Ma Research Group
Current Opening:
Ph.D. position (starting Spring 2027):
One Ph.D. research assistant position will be available in Dr. Ben Ma’s research group (https://www.enve-micro.com/) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) starting Spring 2027. The successful candidates should have:
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A master’s (preferred) or bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, bioengineering, microbiology, or related fields.
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Lab experience in microbiology, chemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
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Strong data analysis skills using R, MATLAB, or other statistical software.
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Good writing, communication, and collaboration skills.
The candidates will work on research projects on understanding the biofilm formation and mitigation in water systems. The candidates will engage in collaboration with industrial partners, public health officials, and scientists across different departments at UNR and other universities. In addition, the candidates will be part of the Nevada Water Innovation Institute and Nevada Center for Water Resiliency.
Interested applicants are encouraged to email Dr. Ma (benma@unr.edu) using “PhD application_your name” as the subject line and including the following materials in one PDF:
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A short statement of research interests
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Most updated CV
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Unofficial transcripts
Postdoc position (available now):
One Post-doc position is available immediately in Dr. Ben Ma’s research group (https://www.enve-micro.com/) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). The successful candidates should have:
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A PhD degree in environmental engineering, microbiology, or related fields with a strong publication record.
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Strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
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Lab experience in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics and strong data analysis skills using R, MATLAB, or other statistical software.
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Good writing, communication, and collaboration skills.
The candidates will primarily work on research projects on understanding the molecular-level mechanisms of pathogen disinfection using ultraviolet (UV) and chemical disinfectants. The post-doc may also collaborate on ongoing projects related to biofilm control in water systems and UV disinfection in indoor environments.
The start date is flexible and salary and title commensurate with experience. Benefits are included, which include a generous 19.25% employer-matched retirement contribution. The appointment will be for 1 year with the possibility of renewal. The post-doc or research scientist will be encouraged to present at national conferences, collaborate on and individually develop research proposals, and publish results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
Interested applicants are encouraged to email Dr. Ma (benma@unr.edu) using “Postdoc application_ your name” as the subject line and including the following materials in one PDF:
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A short statement of research interests
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Most updated CV
Graduate student
We always look for self-motivated Master and Ph.D. students to join our group. You can find information about our graduate program here. Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Ma (benma@unr.edu) to inquire about the opportunities.
Undergraduate student
Our research group provides research opportunities to undergraduate students, especially for those interested in pursuing a career in engineering and science. We encourage undergraduate students to apply knowledge from the class room into real actions and work alongside graduate students and our industry partners. We believe these experiences will stand out on job interviews and graduate school applications. Interested student may apply here or contact Dr. Ma (benma@unr.edu) directly.
Other things to know:
Reno: Reno is located in the northwest section of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border. In 2023, Reno is named the happiest place to live in the U.S, with mild, sunny weather and a variety of world‐class outdoor recreation opportunities nearby. The Lake Tahoe watershed is ~30 minutes from the city with exceptional skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking trails from Lake Tahoe through downtown Reno. Reno also hosts hundreds of events each year, including Burning Man and the Great Reno Balloon Race. In addition, northern Nevada is currently one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, especially in technology and manufacturing.
Lake Tahoe (Summer 2023)
Lake Tahoe (Summer 2023)
Reno (Fall 2023)
Environmental Engineering at UNR: The University of Nevada, Reno is a Carnegie® "R1" (very high research activity) university. The university has grown substantially over the past decade, thanks to our commitment to building an inclusive, diverse and collaborative research environment. The environmental engineering program at UNR is among the top programs in the nation (#55 by U.S. News in 2023) and hosts three research centers, including Nevada Water Innovation Institute, the Global Water Center, and the Nevada Center for Water Resiliency. Our program's laboratories are certified for Biosafety Level 2 with enhanced practices (BSL-2+) and have state-of-the-art equipment including droplet digital PCR, HPLC, GC-MS/MS, GC-ECD, and FTIR. Other research facilities across UNR, including Nevada Genomics Center, Nevada Bioinformatics Center, and High Performance Computing Cluster, support research activities on environmental bioinformatics, large data set analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
UNR Campus (Fall 2023)
BSL-2+ Lab (dd PCR)