The Shao Lab is new at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and we are building the group now. That means early members help shape the lab’s direction, tools, and culture rather than inheriting them.
What We Do¶
We build process-based ecosystem models in which microbes are active players, and we test them against real data. Projects in the lab typically combine three things: a biological mechanism someone measured in the field or laboratory, a model that does not yet represent it, and a prediction that changes once it does.
Current directions include mycorrhizal controls on forest and peatland carbon and nitrogen cycling, biological controls on enhanced rock weathering, fungal trait representation in soil biogeochemical models, and machine-learning surrogates for long-term ecosystem simulation.
Who We Look For¶
You do not need to arrive already knowing how to model. Most people who join a modeling lab learn the modeling here. What matters more:
Curiosity about mechanism. You want to know why a system behaves the way it does, not just what the output looks like.
Comfort being wrong in public. Modeling is mostly finding out your assumption was wrong and figuring out which assumption it was.
Some quantitative footing. Any programming language, any statistics course, any experience with the command line. Willingness to learn matters more than what you already know.
Care about the biology. Models of microbes are only as good as the microbiology in them.
Backgrounds that work well here: microbiology, ecology, soil science, environmental science, geography, atmospheric science, computer science, applied math. People coming from the field or bench side are especially welcome — models need people who know what the data actually mean.
Graduate Students¶
Apply through the Department of Microbiology graduate program. Please email before you apply so we can talk about fit.
In your email, include:
A few sentences on what question you want to work on, and why it interests you. Specific beats broad — it is fine if it changes later.
What quantitative or computational experience you have, honestly stated.
Your CV.
Please do not send a generic template email. A short, specific message that shows you looked at what we actually do gets a real reply.
Email: sshao3@utk.edu with subject line “Prospective graduate student”.
Undergraduate Researchers¶
UTK undergraduates interested in ecosystem modeling, scientific computing, or soil microbial ecology are welcome to get in touch. Previous undergraduate projects in the group have led to co-authored publications.
Email sshao3@utk.edu with subject line “Undergraduate research”, a sentence or two on what draws you to this, and your year and major.
Postdoctoral Researchers¶
Funded postdoctoral positions are open. Start dates are flexible.
We are looking for people who want to build ecosystem models and test them against real data. Strong candidates might come from ecosystem or soil biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, land-surface or Earth system modeling, biogeochemical modeling, or scientific computing. Experience with a process-based model, or with substantial scientific programming, matters more than a specific disciplinary label.
To apply, email sshao3@utk.edu with subject line “Postdoc application” and include:
A cover letter — what you have worked on, and what you would want to work on here.
Your CV.
Names and contact details for two or three references.
Review is ongoing until the positions are filled.
We are also glad to co-develop fellowship applications (for example the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology, or DOE programs) with strong candidates who would rather come with their own funding.
A Note on Fit¶
Research groups differ more in day-to-day working style than in subject matter. If you are deciding whether to write, it is reasonable to ask directly about expectations around working hours, publication, funding, and mentoring. We would rather have that conversation early than late.