Lab Expectations

Interested in joining my lab group? Please read the following expectations of both my lab members and me.

For potential undergraduate researchers: Students should contact me about research opportunities. Often students begin participating as volunteers to see if they enjoy the research and are a good fit with the lab group. Other options include registering for research credit or applying for a paid research internship in my lab through SRAP or other sources.

For potential master's researchers: Graduate students are primarily supported via teaching assistantships, which require you to teach biology labs in exchange for a tuition waiver and a modest stipend. We have a limited number of TA positions in our small program and students must apply for them when submitting their graduate applications. In addition, I sometimes have separate funding for research assistantships to work on specific projects. I expect my graduate students to have previous research experience prior to applying to the program. Prospective students should contact me several months before they apply. You can do this by sending me a short inquiry email explaining your research interests and why you are a good fit for my research lab. Please also email me your CV and unofficial transcripts. Your undergraduate professors and other students who have recently started graduate programs are great sources of information on how to apply to graduate school. Useful graduate application advice can also be found online but is very discipline-specific. Here are a few beginning resources that may be useful: So you want to go to grad school and How to get into an organismal biology graduate program.

What I expect from lab members

• Enthusiasm and dedication to scientific inquiry

• Complete assigned tasks promptly and effectively (strong work ethic)

• Honest, dependable, and able to work independently

• Be upfront, clear, and honest in communications and do not lie, be evasive, or stonewall.

• Ability to work independently under field conditions (extreme weather, rough terrain, and physically challenging tasks) at remote sites

• Regular updates/meetings to discuss progress

• Willingness to learn necessary techniques and quantitative skills to complete projects

• Full participation in the lab (attend lab meetings, review lab members' papers/proposals, attend lab members' presentations, etc.)

• Participation in biology department events (attend seminars, defenses, etc.)

Additional expectations for graduate students

• Develop and implement a high-quality research project in collaboration with their advisor

• Commitment to assistantship duties (either TA or RA) as discussed with funding organizations and me

• Attend at least one scientific meeting per year and present research findings 

• Write and submit a small grant proposal based on your research

• Master's students are expected to write 1-2 submission-quality research papers as part of a thesis

• Length of the master's program is usually 2 to 2.5 years, but depends on the project, student motivation/abilities, and unforeseen events

• Submit thesis for publication within 1 year of graduating

What you can expect from me

• Effective and regular mentoring

• Open communication

• To be challenged (it's good for you!)

• Lead a supportive and constructive research group that respects your background and experiences

• Serve as your advocate with the university and the larger scientific community

• Provide constructive feedback on performance, papers, proposals, and presentations

• Facilitate opportunities for further improvement (grants, recommendation letters, meetings, graduate school, jobs, etc.)

• Access to available equipment and lab space related to animal field research (live traps, marking equipment, GPS, radio telemetry, etc.)

• If available, at least partial support to attend one yearly scientific meeting (either through university or grant funds).