About QSG Consults
What are QSG Consultations?
The Quantitative Sciences Group (QSG) offers free consultations to Environmental Conservation graduate students and faculty in the areas of study design, analytical methodology, and interpretation of results. The purpose of these consultations is to improve quantitative literacy in ecology and conservation science among graduate students and faculty in our department.
Consultations are for advice only – take it or leave it. For graduate students, QSG advice does not override the guidance and/or requirements of the thesis/dissertation advisory committee. Ultimately, this is your work, so it is your job to be accountable for all decisions made, and thus you must be able to fully explain and defend all quantitative aspects of your research!
Who is eligible for a QSG Consultation?
All graduate students and faculty in ECo are eligible for consultations. However, the experience, expertise and focus of QSG is on quantitative ecology and conservation science. Individuals seeking advice in other realms of natural resources conservation, for example resource economics, business management, etc., are probably better served elsewhere - and if you email, we are happy to try to point you in the right direction.
What are QSG Consultations like?
Each one is different based on the needs of the person/research; however, usually the consultee (you) presents (often with slides) a quick overview of the research and then some nitty-gritty details about the data/research that leads up to the question(s) for the QSG. The 3-4 QSG members in attendance will then help you think through strategies for addressing and/or answering your questions using a collaborative approach. We are a supportive team and excited to work on these questions with you!
Who provides the QSG Consultations?
We are an ad-hoc group of faculty from the ECo Department who have a range of knowledge and expertise in quantitative ecology. We are a friendly bunch that like to volunteer our time to support our graduate students and fellow faculty in the quantitative aspects of their research.
On our site you will see who is currently affiliated with QSG; usually we schedule 3-4 of us to meet with you at a consultation, so you will see a random assortment of those of us available at your consultation time. Feel free to email Meg or Mike with questions about QSG.
Still need help?
Check out our Git Site for more info about QSG!
If you have more questions - please feel free to email us below.