The University of Arizona is looking for a PhD student to work on the project entitled “Rock-plant interactions driving early soil development and landscape evolution." The work will examine weathering reactions in the basalt rock as a result of water flow, microbial community and plant development, as well as feedbacks to plant emergence and growth. It will be conducted at the Landscape Evolution Observatory at Biosphere 2. This is a collaboration between University of Arizona and CEREEP-Ecotron Ile De France and UA student will work with another student who will be conducting complementary smaller scale experiments at Ecotron. Both students will be expected to present results of their work at the annual meetings organized by the program funding this research, Centre National de la rRecherche Scientifique (CNRS) & University of Arizona International Research Center (IRC). Funding is also available for students to travel between the two facilities.

Prospective students will hold a degree (BS or MS) in environmental science, soil science, geology, biology, chemistry, or related disciplines. Preferred qualifications include experience in plant growth under controlled conditions, analysis of lithogenic elements, and statistical analysis of large datasets. Interested candidates should submit their application on the Department of Environmental Science web portal. Any questions can be addressed to Dr. Katerina Dontsova at dontsova@email.arizona.edu. The student can start in the Winter of 2022.

University of Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. It has recently been granted a status of Hispanic serving institution and has largest participation by Native American Students in environmental science graduate programs in in the nation. Graduate student benefits include health coverage. Tucson, AZ has 350+ sunny days a year, boasts a vibrant and highly diverse community, and 1st in United States have been designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.