The Aquatic Microbiology Lab at Northern Illinois University (NIU) is recruiting a motivated graduate student (M.S. or Ph.D.) to join an NSF-funded collaborative project on marine disease ecology. The position is led by Dr. Michael Henson in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Research Focus
The successful candidate will participate in an integrative, multi-institutional research project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project investigates the ecological drivers and host-pathogen dynamics behind the mass mortality events of the Caribbean long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum). The research focuses on the role of the microscopic ciliate pathogen (Philaster apodigitiformis) in these outbreaks. The student will gain training in:
- High-throughput microbial genomics and transcriptomics.
- Cultivation, physiological profiling, and experimental infectivity assays.
- Bioinformatics and computational microbial ecology.
- Fieldwork and research collaboration at marine stations in the Caribbean.
Funding and Support
- Fully funded graduate assistantship (M.S. or Ph.D. track).
- Includes a competitive stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance benefits.
- Funding for conference travel and research stays at collaborative marine institutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- B.S. or M.S. in Microbiology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
- Prior experience or strong interest in molecular biology techniques (PCR, DNA extraction) or coding (R, Python) for genomic data analysis.
- Strong academic curiosity, resilience in field/lab settings, and excellent teamwork skills.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should contact Dr. Michael Henson directly via email. Please include a brief cover letter describing your research experience and career goals, your current CV, and contact details for two references. For more information, visit the NIU Aquatic Microbiology Lab website.