Select sorghum accessions form aerial roots, which are adventitious nodal roots that do not touch the soil. These roots secrete a mucilage that can harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The bacteria can provide as much as 40% of the plant’s nitrogen needs, reducing the requirement for chemical fertilizer. We are studying the genetic bases of aerial root formation and the establishment of the symbiotic relationship between sorghum and the microbes.

Sorghum stems can be used as a feedstock for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. This requires hydrolysis of cellulose with fungal enzymes. The cell wall polymer lignin impedes this enzymatic conversion. Lignin is present in the secondary cell walls of xylem and sclerenchyma fiber. We are investigating the genetic determinants of cell fate in differentiating internodes with the goal of altering stem architecture in such a way that the proportion of cells with cell walls that are recalcitrant to enzymatic hydrolysis is lower. We are using single-cell RNAseq to identify the developmental trajectories leading to the different cell types.

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds that protect the plant against biotic and abiotic stresses. Several flavonoids have health-promoting properties when part of the human diet, and can be used as anti-cancer drugs. The biosynthesis of the various classes of flavonoids is not fully understood. We are working on identifying genes encoding enzymes that catalyze the formation of several flavonoids in sorghum and on developing strategies to enhance the production of specific compounds that are of particular relevance for plant protection and/or human health.

Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum sublineola. This disease is prevalent in hot and humid climates around the world and can cause yield losses of up to 50%. We have screened several germplasm collections and identified a number of disease resistance loci. The resistance alleles can be introgressed in economically relevant cultivars and hybrids to boost yield. In addition, we are investigating the molecular basis of the resistance, based on changes in the transcriptome of resistant and susceptible cultivars during infection.

Lignin is an aromatic and highly hydrophobic cell wall polymer that is present in plant tissue to facilitate water transport and to provide mechanical support. Biorefineries that process plant biomass to produce renewable fuels and chemicals generate lignin as a low-value by-product. In collaboration with the lab of Dr. Kelly Rice we have shown that lignin can be solvated in zwitterionic buffers at physiological pH so that it can be added to bacterial culture medium. Addition of lignin to culture medium slows down the growth of the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and re-sensitizes certain antibiotic-resistant strains to the antibiotics to which they had acquired resistance. We are investigating the physiological basis for lignin’s antimicrobial properties.

Admissions and Application Information

The University of Florida Graduate School requires an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to be eligible for admission. Fulfillment of the minimum requirement does not guarantee an applicant’s acceptance into the program. In evaluating each applicant, the department’s Graduate Committee members include in their consideration a thorough review of the transcript, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, area of research interest, etc. Students are encouraged to complete undergraduate coursework in biochemistry and microbiology before they apply.

How to Apply

Admission into the UF Microbiology and Cell Science graduate program requires that an applicant be accepted both by the UF Graduate School and by the Microbiology and Cell Science Department. To complete the application process, apply online via the Graduate School admissions web site and select the “Graduate” option to create an account and begin your application. Visit the UF Graduate School web page for step-by-step instructions on how to apply. Select the “Apply Now” icon below to go directly to the Ph.D. Application.

Students are admitted to the PhD program each fall semester. Applications must be completed by December 15th to be considered for admission the following fall semester.

We are not currently accepting applications for the thesis master’s degree program.

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Required Application Materials

• Application fee of $30.
• Official Transcripts.
• CV or resume.
• Three letters of recommendation (LOR). We suggest that candidates request LOR from professional/academic mentors or colleagues that can comment on their academic/research experiences.
• Personal statement. The personal statement should consist of a brief essay describing your research experience, career goals, and area of research interest (limit 500 words)
• Supplemental information. Use this form to provide additional information that will be reviewed by the admissions committee
• International Applicants must also submit TOEFL scores (a score of 23 or higher on the speaking section is required to be considered for admission).
  • TOEFL Score Codes for UF: Institution Code is 5812, Department Code is 07
  • We do not accept the IELTS

Please contact Jacqueline Lee at jlee9@ufl.edu if you have any questions regarding the application process or deadline.