Publisher
source

Colorado State University

PhD Graduate Research Assistant in Weed Ecology and Soil Health Colorado State University in United States

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Dec 20, 2026

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Country

United States

University

Colorado State University

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Agriculture
Horticulture
Biology
Earth Science

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About this position

Colorado State University is advertising a PhD Graduate Research Assistant position in weed ecology and soil health within the Weed Research Lab and the Department of Agricultural Biology. The project is supported by a Western SARE Research and Education Grant and focuses on evaluating annual living mulches as a sustainable weed-management strategy in vegetable production systems.

The student will study how living mulches suppress weeds through physical competition and possible allelopathic effects, using field and greenhouse experiments, soil-health assessments, and soil metabolomics. The work connects weed suppression, soil function, and crop performance, with opportunities to contribute to scientific manuscripts, research reports, presentations, extension materials, producer meetings, field days, workshops, and professional conferences.

During the growing season, the student will be based primarily at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center (including Orchard Mesa and/or Rogers Mesa) and will collaborate with three farmer partners on on-farm research. The role also includes lab meetings, collaborative research, undergraduate mentoring, outreach, and possible teaching assistant duties depending on program needs, funding, and student interests.

Eligibility highlights: an earned M.S. degree in weed science, agronomy, horticulture, plant science, soil science, ecology, biology, or a related field; experience with field/greenhouse/lab research; strong communication and organizational skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively; willingness to travel and do seasonal fieldwork in western Colorado. Experience with experimental design, statistics, and scientific writing is preferred, and familiarity with weed science, living mulches, soil health, allelopathy, metabolomics, or sustainable agriculture is desirable.

Funding: competitive PhD graduate research assistantship stipend at Colorado State University rates, plus CSU GRA benefits.

How to apply: send a CV, unofficial transcripts, and a letter of interest to Dr. Lovreet Shergill at [email protected]. The post lists a closing date of 2026-12-20 and indicates the position becomes available on 2027-01-01.

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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