PhD Position, Environmental Toxicology, Texas Christian University

Position Overview

Application Deadline: June 15, 2026

Salary: Starting at $30,000 per year (TA stipend) plus $30,000+ in tuition waivers and health-insurance assistance

Education Required: BS or BA in Biology or related discipline; GPA 3.0 or higher

Description

Texas Christian University’s Environmental Toxicology Lab is recruiting a funded PhD student in the Department of Biology in Fort Worth, Texas, with a $30,000 stipend, tuition waiver, and start date between August 1 and August 17, 2026 (applications due June 15, 2026).

The Jeffries Lab at TCU studies environmental toxicology and endocrinology, working alongside undergraduate and graduate students on questions of contaminant exposure and biological response. The Department of Biology offers a five-year PhD requiring 54 hours of graduate-level coursework (including 12 hours of dissertation), candidacy, and a publicly defended dissertation.

The PhD student will work on one of two funded research projects: (1) assessment of urban watersheds for the presence and biological impacts of legacy and emerging contaminants; or (2) assessment of early-life-stage thyroid disruption on reproduction and behavior. Students with novel project ideas related to fish immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption in fish and/or amphibians, or ecotoxicological monitoring are also welcome to apply.

Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral-level research on contaminant exposure and biological response in urban watersheds or early-life-stage thyroid disruption.
• Develop a broad skill set across toxicology and endocrinology, including field and laboratory methods.
• Serve as a Teaching Assistant for laboratory sections of Contemporary Issues in Biology or Introduction to Biological Investigations.
• Present research at regional, national, or international scientific meetings.
• Complete 54 hours of graduate-level coursework (including 12 hours of dissertation).
• Meet candidacy requirements and successfully defend the written PhD dissertation.

Requirements

• BS or BA degree in Biology or related discipline.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Enthusiasm for science, strong desire to learn, resilience, and a dedicated work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of productive research with presentations and/or publications.
• Teaching or tutoring experience.
• Foundation in toxicology, physiology, or endocrinology.

Additional Notes

• Five-year PhD program in Biology at TCU.
• Competitive Teaching Assistantship program supports approximately 13 to 15 PhD students per year.
• Up to $2,000 of departmental travel support per year for scientific meetings.
• Additional research support available through competitive DARE grants (Department of Biology) and SERC grants (College of Science and Engineering).
• Travel support also available on a competitive basis through the Graduate Studies Office.

How to Apply

Email m.jeffries@tcu.edu to express interest. Official applications to the graduate program are submitted via https://www.applyweb.com/tcug/index.ftl.

Required initial application materials to send to Dr. Jeffries:

• Brief statement of interest.
• CV or resume including GPA and GRE score (if available).
• Unofficial transcripts.
• Names and email addresses of two references.