Joining the lab

General information

Research in the lab ranges from empirical studies of A. thaliana (in the field as well as in the lab) to development of statistical and computational methods, and lab members consequently have a wide range of skills. A strong background in statistics, mathematics, or computational biology is not required (although several lab members have had such backgrounds), however, you must at least be willing to learn to use computational techniques.

Postdocs

The availability of postdoctoral positions are strongly dependent on funding. An NIH-funded position in statistical and population genetics is currently open. It may be possible to find funding for other research areas as well, and interested individuals are always encouraged to contact me directly. It should be noted that, although a postdoc is a great time to switch research direction, applicants requiring extensive re-training are expected to provide their own funding.

Graduate students

Ph.D. students can enter the lab through at least four different routes:

1. The Computational Biology and Bioinformatics track of the Molecular and Computational Biology program
2. The Molecular Biology track of the (same) Molecular and Computational Biology program
3. The Integrative and Evolutionary Biology program
4. The university-wide PIBBS program

You are welcome to think of other ones!  The first two are run by the organizational unit I belong to, and are thus in a sense more natural, however, I am also directly involved with the third program.  Which program you belong to really only affects your first year or two of study: it is irrelevant once you are in a lab doing research.   The main difference between the Computational and the Molecular Biology track, for example, is that the former starts with a year of fairly intensive course work (especially in mathematics and computer science), whereas the latter starts with a year of lab rotations.

Based on several years' experience answering requests from prospective students from all over the world, here are some further points worth noting:

• All students are fully supported financially (true for all decent biology PhD programs in the US).  You do not have to worry about it.  Yes, it is a great deal: the trick is getting accepted...
• Although new students join my lab almost every year, I almost never accept students directly into the lab (I would have to know you, or you would have to come strongly recommended by someone I know).  Instead, you are accepted by a graduate program.  Advisers and students choose each other by the end of first year or so.  Both sides have a choice.
  
• It follows from the previous point that it is a waste of time to write me asking for a position in my lab.  I do not directly make decisions about who is admitted, and who is not.  I am also unable to answer question about the mechanics of applying (the instructions, such as they are, are available online).  However, if you are interested in working in my lab, I am happy to answer more specific questions about research, etc., and I strongly encourage you to contact me.
• Finally, while M.S. students have in the past been part of the lab, we no longer have an M.S. program.  Unless advertised, there are no positions for M.S. students.
  

Undergraduate students