Opportunities

If you are interested in collaborating with or being a part of the SBQG Lab with Dr. Blanchard, please feel free to email him directly at BABlanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu. Opportunities may be posted here for formal positions, including for student workers, seasonal work-study programs, graduate assistantships, research associates, or postdoctoral positions.

M.S. Assistantship in Plant Breeding and Genetics

(This is a grant-funded position through the completion of a Master of Science degree with the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences in LSU College of Agriculture.)

Work Location: LSU AgCenter Reproductive Biology Center, 5995 LSU Ag Road St. Gabriel, LA 70776.

Position Description: A graduate research assistant position is available in the Sugarcane Breeding and Quantitative Genetics (SBQG) Lab under Dr. Brayden Blanchard starting August 1, 2026. Mandatory work/research hours will be 20 hours per week. Responsibilities will include engaging in relevant research to improve sugarcane breeding methods for the Louisiana Sugarcane Variety Development Program. Research topics can be in the areas of phenotypic analysis of breeding trials, genotype-by-environment analysis, predictive breeding approaches, high-throughput phenotyping, genomic integration, and general pipeline optimization projects. Thesis project objectives will be outlined according to the timeline of the projects and the skillset of the candidate. Specific duties will include, but are not limited to, planting, harvesting, processing harvested samples in the sugarcane laboratory, data collection and entry, data analysis and reporting, and operation of laboratory and/or field equipment and instrumentation as appropriate.

Qualification Requirements: The position requires a B.S. degree in agronomy, environmental sciences, plant science, applied statistics, data science, biology, or a closely related field. Background and understanding of statistical principles, relevant software experience, and/or experience with precision ag/GIS/unmanned aerial vehicle technologies are preferred. Knowledge and skills in time and data management and organization are essential. Farming and/or field crop experience in sugarcane is desirable. The successful candidate must have acceptable written and oral communication skills.

Salary and Benefits: Graduate research assistantship will be commensurate with qualification and experience.

Application Process and Deadline: The research assistantship is dependent on successful admission of the candidate into the LSU Graduate School in the College of Agriculture, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences Master of Science Program. Email a cover letter, CV, and a list of at least (3) references to bablanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu. Application deadline is 6/30/2026 or until a suitable candidate is identified.