Assistantships

The Department of Horticulture invites applications to our MS and PhD programs. Our graduate program emphasizes scientific study and original research. Each student’s program is tailored to meet the needs of that student. Graduates from our program are targeted to fill positions in academia, government, international organizations, and the private sector.

Prospective students can choose among the major commodity areas of fruit and nut crops, vegetables, and ornamentals. Within these commodities, specialization is available in many areas, including environmental conservation, plant physiology, post-harvest, plant development, plant nutrition, biochemistry, product utilization, pest management, sustainable horticulture, breeding, and biotechnology. Departmental assistantships, which include tuition waivers, are available for graduate students starting in Spring, Summer, or Fall 2019.

Applications will be evaluated based on the academic strength and research background of the applicant, as well as the fit with ongoing research programs in the department. For more information, see http://www.caes.uga.edu/departments/horticulture/graduate.html; or contact the graduate coordinator, Dr. Dayton Wilde. Applications must be submitted on-line at the Graduate School Apply Now page.

All graduate assistantships include a stipend and tuition waiver. Graduate students also have health insurance through the university. Graduate students pay a $25 matriculation fee/semester, as well as any university fees. For more information about fees, see: http://busfin.uga.edu/bursar/bursar_tuition_1819/.


A greenhouse full of planting containers with small plants growing.
Plants growing in a research plot.

Available Horticulture Graduate Research Assistantships


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Horticulture/Plant Breeding Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship Opportunity in Pecan Breeding and Genetics.
Dr. Patrick Conner

 

The University of Georgia Department of Horticulture has funding for a graduate research assistantship in the pecan breeding program starting in the fall of 2023.  This student will work to develop and integrate genomic tools into an active breeding program.  There is flexibility to match student interests within the overall program, but students will be expected to conduct both field and laboratory/digital based studies.  Research will primarily be conducted at the University of Georgia -Tifton Campus located in Tifton Georgia.  The Tifton Campus hosts numerous UGA and USDA scientists, post docs and graduate students and serves as a hub of agricultural research for a diverse array of crops.  Candidates who have previously obtained a M.S. in Horticulture, Plant Breeding or a related field are preferred.

 

Interested candidates should contact Dr. Patrick Conner (pconner@uga.edu).  Please submit 1) statement of interest, 2) Resume, 3) Transcripts, and 4) TOEFL (if applicable).

 

posted: January 2023


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Horticulture Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship Opportunity at the University of Georgia
Blueberry Breeding Program – Dr. Ye (Juliet) Chu

The Department of Horticulture has funding available for a graduate research assistantship in blueberry genetic breeding program, starting in summer or fall 2023. This assistantship is geared for a Ph.D. level student with interests in plant breeding, genetics and genomics. Applicants do not need previous plant breeding experience, but should have a M.S. in Horticulture or a relate field.  Experience in writing R scripts and other bioinformatic skill is preferred. The student will complete classwork and conduct research at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station located at Tifton, Georgia. Georgia produced 104 million dollars of blueberry in 2021 and ranked number four national wide. Georgia blueberry breeding program has over 60 years of history and released more than 40 cultivars. Our program is part of an integral research team including extension, pathology, entomology, post-harvest physiology and economics.

Please contact Dr. Ye Chu for inquiries.

Dr. Ye (Juliet) Chu, Assistant Professor - Blueberry Breeder
University of Georgia
Department of Horticulture, Tifton Campus
Room 100 NESPAL

2356 Rainwater Road 

Tifton, GA 31793-5766 

Office: 229-386-3583
Cell: 229-848-2082

ychu@uga.edu

posted: November 2022


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Assistantship Opportunity - Dr. Dario Chavez

 

Position Summary: The University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture (www.hort.uga.edu) is seeking a qualified individual to pursue a Ph.D.s degree in the area of peaches to evaluate the influence of orchard characteristics on tree nutrient dynamics for optimizing fertilization, maximizing production, and reducing environmental impacts of orchard nutrient management.

The position will be located at the Griffin campus in Griffin, Georgia.

Major Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to conduct research in the following area:

─ Nutrient dynamics as based on yield, rootstocks, and ripening time.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification:

─ B.S. (or M.S.) degree in horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy, entomology, or a related field

─ A minimum GPA of 3.0.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies:

─ Excellent demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

─ A demonstrated commitment to high-quality research

Position available: Spring 2023-Fall 2023. Applications received by October 1, 2022 (*international student deadline September 1, 2022), are assured full consideration; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Application procedures: Interested students should contact Dr. Dario J. Chavez (dchavez@uga.edu). Please write in the email’s subject line ‘PhD Graduate Assistantship’ and include the following information: 1) Statement of interest, 2) Resume, 3) GRE score (if available) plus TOEFL (if applicable), 4) Official transcripts, and 5) At least three letters of recommendation. Additional information about Dr. Chavez’s program can be found in https://site.caes.uga.edu/chavezlab/

Application to the graduate school can be made online at https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/prospective-students/apply-now/ and the requirements for M.S. or Ph.D. application can be find https://hort.caes.uga.edu/graduate/admission.html. To learn more about the graduate program in the Department of Horticulture at UGA, you can consult the graduate handbook here: https://hort.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/horticulture/documents/graduate-students/Horticulture%20Graduate%20Program%20Handbook%20April%202022.pdf

posted: August 2022

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Assistantship Opportunity - Dr. Dario Chavez

 

Position Summary: The University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture (www.hort.uga.edu) is seeking a qualified individual to pursue a Ph.D.s degree in the area of peaches to evaluate the influence of rootstocks in plant growth, productivity, and survival. Studies will include how different rootstocks and different high density training systems can be managed in the Southeast growing conditions.

The position will be located at the Griffin campus in Griffin, Georgia.

Major Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to conduct research in the following area:

─ Rootstock influence in plant growth, productivity, and survival

─ Rootstock and scion interactions in different high density training systems.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification:

─ B.S. (or M.S.) degree in horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy, entomology, or a related field

─ A minimum GPA of 3.0.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies:

─ Excellent demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

─ A demonstrated commitment to high-quality research

Position available: Spring 2023-Fall 2023. Applications received by October 1, 2022 (*international student deadline September 1, 2022), are assured full consideration; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Application procedures: Interested students should contact Dr. Dario J. Chavez (dchavez@uga.edu). Please write in the email’s subject line ‘PhD Graduate Assistantship’ and include the following information: 1) Statement of interest, 2) Resume, 3) GRE score (if available) plus TOEFL (if applicable), 4) Official transcripts, and 5) At least three letters of recommendation. Additional information about Dr. Chavez’s program can be found in https://site.caes.uga.edu/chavezlab/

Application to the graduate school can be made online at https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/prospective-students/apply-now/ and the requirements for M.S. or Ph.D. application can be find https://hort.caes.uga.edu/graduate/admission.html. To learn more about the graduate program in the Department of Horticulture at UGA, you can consult the graduate handbook here: https://hort.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/horticulture/documents/graduate-students/Horticulture%20Graduate%20Program%20Handbook%20April%202022.pdf

posted: August 2022


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Horticulture Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship Opportunity
Peach Growth, Productivity, Survival - Dr. Dario Chavez

Position Summary: The University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture (www.hort.uga.edu) is seeking a qualified individual to pursue a Ph.D.s degree in the area of peaches to evaluate the influence of rootstocks in plant growth, productivity, and survival. Studies will include how different rootstocks and different high density training systems can be managed in the Southeast growing conditions.

The position will be located at the Griffin campus in Griffin, Georgia.

Major Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to conduct research in the following area:

─ Rootstock influence in plant growth, productivity, and survival

─ Rootstock and scion interactions in different high density training systems.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification:

─ B.S. (or M.S.) degree in horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy, entomology, or a related field

─ A minimum GPA of 3.0.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies:

─ Excellent demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

─ A demonstrated commitment to high-quality research

Position available: Spring 2023-Fall 2023. Applications received by October 1, 2022 (*international student deadline September 1, 2022), are assured full consideration; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Application procedures: Interested students should contact Dr. Dario J. Chavez (dchavez@uga.edu). Please write in the email’s subject line ‘PhD Graduate Assistantship’ and include the following information: 1) Statement of interest, 2) Resume, 3) GRE score (if available) plus TOEFL (if applicable), 4) Official transcripts, and 5) At least three letters of recommendation. Additional information about Dr. Chavez’s program can be found in https://site.caes.uga.edu/chavezlab/

Application to the graduate school can be made online at https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/prospective-students/apply-now/ and the requirements for M.S. or Ph.D. application can be find https://hort.caes.uga.edu/graduate/admission.html. To learn more about the graduate program in the Department of Horticulture at UGA, you can consult the graduate handbook here: https://hort.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/horticulture/documents/graduate-students/Horticulture%20Graduate%20Program%20Handbook%20April%202022.pdf

posted: August 2022

 


Horticulture Graduate Student Coordinator

Visit our Staff/Post-Doc Job Page

For internal jobs beyond the graduate assistantship level, follow the link below.
 

Employment Opportunities