Current Openings and Opportunities for Graduate Students

Research Opportunities

Traineeship Program
NSF-funded research traineeship program is available to graduate students in Biology. Both PhD and MS students are invited to apply. Apply and learn more at the Climate Adaptation Science site.

Openings

PhD in Plant Molecular Biology with a focus on the metabolism of flowers

The Borghi Lab is recruiting one (1) graduate student interested in pursuing a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology with a focus on the metabolism of flowers starting in the Fall Semester of 2025. The student will be funded using a combination of research and teaching assistantships. Potential candidates with previous experience in genotyping, gene expression, cloning, and extraction of metabolites will be given high consideration. Candidates with an MSc degree and previous research experience are preferred. You can find additional information about our research and lab philosophy on our website.

To be considered for the position, potential candidates should prepare the following documents:

  1. Brief letter (half a page) explaining your interest in our research and how you envision applying your acquired skills for a research project focusing on flower metabolism.
  2. A copy of your CV listing your wet- and dry-lab skills. For visa purposes only: If you are an international candidate applying from outside the United States, please include your current country of residence in your CV.

Combine these documents in one single PDF file, save it with your “lastname_PhD_2025” and send it to monica.borghi@usu.edu no later than the end of the day Friday, October 18, 2024. The subject line of your email should read “PhD Application 2025”. Candidates selected through this initial screening will be invited for an informal Zoom interview with Dr. Borghi. Following this, a small cohort of selected candidates will be invited to formally apply to the graduate student program.

Graduate research position in the ecology and evolution of societies
The Smith Lab is recruiting graduate students interested in pursuing an MS or PhD. Research in the lab focuses on understanding the regulation and role of phenotypic plasticity in societies, using ant caste determination as a focal system. Past projects run the gamut from field experiments to comparative genomics. Papers on past projects can be found on Google Scholar. Students would be funded using a combination of research and teaching assistantships. Interested students should contact Chris Smith (c.r.smith@usu.edu) to discuss interests before applying. The Smith Lab is dedicated to the principle of respecting all persons and providing an environment where people and science can thrive. For more on our graduate program and how to apply, visit the prospective graduates page.

Graduate Opportunity in Protein Based Biomaterials

The Jones lab is currently seeking graduate students. Potential projects are diverse and include: The study of transgenic spider silk/silkworm silk glandular protein structure and characterization, genetically engineering silkworms to incorporate novel proteins into their silk, and the development of novel immortalized cell lines with an emphasis on protein expression. Techniques and research areas will include synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and protein structure determination techniques, including Rheo-Raman. The projects involve novel and cutting-edge concepts and techniques with applicability beyond basic research.

Candidates with interest and/or experience in these areas are strongly encouraged to apply. Students will be funded through teaching assistantships. Before applying, interested students are encouraged to review admission requirements for the Department of Biology (admission requirements under the “Requirements” heading). Interested and qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Jones (justin.a.jones@usu.edu) with a letter of interest, their CV, and contact information for two references. The Jones Laboratory is diverse and inclusive, and we encourage women, minorities, those with disabilities, and veterans to apply.