Scholarships, USA

🎓 Fully Funded UF PhD Research Assistantship in Water Quality Technology – Spring 2027

Gradualin

June 18, 2026
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The University of Florida (UF) is recruiting a Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to join a cutting-edge, U.S. EPA-funded project tackling harmful algal blooms and nutrient pollution in the Gulf of America (GOA) watershed. If you’re an international student with a background in environmental science, water systems, or engineering, this fully funded position — starting Spring 2027 — could be your pathway into one of the nation’s top Agricultural and Biological Engineering programs. Here’s everything you need to know before you apply.

🎓 Quick Info Box

Detail	Information
University	University of Florida (UF), Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Country	United States
Degree Level	Ph.D.
Funding Type	Graduate Research Assistantship (stipend + tuition support — verify exact figures on official website)
Starting Term	Spring 2027
Deadline	Rolling basis — reviewed once an adequate applicant pool is reached (verify on official website)
Open To	International and domestic students
Official Link	abe.ufl.edu/graduate/admissions

🎓 Scholarship / Opportunity Overview

Gradualin brings you another standout opportunity for ambitious researchers: a Ph.D. position at the University of Florida’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), working under the supervision of Dr. Dengjun Wang and Dr. Changying Li. The project is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and focuses on demonstrating an innovative water quality restoration technology that combines oyster-mediated nutrient sequestration and biochar-based nutrient reduction to fight harmful algal blooms (HABs).

What makes this opportunity unique is its truly interdisciplinary scope — you won’t just be running lab experiments. The role blends field experimentation, laboratory analysis, drone-based imaging, and AI/machine learning modeling, giving you exposure to multiple high-demand skill sets at once. This is one of only a handful of GRA positions that combines aquaculture science, environmental remediation, and applied AI in a single research program.

🎓 Benefits / Funding

As a Graduate Research Assistant, you can generally expect the following type of support (always verify exact amounts on the official UF page, as specific stipend figures were not published in this posting):

Tuition support tied to the GRA appointment
Monthly stipend for living expenses while based in Gainesville, Florida
Access to HiPerGator, one of the most powerful university-owned supercomputers in the world — a major plus for AI/ML-focused research
Opportunities for conference travel and field research funding, typical for EPA-funded interdisciplinary projects

This is the kind of fully resourced research environment that lets students focus on their work without juggling outside jobs — a huge advantage compared to many international PhD programs that offer little to no funding.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

A B.S. or B.E. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Water and Soil Sciences, Ecological Engineering, or a closely related field
Strong academic background in water quality, harmful algal blooms (HAB), environmental processes, and aquatic systems
Demonstrated quantitative skills — statistics, machine learning, data analysis, or modeling
For international applicants: UF’s Graduate School requires TOEFL iBT ≥ 80 or IELTS Academic ≥ 6.5 (or an equivalent accepted score) — so unlike some opportunities Gradualin covers, this one does require proof of English proficiency
No strict age limit or nationality restriction is stated in the posting

🎓 Who Should Apply (And Who Should Not)

✅ Apply if:

You hold (or are completing) a relevant bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental, or water sciences
You’re comfortable with quantitative methods like statistics, machine learning, or data modeling
You’re excited about hands-on fieldwork combined with lab and computational research
You already meet UF’s English proficiency requirement, or can secure a qualifying score before enrollment
You’re targeting a Spring 2027 start in the U.S.

❌ Don’t apply if:

You don’t have a STEM background related to environmental, agricultural, or biological engineering
You’re unwilling or unable to relocate to Gainesville, Florida
You haven’t yet taken — or can’t realistically schedule — an English proficiency test before the program start

🎓 Available Research Areas

The position centers on water quality improvement technology, with sub-focus areas including:

Oyster-mediated nutrient sequestration (aquaculture-based remediation)
Biochar-based nutrient reduction techniques
Harmful algal bloom (HAB) mitigation strategies
Drone-based (UAV) environmental imaging and remote sensing
AI/machine learning modeling for water quality prediction and monitoring

Students with overlapping interests in environmental engineering, aquaculture, or applied AI will find multiple angles to specialize within this single project.

🎓 Required Documents

All materials must be combined into one PDF file and sent directly to both supervising professors:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research statement
A statement describing your qualifications relative to the minimum and preferred qualifications listed in the posting
Names of three references (contact details, not full letters)

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

Prepare your documents — CV, research statement, qualifications statement, and three reference names — combined into a single PDF.
Email Dr. Dengjun Wang (dengjun.wang@ufl.edu) and copy Dr. Changying Li (cli2@ufl.edu) with your PDF attached.
Reference the GRA position on water quality improvement technology clearly in your email subject line so your application is easy to identify.
Separately apply to the UF/ABE graduate program through the official admissions portal: abe.ufl.edu/graduate/admissions, since the GRA offer and program admission are evaluated together.
Follow up politely if you don’t hear back within a few weeks — professors often manage high volumes of inquiries for funded positions.

Tip: Tailor your research statement specifically to the project’s themes (HAB mitigation, biochar, AI modeling) rather than sending a generic research interest statement — interdisciplinary committees notice specificity.

🎓 Important Dates / Deadlines

Milestone	Date
Anticipated start	Spring 2027
Application review	Rolling — reviewed once an adequate applicant pool is reached (verify on official website)

Bookmark this page and check back for updates, since UF has not published a hard cutoff date — early applicants are likely to have an advantage.

🎓 Why Apply — Why UF and Gainesville

UF is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the United States, and is recognized as one of the leading Agricultural and Biological Engineering programs in the nation. In fact, UF is currently ranked the #4 public university in the U.S. by Forbes, and is one of only two Florida universities in the Association of American Universities, a group representing the nation’s top 64 research institutions.

Beyond rankings, you’ll have access to HiPerGator, one of the most powerful university-based supercomputers anywhere — a massive advantage if your research leans into AI and machine learning. Add to that Gainesville’s affordable cost of living, vibrant college-town culture, and Florida’s growing reputation as a hub for applied environmental and AI research, and this becomes more than just a funded position — it’s a launchpad for a research career.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is this position fully funded? A: Yes, GRA positions typically include a stipend and tuition support, though exact amounts were not specified in this posting (verify on official website).

Q: Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply? A: Yes — international applicants must meet UF’s English proficiency requirement: TOEFL iBT ≥ 80 or IELTS Academic ≥ 6.5, or an equivalent accepted score.

Q: What is the application deadline? A: There is no fixed deadline listed. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once an adequate pool is reached, so applying early is recommended.

Q: Who do I contact to apply? A: Email both Dr. Dengjun Wang (dengjun.wang@ufl.edu) and Dr. Changying Li (cli2@ufl.edu) directly with your application PDF.

Q: Can I apply if my degree isn’t exactly in Agricultural & Biological Engineering? A: Yes — Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Water and Soil Sciences, Ecological Engineering, or closely related fields are all accepted.

🎓 Official Source

Application contacts: dengjun.wang@ufl.edu and cli2@ufl.edu
Graduate admissions info: https://abe.ufl.edu/graduate/admissions/
University homepage: https://www.ufl.edu/

🎓 Summary Table

Detail	Information
University	University of Florida, Dept. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Supervisors	Dr. Dengjun Wang, Dr. Changying Li
Degree	Ph.D.
Funding	EPA-funded GRA — stipend + tuition support (verify exact amount)
Start Term	Spring 2027
English Requirement	TOEFL iBT ≥ 80 or IELTS ≥ 6.5
Deadline	Rolling — apply early
Apply Via	Email CV, research statement, qualifications statement, 3 references (1 PDF)