| Type of position | Graduate Research Assistantships |
| Employer | Plant and Soil Sciences Department, University of Kentucky |
| Location | Lexington, KY |
| Description of Location | The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World. The Bluegrass region features historic homes, bourbon distilleries, folk arts and crafts, hiking, cycling, running, antiques, horse farms, museums, art galleries, a thriving local food scene, exciting live music, and much more. (For more information about this region, see https://www.visitlex.com/.) About 50% of Kentucky’s land is agricultural, supporting hay, corn, and soybean production along with a variety of other crops. The College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at UK supports Kentucky’s strong agricultural economy. |
| Salary | $21-24K dependent on program |
| Benefits | tuition and health insurance, and other university benefits |
| Closing date of competition | until filled |
| Date position available | January or May 2023 |
| Description of duties |
The Haramoto lab at the University of Kentucky is seeking highly-motivated MS and PhD students to conduct research in perennial groundcover / corn agroecosystems. Research will support a NIFA-funded coordinated agricultural project with a diverse team of collaborators at Iowa State, the Land Institute, and Corteva, among others. Potential research topics include groundcover suppression and weed control, shade avoidance response in corn, and community interactions with pest and beneficial organisms. Students will gain knowledge in weed science, agroecology, and statistics, and experience with general greenhouse, field research, and data collection techniques. With assistance from other team members, students will collect data from field experiments; students will be primarily responsible for organizing, sharing, and analyzing data for their research projects. Additionally, students will participate in regular virtual and in-person team meetings in Iowa, with potential for travel to university, industry, and on-farm research locations throughout the Midwest. |
| Qualifications sought |
MS applicants must have a BS, preferably in biology, ecology, environmental science, agronomy, horticulture, or related fields. PhD applicants must have an MS in a related field, or relevant work experience. Organizational skills are essential, and ability to synthesize and analyze data is strongly recommended. Strong English proficiency with written and oral communication skills are necessary. The position also requires working outside year-round, and students must obtain a Kentucky driver’s license. |
| Contact for additional information | Erin Haramoto |
| Application procedure | |
| Submit what | 1. Letter describing educational background, research experience, career goals, and motivation for this position. 2. CV 3. Unofficial transcripts 4. Contact info (name, email, phone number) for three references |
| Submit to | Erin Haramoto, [email protected] |
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