Position Description:
Applications are solicited for a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) position (Ph.D. student) in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of Florida (UF) under the supervision of Dr. Dengjun Wang and Dr. Changying Li. The anticipated starting date for the GRA is Spring 2027. The selected GRA will work on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded project on the demonstration of an innovative water quality restoration technology that integrates oyster-mediated nutrient sequestration and biochar-based nutrient reduction and harmful algal bloom (HAB) mitigation in the Gulf of America (GOA) watershed. This interdisciplinary project combines field experimentation and monitoring, laboratory analysis, drone-based imaging techniques, and AI/ML modeling to evaluate this innovative technology for water quality improvement and HAB mitigation.
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. or B.E. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Water and Soil Sciences, Ecological Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Strong academic background in water quality, HAB, environmental processes, and aquatic systems. • Demonstrated quantitative skills such as statistics, machine learning, data analysis, or modeling.
- For international applicants: meet UF Graduate School English proficiency requirements (e.g., TOEFL iBT ≥ 80 or IELTS Academic ≥ 6.5, or equivalent scores).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience in water quality monitoring and analysis.
- Laboratory skills in wet chemistry and analytical techniques for nutrient analysis.
- Knowledge of aquaculture systems (e.g., oyster farming), biochar technology, or environmental remediation technologies.
- Experience in field sampling design, data collection, and environmental monitoring campaigns.
- Background in machine learning/deep learning for environmental applications.
- Experience with remote sensing, machine vision, drone/UAV data collection, or image analysis.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary research team.
UF/ABE
UF is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the United States, and UF/ABE is recognized as one of the leading Agricultural and Biological Engineering programs in the nation. UF/ABE provides unique opportunities for in-depth research and field experience, along with access to HiPerGator (https://www.rc.ufl.edu/about/hipergator/), which is one of the most powerful supercomputers available on a university campus.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Dengjun Wang (dengjun.wang@ufl.edu) and Dr. Changying Li (cli2@ufl.edu) directly with a copy, including: (1) CV, (2) research statement, (3) statement describing your qualifications relative to the minimum and preferred qualifications listed above, and (4) name of three references, in one PDF file. Qualified candidates will be contacted separately for additional details (e.g., references). More information about applying for a graduate degree at UF/ABE can be found at https://abe.ufl.edu/graduate/admissions/. Application packages will be reviewed immediately once an adequate application pool is reached.