Potential Students:

I am interested in bringing into my lab bright, enthusiastic, curious, and self-motivated graduate students. I am not so much looking for workers to plug into certain projects, but rather students that will take an active role in their education and research. You can see the types of research questions that we are interested in in my lab research page, but I expect my students will bring their own ideas and take this research in new directions. One of the things I like best about "disease ecology" is that it involves aspects of so many other fields such as conservation biology, population ecology, community ecology, behavior, molecular biology, statistics, and evolution. So think broadly, be bold, and remember, a good research project often takes you in directions you would have never imagined when you started.

There are a few things to consider before applying to join my lab. First, I am interested in broad questions and principles and I will push you to think and ask questions at this level. If you simply want to focus on the growh rate of Bd in the skin of newly metamorphosed wood frogs (or the equivalent) and don't really care about the general lesson that can be learned, then this might not be the right lab for you. Fortunately, I think you can ask very applied questions in a theoretical or big-picture context. Second, given the lab's focus on connecting models and data, you will need to be comfortable with quantitative methods and tools. Calculus, statistics, and programming experience are all helpful, though I do not necessarily require a great deal of experience. I am more conserned that my students are unafraid and ready to spend the time and effort to learn these, or whatever skills are required. Similarly, I think that being able to write is an essential skill in science. This means that you will be expected to write your own grants, contribute to and edit others' efforts, and write and submit manuscripts before you leave. You should think carefully about whether these emphases match your own interests and goals. You should also consider other members of the faculty in Environmental and Forest Biology.

I think SUNY-ESF is a great place to be. If you are interested in ESF and think my lab might be a good fit for you, then send me a) a short statement about yourself and your interests (background, goals/ambitions, reason(s) for your interest in ESF and my lab, and any questions you might have), b) a copy of your Curriculum Vitae, and c) your GPA and GRE scores (include the analytical writing and subject tests if you've taken them). I look forward to hearing from you!

Looking for frogs in a pond at Cicero Swamp