<div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt">GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP AVAILABLE</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Understanding rare earth element uptake mechanisms used by bacteria</span></i></b></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Essential Responsibilities:</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We seek an exceptional PhD
student to conduct NSF-funded independent research on biological exudates that
solubilize rare earth elements (REYs). Until recently, REY were not known to be
used by biology, and this study seeks to determine how bacteria that utilize
REYs take them up from the environment by conducting laboratory experiments to produce
and characterize REY binding exudates produced by bacteria. Activities may
include using microbiology, analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, and wet
chemical techniques to better understand the structure and reactivity of
exudates utilized in REY uptake. Opportunities exist to interact closely with a
group of distinguished intramural and extramural collaborators, including at
the University of Georgia and National Laboratories.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Related activities include
laboratory work; data collection at national laboratories; supervising and
mentoring undergraduate students; outreach to high school students and
teachers; data analysis; report, manuscript, and proposal preparation; and
presentation of research at local, regional, and national meetings. </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Qualifications:</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">A M.S. degree in
chemistry, geology, environmental engineering, microbiology, soil science, or a
related discipline is required. An exceptional student with a B.S. in one of
the above fields may also be considered. Demonstrated excellence in academics,
and written and oral communication skills. </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Location:</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The student will have Crop
and Soil Science, Plant and Microbial Biology, or Entomology and Plant
Pathology, or Chemistry as a home department, working closely with Duckworth (</span><a href="https://duckworth.wordpress.ncsu.edu/" style="color:blue"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://duckworth.wordpress.ncsu.edu/</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">), Baars (</span><a href="https://baarslab.wordpress.ncsu.edu/" style="color:blue"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://baarslab.wordpress.ncsu.edu/</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">), and Hyman (</span><a href="https://cals.ncsu.edu/plant-and-microbial-biology/people/mrhyman/" style="color:blue"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://cals.ncsu.edu/plant-and-microbial-biology/people/mrhyman/</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">) laboratories. </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Raleigh-Durham area consistently
ranks among the best places to live in the United States, largely due to its
vibrant intellectual community and ample access to recreational and cultural
activities.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">For more information and informal
consideration:</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please send a CV, a list
of 3 references, and cover letter to Owen Duckworth (</span><a href="mailto:owen_duckworth@ncsu.edu" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)">owen_duckworth@ncsu.edu</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">). The position has an
anticipated start date of January or August 2023.</span></p><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Owen Duckworth<br>Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry</div><div dir="ltr">University Faculty Scholar</div><div dir="ltr">3208 Williams Hall, 101 Derieux Street<br>Campus Box 7620<br>Department of Crop and Soil Sciences<br>North Carolina State University<br>Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7619, USA<br><a href="https://duckworth.wordpress.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank">https://duckworth.wordpress.ncsu.edu/</a><br>Phone: (919) 513-1577<br>Fax: (919)  515-7959</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>