<div dir="ltr">Dear Colleagues,<div><br></div><div>Please help distribute the following announcement for two PhD opportunities in my new biogeochemistry lab at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you,</div><div>Zhongjie<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="times new roman, serif" style="" size="4"><b style=""><span style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">PhD Opportunities in Nitrogen Cycle Biogeochemistry</span></b><span style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:120%;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="times new roman, serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The new Biogeochemistry
Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invites applicants
for two PhD student positions starting in Fall 2020 to conduct
interdisciplinary research on agricultural nitrogen cycle biogeochemistry. The
positions are part of the interdisciplinary Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences (NRES) PhD program (</span><a href="https://nres.illinois.edu/graduate" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%">https://nres.illinois.edu/graduate</span></a><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">) and are fully funded up to four years via competitive
fellowship, research assistantship, and/or teaching assistantship. </span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:120%;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="times new roman, serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The
students will be advised by Dr. Zhongjie Yu at UIUC (</span><a href="https://zhongjieyu.weebly.com/" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%">https://zhongjieyu.weebly.com/</span></a><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">) and will have opportunities to work on multiple research projects
that aim to use stable isotope biogeochemistry to examine nitrogen dynamics in
agricultural systems. Research topics may include but are not limited to: (1) quantifying
rates and isotope effects of microbial nitrogen transformation processes in
agricultural soils, (2) developing robust nitrogen isotope mass balance models
for row crop systems, (3) tracing leaching and retention of nitrogen at the land-aquatic
interface, (4) characterizing production and emission pathways of nitrous oxide
in agricultural streams, and (5) assessing the biogeochemical impacts of
sustainable agricultural practices. Successful applicants will be expected to
conduct field work under agricultural settings, perform detailed laboratory
analyses, and publish research results in high-impact journals. Previous
experience with stable isotopes is preferred but not required.</span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:120%;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="times new roman, serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Candidates
from diverse disciplinary backgrounds are welcome but substantial research
experience is preferred. All applicants should meet the minimum requirements of
GPA and GRE by the graduate admissions. International applicants should also
meet the minimum language requirements (</span><a href="https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%">https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c</span></a><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">). Detailed application information and admissions criteria can
be found here: </span><a href="https://nres.illinois.edu/graduate/apply" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%">https://nres.illinois.edu/graduate/apply</span></a><span style="line-height:120%">.
</span></font></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:120%;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="times new roman, serif" style="" size="4"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Prior to
beginning a formal program application, interested candidates are
encouraged to contact Dr. Zhongjie Yu directly (</span><a href="mailto:zjyu@" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">zjyu@</span></a><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color:blue;text-decoration-line:underline"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a href="http://umn.edu">umn.edu</a></span></span><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">) via an email that includes (1) a statement of research
interests, (2) a CV, and (3) a list of 3 professional references. Official
applications are due May 15, 2020. Review of applicants will begin immediately
and remain open until filled. Questions related to the online program
application should be directed to Dr. Zhongjie Yu (</span><a href="mailto:zjyu@umn.edu" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">zjyu@umn.edu</span></a><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">) and/or the NRES application assistance (</span><a href="mailto:kclaus@illinois.edu" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="line-height:120%;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">kclaus@illinois.edu</span></a><span style="line-height:120%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">).</span></font></p></div></div>