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 exploring 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. Graduate positions in the lab are tied to specific research projects, and students are typically accepted only when funding is available to support their studies from matriculation to graduation. These opportunities will be listed above and shared broadly when available. Students who have secured their own external funding (e.g., NSF GRFP) are encouraged to reach out to discuss potential opportunities.
Prospective students should also review the department website for additional information on programs and requirements.
When graduate positions are available (see above), please include the following in your email:
a cover letter describing your research interests, short- and long-term career goals, and how your involvement in this lab will advance your career;
a resume or CV highlighting relevant academic and work experience, including three professional references (names, titles, email addresses, phone numbers);
unofficial transcripts, including GPA; and
a writing sample (e.g., undergraduate thesis/honors paper, peer-reviewed manuscript, technical report, or research paper from a class) 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 describing your research interests and short- and long-term career goals,
a resume or CV including GPA and highlighting relevant academic and work experience, and
a brief writing sample (e.g., class assignment) in which you were responsible for the majority of the writing