Genuine interest in birds, their habitats, and the science behind managing their populations
Ability to work respectfully and ethically with wildlife, habitats, and stakeholders
Enthusiasm for learning and developing new field and technical skills
Collaborative work habits
Capacity to problem solve and build self-reliance
Familiarity with R, Python, ArcGIS/QGIS at a level commensurate with the position sought
Openness to developing new computational skills, such as data management, coding, statistical reasoning, and data visualization
Experience with scientific writing and a motivation to cultivate strong science communication skills
Prospective graduate students are welcome to contact Dr. Wails regarding research opportunities and should review the department website for additional information on program requirements. Graduate positions in the lab are typically tied to specific research projects and are contingent on funding. Students are admitted only when funding is sufficient to support their studies from matriculation through graduation. Positions are announced periodically as funding and project needs arise. Students who have secured their own external funding (e.g., NSF GRFP) are encouraged to reach out to discuss potential opportunities.
When graduate positions are available (see above), please include the following in your email:
a cover letter (two page max) describing your research interests, career goals, how your involvement in this lab will advance your career, and any other requested items outlined in the position solicitation;
a resume or CV highlighting relevant academic and work experience, including three professional references (names, titles, email addresses, phone numbers);
unofficial transcripts, including GPA (minimum 3.0 GPA required); and
a writing sample (e.g., research paper from a previous class assignment, undergraduate thesis/honors paper, technical report, peer-reviewed manuscript) in which you were the lead author and responsible for the majority of the writing.
Undergraduate students are periodically welcome to participate in fieldwork and are encouraged to pursue mentored research. Interested students should review university capstone requirements and contact Dr. Wails to learn more. Please include the following in your email:
a cover letter (one page max) describing your professional interests and career directions you are considering,
a resume or CV including GPA and highlighting relevant academic and work experience, and
a brief writing sample (e.g., research paper from a previous class assignment) in which you were responsible for the majority of the writing.