The Gao Lab at Baylor University, Department of Environmental Science, is looking for 2 highly motivated Ph.D. students starting in Fall 2026, interested in researching 1) Designing nanomaterials for delivering nutrients to agricultural crop plants. This work will involve the synthesis of nanomaterials and use advanced technology to understand mechanistically the behavior of nanomaterials in plants, and 2) developing machine learning based methods for analyzing the fate and risks of emerging contaminants in agricultural soil and water systems.
Some examples of our works include:
ACSESTWater2025,5,3762−3771
Environ.Sci.Technol.2022,56,6722−6732
Environ.Sci.Technol.2023,57,21704−21714
J. Hazard. Mater.2023,453,131402
Requirements:
Students with a background in Environmental Chemistry & Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science & Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, or related fields are encouraged to apply. A master's degree is preferred, although exceptional students with a bachelor’s degree will also be considered. Students are expected to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the core courses.
Proficiency in English. International students are subject to the requirement by Baylor University, which includes the English tests (TOEFL, 80 & above; IELTS, 6.5 & above). Proficiency in English will be further evaluated through application materials and a Zoom interview.
Excellent scientific writing and communication skills (This will be evaluated via a Zoom interview).
What we provide:
• Competitive stipend (~ 30k USD/year) and benefits (tuition fully covered)
• A supportive advisor who will guide your career goal, either for academia or industry
• Multidisciplinary and multicultural research collaboration experience. Excellent students will have chances to visit national labs (e.g., Argonne National Lab) and other universities (e.g., McGill University from Canada) during their research.
• Outreach & Conference opportunity.
• Chances to use the state-of-the-art instrumentation and research facilities at Baylor (e.g., LC-MS/MS, LA-ICP-MS, TOF-SIMS) and the possibility to work in Synchrotron facilities across the world (Stanford SSRL, APS in Argonne National Lab, ESRF in France, etc.).
Baylor University is an R-1 (University with 'Very High' research activities) University, consistently ranked as one of the top 100 Universities in the US by 'US NEWS.' It is the only private Christian university to receive the R-1 title.
Application method:
Please send the following information in 1 PDF file to Dr. Xiaoyu Gao at xiaoyu_gao@baylor.edu with the title ' PhD application-your name.' Only applications with the correct format will be reviewed.
• Curriculum vitae
• Transcripts
• Cover letter that highlights your anticipated start day, your education, research experience and interests, and career goals (1-2 pages)
• Contact information for 2 references
The applications for F2026 will be reviewed on December 1st, 2025 and continue until both positions are filled. All applications will be reviewed fairly and thoroughly, but only qualified students will be contacted for a Zoom interview. Successful candidates will be invited to apply via the Baylor University application system: grad.baylor.edu/apply/. All students, including those in the underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply.