Join the lab
The lab is actively recruiting at every level. If you're curious about ecology, fungi, and willing to get your hands dirty this might be the lab for you.
We are recruiting M.S. and Ph.D. students to start Fall 2027. Students will join through the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Funding is provided through a mix of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and external fellowships.
We currently have openings for two students working in complementary areas: One project focuses on the population genomics of the porcini mushroom (Boletus edulis), using one of the largest genome datasets for any symbiotic fungus to ask how these fungi adapt and diverge across continents. This work suits someone drawn to evolution, genomics, and computational analysis.
The other focuses on the soil microbiome of Populus; combining field sampling, common-garden experiments, and gene-expression data to characterize the ecological niches of cryptic soil fungi. This work suits someone drawn to community ecology, fieldwork, and plant–microbe interactions.
If neither project perfectly suits your interests but the lab's questions excite you, please reach out anyway... these are just starting points.
Strong candidates have:
To apply: Send a brief email to keaton.tremble@gmail.com with (1) a paragraph on what draws you to the lab, (2) a CV, and (3) the names of two references. Please include "Prospective grad student" in the subject line.
We have an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to join a project investigating seasonally resolved gene expression in the Populus rhizosphere microbiome. This position centers on establishing a Populus common garden and leading metatranscriptomic sampling across seasons to characterize how rhizosphere fungal communities and their functional programs shift through time. The position is funded for three years with strong possibility for extension and anticipated start date of Spring 2027. Strong candidates will have a background in statistical community ecology and fungal biology; experience in genomics or bioinformatics is a large advantage but can be developed on-site.
Beyond this position, we are broadly interested in hearing from postdocs whose research intersects with the lab's themes such as fungal genomics, mycorrhizal ecology, community assembly, or evolutionary functional genomics. I am happy to work with prospective postdocs to develop competitive fellowship applications tailored to their interests, including NSF PRFB, USDA NIFA, NIH F32, and the Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship.
To inquire: Send a CV, a one-paragraph research statement, and the names of two references to keaton.tremble@gmail.com with "Postdoc inquiry" in the subject line.
UIUC undergraduates are warmly welcomed in the lab. Most undergraduates start with a small, well-defined project (such as culture work, DNA/RNA isolation, microscopy, genome assembly), and grow into more independent work over time.
To apply: Email keaton.tremble@gmail.com with a short note about your year, major, and what part of the lab's work interests you. No prior research experience required.
The Tremble Lab values curiosity, honesty, generosity, and rigor. We collaborate widely, mentor deliberately, and hold ourselves to high scientific standards while keeping life enjoyable. We welcome applicants from every background, and we're committed to building a lab where everyone has the support they need to do their best work.