The Forest Pathology Lab at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) is accepting applications for a graduate student (PhD level) to start as a research assistant in the Summer of 2017 and to enroll for Fall 2017. We are looking for a highly-motivated individual to study the population genomics of Ceratocystis fagacearum, the pathogen behind the devastating disease of oaks "oak wilt". This is a unique opportunity to combine traditional plant pathology research (microscopy, field and culture work) with molecular and bioinformatics approaches (PCR, qPCR and genome resequencing analyses). The candidate will identify the population structure of C. fagacearum in the US and evaluate known assays and, if required, develop novel molecular assays to detect the pathogen. Furthermore, the candidate will investigate seasonal variation in infection of red oak by C. fagacearum and seasonal variation in red oak susceptibility. The candidate will be part of a larger project focused on identifying high-risk periods of C. fagacearum transmission and infection in Michigan. The Graduate student will have the option of a degree from either the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences or the Department of Forestry, depending on their interests. The student will be supported with three years of stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance. Additional fellowship opportunities for graduate students at Michigan State University are also available. Duty station: East Lansing, MI, USA
Submit application by: 20 April 2017
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