WHAT: PhD and/or MSc positions in Evolutionary Ecology of plant-insect
interactions
WHERE: Goldar Lab (https://goldarlab.weebly.com/). School of Biological
Sciences at Illinois State University.
WHEN: Starting in Spring, Summer or Fall 2026
Description:
PhD and/or MSc positions are available in the Goldar Lab in the School
of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University to start in Spring,
Summer or Fall 2026. The positions are broadly focused on how chemical
ecology, environmental gradients and climate change shape plant-insect
interactions. Our lab seeks harnessing classic hypotheses of Plant
Defense Theory to investigate how plant-insect interactions vary in
an organ-dependent manner across environments, and to predict changes
in magnitude and direction of performance of plants, insects and their
interactions in response to simultaneous stresses of global change. The
work will employ greenhouse, lab and/or field experiments and will
involve the use of biotic interactions with herbivores and pollinators.
I am looking for a highly motivated PhD and/or MSc candidate to join the
lab. We offer a vibrant, collaborative and respectful working environment
with high-quality supervision. You should have a degree in any field of
Biology and a strong interest in evolutionary ecology. Proficiency in
English, both orally and written, is also required. Prior experience
with plants and/or insects, chemical ecology, population genetics and
genomics, and foundations in statistics are an advantage.
If you are interested, please contact me at xlopezg@ilstu.edu and include
in a single PDF file 1) a brief description of research interests (for PhD
or MSc), experience and career goals, 2) CV/Résumé, 3) writing sample
(publication, manuscript in preparation, thesis), and 4) names and
email addresses of 3 references maximum. The deadline is June 30th.
The School of Biological Sciences at ISU hosts many labs with access to
molecular and ecological tools, spanning diverse scientific disciplines,
including neuroethology, microbiology or conservation. Opportunities
for collaborations between labs are also possible. Also, it has
access to greenhouses, growth chambers and field sites for plant
cultivation and experiments. The School of Biological Sciences
provides funding for graduate students through Teaching Assistantships
and Research Assistantships. More information on the department,
application procedures, and requirements can be found for Master's
(https://biology.illinoisstate.edu/academics/behavior-ecology-evolution-and-systematics-masters/)
and Doctoral
(https://biology.illinoisstate.edu/academics/behavior-ecology-evolution-and-systematics-doc/)
programs. The city of Normal also offers an excellent quality of life,
attractive surroundings for outdoor sports and nearby iconic cities
and places.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am looking
forward to receiving your application!
Xosé López Goldar
Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Ecology
xlopezg@ilstu.edu
Dr. Xosé López Goldar (@XGoldar)
Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Ecology
125 S. Fell Avenue, Science Laboratory Building (SLB)
School of Biological Sciences
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61761
Email: xlopezg@ilstu.edu
Website: https://goldarlab.weebly.com/
"Lopez Goldar, Xose"
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