Opportunities
Prospective graduate students: See our open PhD position here. Text is also pasted below:
Graduate Position: PhD on the Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Microbe Symbiosis
The Porter Lab at Washington State University, Vancouver seeks a PhD student for Fall, 2025. We study how mutualisms–cooperative interactions between species–impact evolutionary processes and ecological dynamics. We work with plants and their beneficial microbial associates to test fundamental theory about cooperative interactions. Our research integrates evolutionary ecology, genomics, and quantitative genetics, in lab, greenhouse, and field experiments.
Research topics. We use the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria and their plant hosts as a model system. We are investigating, (1) How do wild microbial symbioses adapt to variable and changing environments? Transmissible mobile genetic elements enable rhizobia to adapt to stresses such as heavy metal in soil (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2311127121). Other mobile genetic islands can enable rhizobia to adapt to a symbiotic lifestyle with legumes, while prophage can parasitize but also protect rhizobia from other phage. With collaborators, we are investigating evolutionary dynamics for these adaptive mobile elements, as well as their ecological and agricultural impacts. We also ask, (2) How do host plants control and optimize mutualistic interactions with multiple symbionts? Legumes winnow symbionts to preferentially interact with superior rhizobia partners (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01762-2). With collaborators, we are using experiments to develop models of optimal carbon allocation among multiple rhizobia symbionts. We also have an interest in, (3) How has crop domestication impacted plant-microbe symbiosis? Some crops may have abandoned beneficial microbial symbionts, while others may have evolved to enhance these mutualisms (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2020.01.006). We take an evolutionary perspective to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation, a key pillar of sustainable agriculture.
Lab Description. The Porter lab (https://labs.wsu.edu/stephanie-porter/) is housed in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University, Vancouver. Located on a beautiful 351-acre campus across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, WSU Vancouver offers an excellent quality of life. Recognized by Insight Into Diversity Magazine as a top college for diversity, WSUV and this collaborative project team commit to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity.
How to Apply. A BS or BA in a relevant scientific field is required. Tuition, benefits, and stipend will be funded by a combination of research and teaching assistantships, and guaranteed for five years. If interested, please email an informal inquiry to stephanie.porter@wsu.edu by December 7th, 2024. Later inquiries will be considered but leave less time to coordinate a time to meet. Please include the subject header, “Plant Microbe PhD 2025”, a CV or resume that lists relevant experience and coursework, a copy of your academic transcript (unofficial is fine), and a short statement that explains your interest in the position. The steps for formally applying to our graduate program for a Biology or Plant Biology PhD are described here: https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs/biology-and-plant-biology-ms-and-phd. Formal applications received by WSUV before January 10th, 2025 will be given full consideration, applications can still be considered after this date.
Please take a look at the Natural Science Graduate Program at WSUV. I accept graduate students through the School of Biological Sciences’ Biology and Plant Biology PhD programs. WSUV offers teaching assistantship support for PhD level graduate students and I currently have grant funding to support student research on RAship for dissertation topics related to my research emphases. You can take a look at some of the other faculty who would make great committee members here at WSUV.
I encourage all my students to pursue their own funding opportunities. This gives students experience in developing a research proposal, and provides an avenue for funding independent research ideas. Fellowship opportunities for graduate students include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, and the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship.
If you are interested, please contact me with a description of your research interests and a resume or CV that includes relevant coursework and your GPA.
Prospective WSUV undergraduate students: Check out the new Science Scholars Program! This program:
- connects WSUV undergraduates to open research opportunities in campus labs!
- highlights grants undergraduates can apply for to fund a research project!
- highlights symposia where undergraduates can present their research!
Click here for an open position in our lab:
We are always interested in providing opportunities to participate in research for motivated undergraduates. Undergraduates tend to start work in the lab by assisting with ongoing projects and will be encouraged to develop their own independent project as they move forward. We encourage undergraduates who complete independent projects in the lab to present their findings at local scientific meetings, and can provide some support for this. Stephanie has supervised >25 undergraduate interns, many of whom have built upon their research experience as they have gone on to diverse professional careers in biology, medicine, and plant science. Please contact Stephanie directly regarding possible internship opportunities.
Prospective postdoctoral scholars: I am happy to work with those interested in developing proposals for postdoctoral funding on other topics in plant-microbe evolutionary ecology (eg. US citizens: NSF, the Ford Foundation, or for international citizens, HFSP, etc). Please contact me directly regarding postdoctoral proposals.