PhD Assistantship in Finfish and Ornamental Aquaculture

Job Details

Florida supports a diverse aquaculture industry that includes freshwater and marine ornamental fishes, food fish, shellfish, and species produced for conservation and stock enhancement. The state is the national leader in ornamental fish production, with Florida growers reporting a farm-gate value of approximately $172 million in 2021. However, producers face continued challenges associated with overseas competition, changing market demand, environmental stressors, regulatory requirements, and the need to diversify culture species and improve production efficiency. The successful applicant will investigate critical knowledge gaps in the physiology and production of freshwater and marine ornamental and food fish species. Potential projects may address captive reproduction, larval rearing and grow-out, responses to environmental stressors, and/or the development of predictive indicators of larval quality. Research will combine controlled aquaculture experiments with physiological and molecular techniques to develop species-specific production protocols and support commercial aquaculture, conservation, and fisheries management.

Application: Interested applicants should submit the following documents as a single pdf or word file via email to Dr. Casey Murray (casey.murray@ufl.edu) by the September 11, 2026 deadline.

• Cover letter summarizing interest in the position, qualifications and experience, as well as research and career aspirations
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial academic transcripts
• Names and contact information of three professional references

Requirements

• M.S. degree in aquaculture or related discipline
• Demonstrated research experience and peer-reviewed publication history
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Familiarity with biochemical assays and molecular techniques is desirable but not required
• Current Florida residency preferred

Contact Information