ghedini): How variation and evolution in species physiology propagate through interactions to stabilise ecological communities under global change. (Lab:

https://www.giuliaghedini.com

• )

• – Behaviour and the spread of infectious disease (A/Prof. Matthew Hall): Using Drosophila and high-throughput tracking to uncover how infection risk reshapes social behaviour and drives the spread of disease. (Lab:

https://mattdhall.com

• )

• – Climate adaptation in the wild (Prof. Anne Peters): Fitness, genomic (5000+ SNP) and multi-generation pedigree data to test the evolutionary potential for climate adaptation in a wild population. (Lab:

https://petersresearchgroup.org

• )

• – The evolution of metabolic rate and life history (Prof. Craig White): Meta-analysis and laboratory artificial selection to dissect how physiological and life-history traits evolve together, and how animals evolve to cope with environmental stressors in the Anthropocene. (Lab:

https://evolutionaryphysiology.com/members/craig-white/

• )

• – Wildlife behavioural responses to a changing world (Prof. Bob Wong): How multiple anthropogenic stressors (pollution, climate change, invasive species) reshape behaviour and its ecological and evolutionary consequences. (Lab:

https://www.bobwonglab.org

• )

• WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS

• – Tuition for the complete PhD degree.

• – Stipend: a tax-free living allowance set at the Monash Graduate Research Scholarship rate (AUD 41,100 per year in 2027).

• – Overseas Student Health Cover for international students.

• – Relocation allowance: AUD 1,000 for interstate, AUD 2,000 for overseas.

• – Conference travel allowance.

• – Project support: funding to resource the research (fieldwork, consumables, equipment, analysis).

• MONASH SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

• The School has a large, diverse and supportive group of PhD students from all around the world. We are committed to providing a work place that is productive and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality or religion. The School is one of Australia’s largest and most active research communities in behavioural and evolutionary biology, working alongside internationally recognised researchers across terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems.

• WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• We welcome applications from domestic and international candidates who hold, or expect to complete, an Honours degree or Master’s degree (that includes at least 25% research) or equivalent research training in biology, zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology or a related field, with a strong academic record.

• HOW TO APPLY

• Complete the application form at

https://forms.gle/ia9t4KPD3FKTz1bs8

• (or email

matthew.piper@monash.edu

• to request the link), supplying all information requested. The form asks you to nominate your project of interest, as well as for information about your academic track record, a short statement describing what interests you and why, together with the names and contacts of two referees. Candidates will be shortlisted by the School Higher Degrees Committee ahead of interview.

• Applications close: 15 November 2026.

Start date: the first available intake will be early 2027.

The Guédot Entomology Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual who wishes to pursue a PhD in Entomology. The project will focus on cultural control strategies to manage tarnished plant bug (TPB; Lygus lineolaris) in organic day-neutral strawberry production. TPB is a native pest in North America that affects strawberry production by feeding on the fruit and is managed primarily by using insecticides. In organic production, the need for alternative strategies to manage TPB involve trap cropping with alfalfa but issues remain with trap crop becoming a potential reservoir for pests. The PhD student will investigate the use of attractants in combination with colored traps to optimize monitoring for and mass trapping of TPB to decrease their abundance and fruit damage in organic day-neutral strawberry production. Specifically, the student will assess the attractiveness of pheromone and kairomones and optimize their implementation for application in management. In addition, the student will assess the impact of mass trapping on beneficial insects and will combine mass trapping, biocontrol, disease management, and runner removal in an integrated systems approach to organic production. The position will be at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in the Department of Entomology in the Guédot Entomology Laboratory.

Qualifications: Interested candidates should possess a M.S. degree in entomology, biology, or other related fields. The candidate is expected to work independently and within a team, and to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. The student should be prepared to work in the laboratory and do intensive field work with planting and harvesting fruit and collecting data. Strong work ethic, excellent writing skills, and the ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time are a must. Experience in entomology, chemical ecology, horticulture, and agroecology is preferred. The assistantship includes an RA stipend and tuition waiver for three years with the possibility to cover the remaining of the program through a research or teaching assistantship depending on funding availability.

Deadline for application: To be fully considered for the position, submit your application by October 20, 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Start Date: The successful candidate is expected to start on January 1, 2027.

Application materials: Interested applicants should submit 1) a current CV including GPA (GRE scores are not required), 2) unofficial transcripts, 3) a cover letter stating your research interests, previous experience, qualifications as they match the qualifications outlined in the announcement, and career goals, and 4) contact information for two references to Christelle Guédot at guedot@wisc.edu. Please do not submit an online application at UW-Madison until you have had a formal interview with Dr. Guédot.

More information on the application process and the Entomology Department can be found on the UW-Madison Entomology website. To learn more about our lab and lab culture, visit the Guédot Entomology Laboratory.

PhD Position in Freshwater Ecology at UNC Chapel Hill (deadline extended) by Amanda DelVecchia (29 Sep 2026 16:15 EDT)
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Headline: Recruiting a PhD Student in Dryland Soil Ecology, University of Nevada Las Vegas — Dryland Microbes Lab

Recruiting a PhD Student in Dryland Soil Ecology:

Curious about cryptic cyanobacterial diversity and processes that keep dryland ecosystems stable and resilient? The Pietrasiak Dryland Microbes Lab at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is recruiting a PhD student for a collaborative, interdisciplinary research program focused on dryland soil ecology. Projects will use genomics, physiology, and ecological data to uncover new cyanobacterial lineages, understand how they adapt to extreme environments, and identify the physiological and genomic mechanisms behind their unique survival strategies — with a particular emphasis on carbon cycling.

What our lab is looking for:

A strong interest and academic record in microbiology, ecology, biology, or a related fieldAbility to work both independently and collaboratively, with a strong work ethicOpenness to working across field biology, lab work, and bioinformaticsPreference given to candidates with prior research experience in microbial, soil, or dryland ecology

Position details:

Fully funded through research and teaching assistantshipsAt least two semesters of teaching required (per department policy)Anticipated start: Fall 2027

About the lab: Learn more about Dr. Pietrasiak’s research at Google Scholar and follow lab updates on BlueSky: @drylandalgae.bsky.social

How to apply:
Please apply directly through the UNLV Graduate Program: https://www.unlv.edu/graduatecollege. Learn more about our graduate program at the School of Life Sciences here: https://www.unlv.edu/lifesciences/admissions.

Note: Application materials cannot be reviewed prior to formal submission. Please apply through the Graduate College first, then reach out to confirm your application is complete. Applications open in September; the deadline is December 1st, but early applications are strongly encouraged so we can begin conversations sooner.

Minimum admission requirements:

B.S./B.A. in biological sciences or equivalentMinimum GPA of 3.00 (4.00 scale)Relevant research or work experience preferredGRE not requiredFunding: All admitted students receive GA or RA support, including health insurance; GA includes a 9-credit tuition waiver (stipend details: https://www.unlv.edu/graduatecollege/ga-stipend)

PhD positions available in “ecological synthesis”

The Ecological Synthesis Lab (https://nau.edu/oglelab), directed by Dr. Kiona Ogle, at Northern Arizona University (NAU) has openings for one or more PhD positions in the areas of: (1) legacy effects of extreme climate events on carbon cycle processes and (2) environmental controls on species- and community-level vegetation dynamics. Both research areas focus on ecological systems in the arid and semi-arid western US. Students interested in area (1) would have the opportunity to work with tree-ring data from various sampling networks and/or carbon and water flux data from eddy covariance tower networks. Projects falling under this theme may explore how trees and/or ecosystems are impacted by prolonged drought, flash droughts, pluvial events, or heatwaves, with the goal of understanding the legacy effects of such events. Students interested in area (2) would work with long-term inventory and monitoring data from the National Park Service (NPS) and USGS, with a focus on identifying factors governing changes in species occurrence and abundance and potentially scaling up to evaluate drivers of community change. This project focuses on grassland and shrubland ecosystems in the western US.

Interested applicants must have solid quantitative abilities, including basic training in mathematics (e.g., at least 2 semesters of calculus) and statistics (e.g., at least one introductory statistics course), and possess good programming skills (e.g., R, Python, etc.). Prospectives should also possess good background knowledge in relevant fields of ecology/biology and have developed good written and oral communication skills. As part of their PhD program, students should be keenly interested in strengthening these quantitative skills and becoming proficient in Bayesian statistical methods, machine learning, and computing.

Interested students should contact Dr. Ogle by email (Kiona.Ogle@nau.edu).

Volunteer Research Opportunity in the Bolivian Amazon | Aquicana Research Station, Bolivia by Sustainable Bolivia (22 Sep 2026 11:15 EDT)

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