Thank you for your interest in the joining the lab. I am currently accepting applications from students for work in my group.
Diversity
Academia is improved through the inclusion of diverse ideals and perspectives, and I am committed to promoting an inclusive and equitable academic environment. I especially encourage applications from first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and members of minority groups. I am also appreciative of students who may have had non-traditional paths to academia due to career exploration or familial responsibilities.
Experience
Graduate school requires passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and ingenuity. I expect that students will have a clear vision of what they hope to achieve by obtaining a M.S. or Ph.D., and what they intend to work on in graduate school. I usually recommend that students spend time after their undergraduate degree to gain experience and perspective, and learn which research topics they are most interested in pursuing. In my opinion, students are better able to tackle the challenges of graduate school as they gain post-college research experience, and therefore I encourage all potential applicants to take some time to explore diverse research opportunities after completing their undergraduate degree.
Funding
I expect that all graduate students will apply for fellowships to help fund their salary and tuition. Grants and fellowships enable you to have maximal productivity to focus on your own research, and funding is an important ingredient for academic success.
Some fellowship options: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, EPA Star, Hertz Foundation
Still interested?
If you have a clear vision of what you hope to obtain achieve in graduate school, please review my Research and Publications. I am very open to accepting students working under the larger umbrella of disease ecology and evolution, and am excited about students with diverse systematic experiences. If you have a great project idea that isn’t within a system I am currently working, feel free to send me an email and I would be happy to discuss opportunities within my group.
For all students, please include a letter outlining your research interests in the email text, a CV, and list of references with your application. Send these to klangwig AT vt.edu with the heading "Prospective Graduate Student".