Position Announcement – Ph.D. Student in Fungal Ecology The Smith Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida is recruiting motivated graduate students for Fall 2013. We seek students who are broadly interested in fungal ecology, evolutionary biology, and symbiosis to study the biology of the Pecan Truffle (Tuber lyonii). Tuber lyonii is a common, edible truffle that forms symbiotic ectomycorrhizal associations with Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) and other angiosperms throughout the Southeastern USA. This commercially valuable species can fetch prices of $10-20 an ounce but up until now the biology of this species has been mostly unknown. For example: What is the population structure of Tuber lyonii? How does it disperse into pecan orchards? What soil and management factors may affect Tuber lyonii fruiting and govern competition with other ectomycorrhizal fungi?
These are some of the many questions that the Pecan Truffle project is trying to answer. If you are passionate about fungi and/or ecology and would like to dig deep into truffle biology, please apply for this position. For more information, check these links: http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/smith/faculty-smith.shtml http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/smith/Smith%20et%20al%202012%20Pecan% 20Truffle%20B&W.pdf We want someone with: - A passion for biology and a BS (or MS) degree in biology or related subject - A background that includes ecology, evolution, and/or fungal biology - Strong written and spoken English language skills - Appropriate GPA and GRE scores - Laboratory experience in molecular biology techniques - Strong organizational skills and the ability to complete projects - A driver’s license and the ability to drive a car To find out more, send your curriculum vitae and a short statement of your interest in the position to Matthew Smith at [email protected] or call 352-273-2837 Application Deadline: 7 December 2012
