Join the lab
I am recruiting! Please email me at kivenson [at] biology.msstate.edu if you are interested!
I am recruiting! Please email me at kivenson [at] biology.msstate.edu if you are interested!
Graduate Student Opportunities in Microbiology
The Kivenson Lab at Mississippi State University is looking for MS and PhD students interested in alternative genetic codes and microbial metabolism. Projects in the lab focus on selenocysteine in microorganisms, genetic code flexibility and recoding, and microbial metabolic pathways enabled by recoding. Prospective MS and PhD students: Please reach out to Dr. Kivenson (kivenson@biology.msstate.edu) with a recent CV and a short overview of your areas of interest & specific goals for graduate school.
About Veronika Kivenson
I am a microbiologist studying genetic code plasticity in bacteria and archaea. My research examines these processes in diverse settings, ranging from deep-sea sediments to the human microbiome. I earned a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara, followed by a postdoctoral position at Oregon State University. Next, as a postdoc at UC Berkeley, I characterized the first alternative genetic code in Archaea; this work was published in Science. My research focuses on uncovering new genetic codes, the evolutionary drivers of code flexibility and their applications. I started my lab at Mississippi State in August 2026.
About the Department
Mississippi State University is an R1 research university with strong programs across the biological sciences. Located in Starkville, MSU offers top-tier academic training paired with a low cost of living and a welcoming, small-town atmosphere. Our department is a friendly, supportive, and close-knit place where graduate researchers really thrive. Learn more about graduate studies at MSU by visiting biology.msstate.edu.