We are always looking for kind, curious, and collaborative scientists to join our team.
Science is among the most intellectually rewarding careers one can pursue. It rewards curiosity, grants intellectual freedom, and lets you spend your days chasing down answers to questions that YOU asked. But it is also one of the most humbling. Unlike many careers, the traditional markers of progress (publications, grants, the next position) often arrive on a timeline measured in years rather than weeks or months. That long stretch between effort and reward can be hard, and it is exactly why we prioritize the culture of a lab as much as the work itself. We are committed to building a group of kind, supportive, and inclusive scientists who lift one another up day to day.
Scientifically, we are a highly multidisciplinary "moist" lab: we pair hands-on ecology and evolution experiments at the bench with quantitative modeling to understand how populations evolve. Because our approach sits at the intersection of many fields, we actively seek out students from a range of academic backgrounds—physics, ecology and evolution, molecular biology, microbiology, computer science, mathematics, and beyond. If you're curious about how living systems change over time and excited to work across the empirical–theoretical divide, we'd love to hear from you.
Finally, please do not reach out to me using an LLM/AI to write your email. I will not respond. I want to hear why YOU are interested in the lab. Give me an email with honesty and personality, not the same LLM email I constantly get.
Email Jeff a CV and explain why you are interested in joining the lab. Explain which skillsets you have that will complement the lab, the skillsets you hope to develop while here, and your future career goals. Successful candidates should be competitive for postdoctoral fellowship programs (NSF, NIH, American Cancer Society, Simons, or similar).
We currently recruit PhD students through the Biological Sciences (BEES) and Physics graduate programs. Students from (or interested in applying to) other relevant programs are possible, but be sure to highlight that in your email. Prospective students should reach out directly before admissions with a CV and transcript and explain why you're interested in joining the lab. Students already admitted and interested in rotating should reach out directly.
We welcome undergraduate researchers, especially those who are interested in a career in scientific research and those that can commit to at least two semesters. Students interested in a research experience should email a brief description of their interests and an unofficial transcript. Undergraduates are typically paired with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher for mentorship.
We will occasionally host high school students in the summer. Email Jeff why you're interested in research and what about the lab excites you.