The Qiu Lab within the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) at the University of Florida (UF) is seeking applications for two fully funded PhD assistantships starting in Fall 2026. Both positions are based at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Florida.
PhD Project Details
Project 1: Sustainable and Multifunctional Agroecosystems
This project investigates how land management practices and climate change influence the resilience and multifunctionality of subtropical grassland and agricultural systems. The doctoral researcher will combine field experiments, biogeochemical measurements, soil microbial community analyses, and process-based ecosystem modeling to evaluate ecosystem health and sustainability.
Project 2: Scaling Up Urban Agriculture for Urban Resilience
This project aims to develop a data-driven spatial framework for scaling up urban agriculture networks across metropolitan South Florida. The research integrates data science, artificial intelligence (AI) models, remote sensing (GIS), and multicriteria decision analysis to assess how urban agriculture enhances food security and climate resilience.
Stipend and Funding
- Full funding cover, including a competitive graduate stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance.
- Access to advanced spatial analysis tools, data science frameworks, and collaborative research teams in environmental and agricultural sciences.
- Support for presenting research findings at national and international conferences.
Required Qualifications
- M.S. degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography, Agronomy, Soil Science, or a closely related field.
- Strong quantitative skills, with experience or interest in spatial analysis (GIS), remote sensing, data science, or process-based ecosystem modeling.
- Excellent communication skills, scientific writing experience, and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application materials to the principal investigator. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until the final application deadline of January 30, 2026.