PhD Position in Spatiotemporal Ecology, Disease Forecasting, and Data Science (Entomology and Nematology) University of Florida in United States

The University of Florida's Department of Entomology and Nematology is recruiting a PhD student for Fall 2026 to join a dynamic research group focused on the spatiotemporal ecology of vector-borne and zoonotic disease systems. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to apply for a competitive departmental fellowship that provides four years of funding, including a $32,000 annual stipend, full tuition, and health insurance. The research group, led by Dr. Lindsay Campbell, operates at the intersection of One Health, data science, and ecological forecasting, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and a supportive lab environment.

Dissertation projects will advance a forecasting framework for West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), leveraging over 20 years of sentinel chicken surveillance data. Research topics are flexible and may include integrating mosquito and avian host dynamics to improve disease prediction, exploring mosquito phenology and avian host dynamics across broad geographic regions, and applying causal inference approaches to disentangle disease system dynamics. The lab uses a variety of computational tools, including R, Python, geospatial analysis, and large ecological datasets, to address questions that span multiple scales and disciplines.

Applicants should have a Master's degree (MS) and a background or strong interest in ecological dynamics, disease ecology, and quantitative or computational methods. Experience with R or Python, geospatial analysis, or large ecological datasets is preferred. Students in the lab are expected to engage in communication with public health and mosquito control partners, as well as participate in national and international research activities.

The Campbell Lab is interdisciplinary, integrating biological and ecological knowledge with quantitative spatiotemporal modeling and remotely-sensed environmental data. The lab's work is primarily computational, synthesizing data from diverse sources to address complex questions in disease ecology and biodiversity science. For more information about the lab and its research, visit the Campbell Lab website.

Interested candidates should reach out via the contact information provided on the Campbell Lab website or connect with Lindsay Campbell. The application deadline for Fall 2026 is December 28, 2025.