The Donaher Lab at the University of Tennessee Knoxville invites applications for 1-2 fully funded PhD student positions beginning Spring 2025 (preferred) or Fall 2025.
The PhD student(s) will join the Environmental Radioactivity Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, led by Dr. Sarah Donaher. Students will have the flexibility to propose projects of their own interest that are relevant to the lab goals or work on existing projects such as 1) the role of microplastics as vectors for other contaminants, 2) metal mobility and bioavailability in wetlands, and 3) applications of biological tissues in environmental forensics.
Interested applicants should reach out to Dr. Sarah Donaher at sdonaher@utk.edu. Please include a short description of your research background/interests and a resume.
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Health Physics, Geology, Chemistry, or related scientific discipline
- Strong technical writing and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and within a team
- Willingness to conduct radiological lab work
Preferred qualifications
- Master’s degree
- Prior research experience is highly desirable (especially working with radioactive material or with analytical instrumentation such as ICP-MS and/or FT-IR)
- Experience in R or similar statistical software program
- Interest in applying for federally-funded graduate fellowships
Knoxville, TN is a vibrant small city with an active and walkable downtown, a rich music and arts scene, and easy access to bountiful outdoor recreation including <1 hr drive to the Smoky Mountain National Park. Students may have the opportunity to collaborate with nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the newly-formed University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. Eastern TN is also at the heart of cutting-edge research in the Environmental-Nuclear realm, offering students many opportunities for professional collaboration and networking.