Prospective Students
(Update June 2024) I will not be taking on new MS students to begin Fall 2025.
I am often looking for motivated, curious, and collaborative individuals to join as MS or undergraduate research students in the Geology Department at Western Washington University. You can take a look at the 'Projects' page to get a sense for themes in my current and previous research. In addition to those, I have a long wish-list of future projects.
Here are a few of the tools I regularly employ:
Measurements of channel and bed material characteristics in the field
Analysis of landforms in ArcGIS, often using high-resolution LiDAR data
Dataset analysis via Python or Matlab
Sediment transport/morphodynamic modeling in Python and/or Matlab
You don't have to be an expert in all of these already! If you're comfortable with one or two, that's a great starting place.
After you have read the information on this page, if you are still interested in applying, contact me to discuss project ideas!
What kind of student am I looking for?
I do not have a singular vision of an 'ideal student'. I would be happy to work with folks who have a background in geology, ecology, computer science, and/or other quantitative scientific discipline, though basic knowledge of geology and geomorphology is important.
I'm happy to work with students who don't fit the classic geology stereotype (outdoorsy, able-bodied, white, straight, cis, atheist, carhart-wearing climbers). Your curiosity, work ethic, attention to detail, and interest in the field of geomorphology are the important traits I'm looking for.
An in-progress list of expectations
(Adapted from Margaret Zimmer)My responsibilities as an advisor
Collaborate on project design and development, supporting student ownership of the research
Regularly discuss future career goals, and provide professional development opportunities appropriate for your goals
Meet one-on-one regularly to discuss research progress and pitfalls
Ensure financial support through two years of graduate school, including travel support to at least one scientific conference
Listen to concerns and feedback and be flexible during difficult times
My expectations for students working with me
Be eager to learn, collaborate, and expand your skill set and knowledge base
Attend department seminars and lab group meetings (be an active member of the community)
Be a team player in the lab group, willing to ask for and provide support for each other's research
Be rigorous and serious about the quality of your science
Listen to my concerns and feedback, and be understanding of the fact that I, too, will have difficult times
For MS students: complete a thorough project, of publication quality
How does the application process actually work?
The application process for graduate school in the sciences can be mystifying from the outside. And the norms vary between different scientific fields. The internet has lots of advice, but here's my quick synopsis of a standard approach for applications to graduate programs in the geosciences:
Summer - early Fall (1 year before you start grad school): Do your homework
Soul search and consider your desired field of interest (a particular landscape? a particular set of tools you're interested in?)
Ask professors and/or grad students for advice and suggestions for potential advisors
Research the potential advisors, ask around about their work, read their websites, read their papers
Fall (or earlier): Contact potential advisors
You should send emails to potential advisors to ask if they're planning to take students, and what work they would be interested in having a student work on.
** Email advice and things you should include: **
keep it succinct (~200-350 words)
proof read! This is your opportunity to demonstrate your attention to detail.
attach:
your CV (similar to a resume)
a writing sample: your senior thesis (if you did one) or a term paper
your transcripts
if you have a red flag in your record (e.g. a GPA <3.0) consider addressing it directly/briefly.
explain why you're interested in graduate school, and what experience you would bring to their research program. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you actually know what their research is about.
ask brief, pertinent questions: Are you taking students starting Fall 20XX? Do you have plans to continue working on XXX?
The potential advisor may not respond quickly. They may say they lack funding or the time for new students. They may tell you that you're not the kind of student they're interested in (perhaps they need someone who does geophysics for their current project, but you're more of a GIS person). These are all normal responses. Don't take them personally.
Other helpful reading for this phase in the process: here
Late Fall/Winter: write, submit applications
Applications for graduate school are similar, in some ways, to undergraduate applications (personal statement, transcripts, reference letters, etc), though there are important differences.
A good Personal Statement will outline a vision for a research project with a particular faculty mentor. Faculty aren't asking you to convince us that Geology is cool - we already know that. Instead, we want to understand what skills you'd bring to life as a graduate student (think: research, science, technical experience, plus particular soft skills/attributes), what you hope to get out of it (think: specific skills, pathway to a particular career), and, along the way, a bit of who you are as a person. If you have a personal story that feels important to include, go for it, but don't feel compelled to tell us that you've loved rocks since you were a kid (maybe it's true, but why does that make us want to admit you?).
Western's graduate school applications are due Jan 15 (last I checked): http://www.wwu.edu/gradschool/#
NOTE: As of June 2020, the WWU Geology Department has dropped the GRE requirement for graduate admissions.