Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life. – Amy Poehler
Life in the Lab
Students come to our lab with a variety of life experience and educational backgrounds. At first glance, some backgrounds might seem rather unconventional routes to forest entomology: physical education, business, biochemistry, virology, insect physiology, geography... The common denominator, however, is initiative and interest - whenever acquired - in forest insect ecology. Once on board, I do whatever I can to help our students pursue our common goals.
Expectations
If you are interested in joining our lab for graduate studies, you should know what I expect from my students:
Please give an honest effort for the duration of the program here. Be engaged and ready to take advantage of moments planned (and unplanned!) in pursuit of this thing we call science.
Please treat your fellow students and colleagues with respect. I do my utmost to foster a cooperative lab environment, recruiting nice people with whom you will enjoy sharing ideas and space.
Please balance your studies with leisure time, friends, and family: graduate school should be one of the best times of your life!
Similarly, from me you may expect:
A platform for a solid project. I strive to set students up with solid projects, often with the help of stellar collaborators, and provide input when and where necessary. Moreover, I try to ensure that students can pursue their own, unique research interests around the central focus of each project. If all goes well, students should be able to graduate on schedule with a thesis of which they are proud.
Opportunities to present your work. This takes many forms, such as posters or oral presentations at workshops and scientific meetings, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
Open-door access. Yes, we may have to make an appointment for the next day, but even when I'm really busy, I like meeting with my students waaay more than the current paperwork under my nose!
It is great to do what you love, but greater with a great team. – Lailah Gifty Akita
The University of Minnesota
The Department of Entomology enjoys a rich tradition of research, education, and outreach going back more than 100 years: the first PhD graduate in 1921, Samuel Alexander Graham, was a forest entomologist! The Department's current focus on renewing undergraduate education provides graduate students tremendous opportunities to be leaders and role models. Students in my lab can choose from graduate programs in Entomology, Natural Resources Science & Management, or Conservation Sciences.
The Twin Cities offer big-city amenities of restaurants, sports, arts, and culture, yet the Department's location on the St. Paul campus provides a small-town feel. Off campus, there are a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the upper Midwest.
The Midwest's diversity of ecosystems provides study opportunities from bark beetles to defoliators, both native and invasive. In addition, we are surrounded by a wealth of great colleagues and cooperating agencies: the USDA Forest Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plant and Pest Center, and more!
People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. – Dale Carnegie
If you can laugh together, you can work together. – Robert Orben
Interested?
I welcome serious inquiries from potential students, postdocs, interns, or collaborators at any time.
If you are interested in exploring opportunities, please send me an email.