Join the Lab

I am currently very interested in adding new people to the lab. As an advisor, I strive to offer the guidance necessary to help students develop into broadly trained biologists, while providing an environment in which creative problem solving is promoted. Great ideas will be met with enthusiasm, regardless of the experience level of the individual generating them, and I will encourage lab members to initiate independent research projects whenever feasible. I strongly believe in the value of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and experience to solve problems and identify exciting questions, so I place a high priority on holding regularly scheduled lab meetings where we discuss ideas, papers, or current research.

Undergraduate students

Undergraduates in my lab come from a variety of backgrounds, and students can get involved in a broad range of potential experiences (see Research and Publications pages for samples of current and past projects). My primary research questions fall into the fields of evolutionary and ecological genetics, but many of the techniques are applicable to students interested in ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics, and/or bioinformatics. Students I have worked with in the past have gone on to pursue a diversity of career paths, such as professional schools (e.g. medical, veterinary school), graduate work (both Masters and PhD programs), and employment in industry, government, and NGOs.

I will typically add new undergraduate students at the beginning of the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, but I welcome inquiries at any time. If you are interested in joining the lab, please send me an email with the following information: name, major, class (e.g. freshman, sophomore, etc.). Also, please include a short bio including: 1) a description of any previous research experience, 2) your current thoughts on future goals, and 3) why you want to join the lab.

Graduate students

Prospective Masters and PhD students are encouraged to get in touch with me before going through the formal application process. I am interested in adding students to the lab with a diverse range of interests. However, in order to insure that my lab is a good fit for your professional development, it is highly recommended that we discuss your goals before applying. If interested, please send me the following: 1) your current resume or CV, 2) a brief description of your preparation (i.e. previous research experience, relevant coursework, etc.) 3) your undergraduate GPA and scores from the GRE if taken, 4) your current research interests, 5) your future goals, and 6) any questions you have regarding my lab, the department, or the university.

The application deadline for Fall admissions each year is January 15th, so initial inquiries should be made by mid-December if possible. For more information about the graduate program in the Department of Biology at Binghamton University, click here. For formal application procedures, click here.

Postdoctoral researchers

I would be happy to help prepare an application for those interested in seeking external funding to do research in my lab. Please email me at any time to discuss potential funding sources and projects.