We are a collaborative lab where everyone is welcomed to bring their full selves. We are part of a rich intellectual community that extends beyond our lab to our department and scientific field, where the norms of interaction are to lift up and support others. We celebrate diversity in all dimensions (scientific fields, study organisms, identity, and personal characteristics), because diverse teams are more creative and resilient.
Check out our opportunities below
I am always interested in hearing from near-graduates or postdocs who are working in the area of evolutionary environmental physiology, who are interested in studying the intricate interrelationships between metabolism and life history. I will work with interested candidates to develop funding proposals. Send me an email at cmw@berkeley.edu.
The Williams Eco-Evo Physiology lab will be recruiting new graduate students over the next few years. The main research areas in the lab are evolutionary impacts of seasonality, stress (particularly cold) responses, and life history evolution in variable environments. Students typically combine field experiments and natural history, lab-based physiology and biochemistry, and ecological modeling to address the overarching question of how organisms respond to variable and changing environments.
Our graduate program values independence, so the student will develop their own project in collaboration with Dr. Williams, but will be encouraged to work on one of the existing study systems in the lab, including montane willow leaf beetles (evolutionary impacts of seasonality), and wing polymorphic crickets (mechanisms of life history evolution). The Department of Integrative Biology values diversity in organisms, approaches, and scientists, and we particularly encourage and support applications from people historically excluded from STEM. We invest in the personal and professional development of all lab members, and we have a lot of fun together while doing so.
Applications are usually due in early December (more information here), but interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Caroline prior to applying on cmw@berkeley.edu, with:
a CV
a brief description of your research interests (expression of interest)
Competitive applicants will have a strong background in ecology, physiology, or evolutionary biology, experience carrying out and communicating independent research, and be an excellent team player ready to contribute to a collaborative lab environment.
Positions not available until Spring 2022
We offer positions to undergraduate researchers periodically through the URAP or workstudy programs, or you may contact Professor Williams or a graduate student or postdoc directly to enquire if positions are available.
Undergraduate researchers entering the lab will usually be paired with a graduate student or postdoc, and will start by doing animal husbandry, lab maintenance (including dish washing), and helping with experiments. Later you may graduate onto independent research projects, after proving that you are reliable and dedicated. We attempt to financially compensate our undergraduate researchers when possible, so please feel free to state if you are looking for a paid position. Undergraduates who prove reliable and talented will have the opportunity to learn how to perform biochemical assays, participate in experimental data collection and field work, and eventually experimental design and execution of your own independent project. Full training is provided at every step, the only prerequisites are abundant enthusiasm for science, a good work ethic, detail-oriented personality, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Outstanding undergraduates have gone on to co-author manuscripts, present at national meetings, win awards, and enter graduate or medical school (see my CV for a list of co-authored publications and presentations: undergraduates are indicated with a “U”).
Whatever track you enter the lab under, I am interested in forming long-term mentoring relationships with talented undergraduates, and will support and encourage you to fully participate in the intellectual life of the lab. We will have weekly lab meetings, and you will have the opportunity to collaborate within the lab and the wider department. The expected time commitment would be ~10h/week in Fall and Spring, ~20h/week in Summer.
If you are interested in a position, please email me ( cmw@berkeley.edu ) with short (max one paragraph) full sentence answers to the following questions:
Subject: Seeking research position in Williams lab – [Your name]
What are your scientific interests?
Why are you interested in working in our research lab?
What skills do you have that may be useful in a research setting?
Can you commit at least 5h/week, and what is your availability?
