I am recruiting a graduate student (MSc or PhD) to join my lab beginning August 2022. The student is
expected to acquire funds for their research and the Department of Integrative Biology at the University
of South Florida will offer a TA line to the student. Additionally, I will support the student with an initial
seed grant of ~$10K for research.
Competitive applicants should have a strong interest in plant community ecology and a strong
commitment to collaborate with lab mates and PI in an inclusive and diverse environment. The
student is also expected to have experience in some (not necessarily all) of the following areas:
greenhouse experiments, plant-microbial interactions, plant-soil interactions, as well as strong
statistical skills, and the use of R is highly recommended.
If your interests are related to plants, seeds, soilborne microorganisms, and soil nutrients, the Zalamea
Lab may be a good place for you! Our work focuses on tropical ecosystems, but our research questions
are equally applicable across a range of ecosystem types. Our research centers around the ecology
and evolution of symbiotic fungi associated with seeds and roots of tropical trees – quantifying,
through experiments, their influence on the processes that maintain tropical forest diversity. We apply
the tools of microbial ecology (next-generation sequencing, culturing, and manipulative experiments)
and biogeochemistry in the context of plant community ecology.
For more information about research in the lab and recent publications, please see
www.zalamealab.com. The Department of Integrative Biology is home to a collegial and vibrant
community of scholars (https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/ib/) at the University of
South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success
(https://www.usf.edu). We are located in Tampa, FL, one of the best places to live in the South-East
of the US.
Applicants should contact me directly (paulcamiloz@usf.edu) and provide: i) Short statement
including academic background, research experience and the reasons why you want to earn a
graduate degree, and ii) CV including the list of 2-3 references (name, institution, e-mail address,
and phone number).
