The common or dry bean is an important food legume crop grown worldwide including East Africa, where sustainable food production is of significant concern. Root rots caused by fungal and oomycete species are considered one the most significant constraints to sustainability of dry bean production and pose a threat to global food security. Potential Ph.D. or M.Sc. students are invited to apply for an assistantship to support graduate research at Michigan State University, within the department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences on soilborne pathogens of dry bean in Eastern Africa and Michigan. The Graduate student project will involve identification and characterization of bean root rot pathogens in East Africa utilizing molecular, phenotypic and morphological tools. Of particular interest is the interaction of disease organisms that form the disease complex. The student will be housed in a plant pathology lab, but will work as part of the MSU team which consists of breeders and geneticists working to improve dry bean lines for resistance to root rot while increasing yields and improving dry bean nutritional composition. The project contains opportunities to participate and develop Extension and Outreach skills, with potential travel to East Africa.
The student should have a keen interest in one or more of the following areas: plant pathology, mycology, ecology and environmental microbial studies.
For further information on the position contact:
Dr. Martin Chilvers chilvers@msu.edu www.fieldcroppathology.msu.edu
Dr. Linda Hanson linda.hanson@ars.usda.gov
For information on the Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences visit http://www.psm.msu.edu/
For information on Michigan visit pure Michigan at http://www.michigan.org/