IMI Fellowship Program

Insect-Microbial Interactions (IMI) National Needs Graduate Fellowships
Do you like insects? Are you interested in learning more about how microbes might affect the ecology, evolution, and impact of insects? We are seeking motivated students interested in insect-microbial interactions (IMI) for USDA NIFA-funded Ph.D. and M.S. graduate fellowships. Come work with world-class faculty members in a interdisciplinary department.

The IMI NNF graduate fellows will not only be pursuing excellent research programs, they will have the opportunity to explore potential career paths by participating in a professional placement during their degree program. Placements will be with industry, government, regulatory agencies, or extension, depending on a student’s interest.

Potential Projects

Participating Faculty


Gaelen Burke

Evolutionary genetics and genomics
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Trish Moore

Insect evolutionary ecology, behavior and reproduction
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Kerry Oliver

Evolution and ecological consequences of associations between insects and heritable microbes
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Ash Sial

Biochemistry and genetics of invasive species in the development of management strategies
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Bill Snyder

Natural solutions to conservation and sustainable agriculture
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Babu Srinivasan

Basic and applied research on insect transmitted plant viruses
Griffin campus | Faculty Web Page

Michael Strand

Insect physiology and behavior, particularly the interaction among insects and their microbial symbionts
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

Mike Toews

Basic and applied ecology and strategies for sustainable pest management
Tifton campus | Faculty Web Page

Kevin Vogel

Bioinformatics approaches to insect physiology and the interaction between insects and their microbial symbionts
Athens campus | Faculty Web Page

UGA’s graduate school and the Department of Entomology is committed to promoting diversity by encouraging the enrollment of students from historically underrepresented groups including race/ethnicity, gender, and first generation. Application fee waivers are available to qualifying students.