Prospective members

Thank you for your interest in joining the lab and visiting our webpage! If you're interested in working together or have any questions, please send me an email detailing your interests and relevant experiences. Inquiries regarding research opportunities should emphasize an interest to work on forest insect ecology and/or the ecology of insects attacking woody ornamentals.

Once you've decided on a field of study, picking an adviser is one of the most important decisions you will make when selecting a lab. To that end, please (i) visit the research and publication tabs to assess whether your interests align with the lab's and (ii) think about the type of life and career you want. Then, “reverse engineer” that vision and ask yourself: does our lab seem like an ideal - or at least sufficient - fit? If yes, please keep reading!

I am excited to support scientists pursuing a diversity of vocations (from academic and government jobs to teaching high school biology or starting a landscaping company), and will do my best to work with you in tailoring your education and experiences to help you achieve your goals. People are recruited to the lab based on the availability of grant-funded research projects (e.g., all graduate students receive a stipend, health care, tuition waiver, and research support), but everyone is given the freedom to pursue their own interests within the broader scope of grant objectives. 

I am also always happy to explore other options with individuals that are highly motivated to join the lab (e.g., collaboratively develop a fellowship application). 

I expect prospective and current lab members to:

• Have a strong sense of why they want to attend graduate school.

• Give an honest effort in their research and courses.

• Treat people in the lab, department, university, and community with respect and compassion.

• Have a life outside of graduate school. Yes, I want people to work hard and love their projects…but they risk burning out if they don’t maintain friendships, take vacations to visit family and/or friends, and find healthy ways to decompress. Graduate school should be challenging, but it should also be fun and rewarding.

• Communicate. If students are struggling, frustrated about their project, or stressed about something outside of work/research, I encourage them to talk to me about it. Of course, lab members are not obligated to discuss non-work related topics, but if students communicate to me that they are overwhelmed by life and graduate school, it can help me better understand and support them.

 What you can expect from me:

• Given I expect you to give an honest effort, be respectful, communicate, and have a life outside of work, you can expect the exact same from me. I will always try to lead by example!

• That I will not let you flounder, and will do everything I can to help you get your dream job while you are here and long after you graduate. This means that we will have regular lab and one-on-one meetings to ensure you are getting the support you need. I'm here to support, not micromanage, you.

• Opportunities for professional development (e.g., fully funded trips to present your work at regional and national meetings), proposal writing, and mentoring others in earlier career stages.

• An emphasis on creating a diverse and inclusive lab culture. I have a deep appreciation for life experience (vs. performance in the classroom) and will evaluate students holistically when recruiting to my lab.

• An “open-door” policy. Working with graduate students is one of the best parts of my job! There will be times I am not available, but otherwise you will always be encouraged to drop by to troubleshoot and ask questions. If I can’t meet right away, we will set up a meeting. 

• To be imperfect. I will make mistakes (in mentoring, explaining difficult concepts, etc.), and I hope that we will have a strong enough professional relationship to work through these issues as a team.