PHD Graduate Student

About the Role

Mississippi State University is inviting applications for a 4-year Ph.D. level Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The position is funded with stipends, tuition, and insurance, with an anticipated start date of Spring 2027 (negotiable).

The successful candidate will work with Dr. Wenbo Liu on original research broadly within the field of:

• Aquatic food processing yield
• Food product diversity
• Food safety and quality
• Providing solutions to engineering problems in the aquatic food industries

Potential research topics include:

• Water-jet cutting design for food processing machinery
• Food production automation design

The candidate should be organized, self-motivated, possess a strong desire to learn new skills, and collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct original research in aquatic food processing and related engineering fields.
• Collaborate with faculty and researchers in a multidisciplinary environment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Demonstrated excellence in English writing and communication skills.
• Proficiency in machine design and programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++/C, Qt, etc.) is highly encouraged.

Qualifications

• Earn a B.S. or M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Agricultural Engineering, or other fields with relevant research experience.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0.
• For students with non-English credentials:
• TOEFL score of 79 iBT or IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.
• GRE may be waived.

Application Procedures

Interested candidates should contact Dr. Wenbo Liu at wl579@msstate.edu with any questions.

A full application requires:

• Cover letter describing applicant’s research interest
• CV
• Transcripts
• Test score(s)
• Writing examples
• List of three references (including names, email, address, and telephone number)

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Video conference interviews will be requested for potential candidates.

Successful applicants must apply to the Graduate School of Mississippi State University: https://www.grad.msstate.edu/students/admissions