A merit-based research assistantship is available at The Ohio State University in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. This assistantship is for a PhD (preferred) or an MS in the area of greenhouse horticulture crop improvement. Dissertation/ thesis research will focus on using beneficial bacteria to enhance growth, quality and abiotic stress tolerance of greenhouse crops, including ornamental and vegetable bedding plants.
Research will investigate how the application of novel beneficial bacteria can be used to increase crop quality, reduce production inputs (i.e. fertilizers, PGRs, pesticides), and improve postproduction stress tolerance. Research may also focus on plant-bacteria interactions, the identification of biochemical and molecular changes in the plant that lead to enhanced crop quality, and changes to the root microbiome in response to different production inputs. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to conduct collaborative research with industry partners on the use of biostimulants in greenhouse production systems and to be involved in grower visits and extension programming with the OSU Floriculture Extension team.
This award is available for Spring 2023 or Fall 2023. The assistantship includes a stipend and tuition. The position will be located at the OSU campus in Wooster, Ohio. Interested students should contact Dr. Michelle Jones at 330 263 3885 or by email at jones.1968@osu.edu. Applicants must have a B.S. or M.S. degree in Horticulture or a related field and have a minimum GPA of 3.2. PhD applicants are preferred but MS applicants will also be considered.
All applicants must qualify for admission to the OSU graduate school and be admitted through the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. Admissions information for graduate studies in Horticulture and Crop Science can be found at https://hcs.osu.edu/graduate. Please indicate in your letter of intent why you are interested in this opportunity and describe any relevant experiences. Application to the graduate school can be made online at http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/.