Open Positions

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia (UGA), established in 1785, is a public land-grant and sea-grant university located in Athens, Georgia.  It is the oldest state-chartered institution in the United States, and currently enrolls more than 40,000 students across 19 Schools and Colleges.

Ranked among the top 20 public institutions by U.S. News and World Report, UGA is an R1, research-intensive university that prides itself on providing high-quality undergraduate and graduate education and cutting-edge research programs.

Athens, Georgia

Athens is culture-rich college town with a strong economic center, consistently ranked near the top of the list of best college towns in America, and is approximately one hour from the state capital, Atlanta. Athens is home to a world-renowned music scene, annual music festival (AthFest), distinctive local restaurants and shops, a bustling Victorian-era downtown, historic neighborhoods, a thriving arts and culture scene, and a plethora of nearby outdoor recreation options.

Research at the University of Georgia

Interdisciplinary curricula and research programs are key distinctions offered by the University of Georgia. The College of Engineering adopts an interdisciplinary approach by using a flexible curriculum that provides students with diverse technical skills for careers that directly engage in critical issues and grand challenges facing global society.

Within the College of Engineering, the Rotavera Group is aligned with the Secure, Resilient and Sustainable Systems research cluster and focuses on issues related to sustainable transportation energy in the form of liquid biofuels.

Within the Department of Chemistry, the Rotavera group aligns with the Physical Chemistry and Environmental/Atmospheric Chemistry research areas.

Application Procedure

Prospective doctoral students must be admitted into the Ph.D. program in either the Department of Chemistry or the College of Engineering, the latter of which is organized without departmental boundaries to promote advanced studies at the interface of multiple disciplines. Masters degree programs are also administered in both the Department of Chemistry and in the College of Engineering, and prospective Masters students must satisfy the admission requirements for the respective program of interest.

Previous research experience is required and a strong fundamental background, evidenced by course grades and research activity (where applicable), is critically important. Mentoring experience in some capacity, e.g. outreach, is desired.

Application deadlines depend on the starting semester. For international applicants, refer to the UGA Graduate School requirements for admittance. Additional application information: Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering.

Upon admission, contact Professor Rotavera with a CV and an essay explaining the interest in the position and a statement of goals (limit to 2 pages).

Fellowships

Prospective graduate students are strongly encouraged to pursue the range of Fellowship opportunities offered by the Graduate School at the University of Georgia. In addition, pursuit of Fellowship opportunities external to the University of Georgia is strongly encouraged, including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), the DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellowship (SCGF) Program, the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG), among others.

Research Positions

  • Research Positions

    Experimental

    Several types of experiments are conducted on hydrocarbons and biofuels in the Rotavera Group, including high-pressure combustion using a jet-stirred reactor, quantitative differential absorption spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.

  • Research Positions

    Computational

    Several types of computational projects are conducted to complement the experimental research projects, including transition state calculations, reaction mechanism modeling, and quantum chemical calculations of electronically excited states of combustion intermediates.

Undergraduate Research Positions

  • Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Chemistry Program

    SURO

    The SURO program begins in late May and runs for 9 weeks through late July and SURO Awardees receive a $5000 stipend. Through SURO, the Department of Chemistry provides opportunities for motivated undergraduate students interested in conducting research projects in world-class research laboratories and working directly with faculty and Ph.D. students.

    Undergraduate students in chemistry from U.S. Colleges and Universities completing either sophomore or junior years are encouraged to apply.  Applicants must complete an application form and arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent on their behalf from faculty members familiar with their recent academic progress. Additional information on the SURO program is listed at chem.uga.edu. Applications are reviewed frequently until the available openings are filled. Those received by March 1 are assured of full consideration.

  • Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities

    CURO

    Each year, the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) awards 30 Summer Research Fellowships to support University of Georgia undergraduates (1st- through 3rd-year) interested in pursuing intensive, immersive, faculty-mentored research during the summer.

    Applications are due in early February, and applicants must be a current first- through third-year student with a minimum of 15 in-residence credit hours completed at UGA. CURO Summer Fellows are awarded $3000. Applications and additional program requirements are listed at curo.uga.edu.