College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

The Forest Pathology Lab at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) is accepting applications for a graduate student (PhD level) or a post‐doctoral fellow. Ideally the candidate will enroll for the Fall 2017 semester, but be available to start research for summer 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. For further information please visit the forest pathology website.

The candidate should:

Have an MSc (or PhD if applying for a post‐doctoral position) and experience and interest in molecular biology of tree pathogens, particularly in population genetics/genomics and detection assays. Applicants must have a degree in a relevant area, including plant pathology, forestry, mycology, genomics, bioinformatics, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, or other biological sciences.

• Be self‐motivated, have strong interpersonal skills and be capable of working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Be able to perform experiments independently and write scientific publications and other documents.
• Have excellent communication, reading, and writing skills in English.

Applicants with prior experience in next‐gen sequencing, bioinformatics, pcr and qPCR are encouraged to apply. The selected candidate must meet eligibility requirements for work in the U.S. by the start date. Additionally, candidates need to meet the minimum requirements outlined by Michigan State University’s Graduate program, found at the Graduate School website.

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. Additional fellowship opportunities for graduate students at Michigan State University are also available.

The PhD student will be supported for three years. Assistantships include:

• A bi‐weekly stipend, determined by prior experience and education levels.
• A tuition waiver of up to nine credits per semester fall and spring and five credits during the summer with out‐of‐state tuition waiver for students who take more than the covered number of credits each semester
• Enrollment in the University's graduate health insurance plan

To apply, please contact Dr. Monique Sakalidis via email at sakalidi@msu.edu. Include a short statement of interest, your CV and the contact details of three references. To be accepted into the graduate program, potential students must apply through the MSU Graduate School. When applying, please indicate an interest in the Forest Pathology Graduate Assistantships in the required Statement of Interests. Applications must be received by April 30, 2017 to receive full consideration.

Specific information regarding the Plant pathology graduate program please see the Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences website. Specific information regarding the Forestry graduate program can be found on our “Important information for graduate applicants” page.

Michigan State University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the Department of Forestry are committed to promoting diversity in research. We thank all applicants, but only those selected will be contacted.