Phd Student In Environmental Fate Of Herbicides

START: SPRING OR FALL 2027

⚠️ Please read the Application Instructions before applying.

📍 Mississippi State University

🌱 Weed Science Research Group

The Weed Science Research Group at Mississippi State University is recruiting a PhD student to study the environmental fate, behavior, and transport of herbicides in agricultural systems. 

This position will focus on understanding the physicochemical processes that govern herbicide persistence, mobility, and transformation under field and controlled conditions.

·       Herbicide sorption/desorption in soils

·       Degradation kinetics (biotic and abiotic processes)

·       Transport (Leaching potential, Volatility, runoff)

·       Laboratory and field-scale experimentation

·       Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Agronomy, Soil Science, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, Crop Science, or related field

·       Previous coursework in chemistry (organic chemistry and analytical chemistry)

·       Previous coursework in Soil Science (soil chemistry, soil physics preferred)

·       Solid quantitative skills and statistical foundation

·       Willingness to conduct both laboratory and field research

·       Hands-on experience with chromatographic techniques (HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC)

·       Experience in herbicide residue analysis

·       Understanding of soil–chemical interactions

·       Experience in experimental design and data analysis (R, SAS, or similar)

·       Background in environmental risk assessment

·       Scientific writing experience (publications are a plus)

·       Ability to work independently and manage long-term experiments

✔️ Training in advanced environmental fate methodologies

✔️ Hands-on experience with analytical chemistry and field experimentation

✔️ Strong integration between laboratory and applied agricultural systems

✔️ Opportunities for high-impact publications

✔️ Collaboration with national and international partners

✔️ Mentorship in becoming an independent scientist and future leader in weed and environmental sciences

✔️ Full graduate research assistantship: competitive stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance for three years.

Please do not send direct messages on LinkedIn or other social media; we do not monitor those channels for applications. Please also do not send application materials via email. Applications via email will not be considered.

Before starting the form, please have ready: (1) a current CV, (2) unofficial transcripts, (3) a one-page statement of research interests, and (4) contact information for three references.

Applications must be submitted through the following link:

https://forms.gle/tAeK729T3Vutv2FL7

Please feel free to share this opportunity with suitable candidates who are passionate about advancing sustainable agriculture through science.