Website Dalhousie University
A funded MSc student position is available at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture, within a newly funded Genome Atlantic Genomic Applications Partnership Program project.
The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Rhea Amor Lumactud (Assistant Professor and PI of the Soil and Microbial Ecology Lab) and Dr. David Percival (Professor and Director of the Wild Blueberry Research Program) in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at the Truro Agricultural Campus of Dalhousie University. This project brings together Dalhousie researchers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and industry partners, including Bragg Lumber Company and Oxford Frozen Foods, to develop microbiome-based tools that enhance the resilience of wild blueberry production in Atlantic Canada. The project will use amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics to understand how drought reshapes the blueberry root and soil microbiome, then use those insights to design and test beneficial microbial consortia that improve plant resilience and reduce reliance on chemical fungicides.
The successful student will be involved in establishing replicated field trials and sampling in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, microbiome and bioinformatics analyses, microbial isolation and characterization, greenhouse validation, and field testing of SynComs at the Wild Blueberry Research Centre in Debert, NS. This position is ideal for a student interested in soil microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, plant pathology, or applied genomics. The student will receive interdisciplinary training in microbiome science, molecular techniques, bioinformatics, field experimentation, and industry-partnered research.
Eligibility
Applicants should have a BSc or equivalent degree in microbiology, soil science, plant science, environmental science, biology, agriculture, or a related field.
Experience in microbiology (culture-dependent techniques), molecular biology, microbiome analysis, bioinformatics, or field research is an asset, but strong motivation, curiosity, and willingness to learn are equally important.
Applicants must have a full Canadian driver’s license with no restrictions.
The position is expected to begin in May 2026.
To apply, please send a single PDF containing your CV, unofficial transcripts, a brief statement of research interests, and the names and contact information of two references.
Applications and inquiries may be sent to:
Dr. David Percival
Email: David.Percival@dal.ca
Dr. Rhea Amor Lumactud
Email: rheaamor@dal.ca
To apply for this job email your details to rheaamor@dal.ca.