PhD and MS Positions in Biosystems Engineering: Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Drone-Based Water Quality Monitoring Michigan State University in United States

Professor Xufei Yang at Michigan State University is recruiting two graduate students (PhD or MS) to join his research group in the Biosystems Engineering graduate program, starting in Summer or Fall 2026. The positions are supported by a 50% Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), which includes health insurance and a tuition waiver. The research group focuses on innovative topics at the intersection of agriculture, environmental science, and engineering.

Position 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture
This student will work on monitoring and process-based modeling of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in air quality, environmental monitoring, or instrumentation. The research aims to advance understanding and mitigation of agricultural impacts on the environment.

Position 2: Drone-Based Water Quality Monitoring
This student will develop a drone-based monitoring system that integrates machine vision and gas-sensor-array–based olfaction to identify surface water quality anomalies. Candidates with experience in drone-based remote sensing, sensing technologies, or multimodal machine learning are highly encouraged to apply. This project combines environmental monitoring with advanced sensing and data analysis techniques.

Applicants should have a prior engineering degree. Those without an engineering background may need to complete prerequisite coursework as specified by the program. The research group values interdisciplinary skills and a strong interest in environmental and agricultural challenges.

Funding includes a 50% GRA, health insurance, and tuition waiver. The application window is for Summer or Fall 2026. Interested students should contact Professor Xufei Yang for more information or to discuss their fit for the positions.