Research Opportunities
Open positions
We are currently advertising for a postdoc. Please review the advertisment and apply online. Review of applications will commence in
mid-December 2008 but the position will remain open until a suitable
candidate is identified.
While we don't have secure funding for graduate students, we welcome
applications from candidates who have funding, or who are willing to
explore a mixture of funding sources such as GTAs (teaching
assistantships), scholarships, tuition waivers and similar sources that
may depend on performance and initiative.
We also welcome informal applications from undergraduate
students.
Choose wisely
Thank you for considering working in my lab. The choice of lab for graduate studies is one of the more important ones in your career. A great fit could lead to a great experience and important momentum in your career; a poor fit could lead to poor performance, unhappiness and possibly an aborted program. Don't take this decision lightly. Think hard and reflect on your real interests and sources of motivation. Nothing and nobody will carry you through graduate studies. It's a long, amazing journey but ultimately you will have to have sufficient motivation and stamina yourself to succeed. Having chosen the right travel partners and environment helps tremendously . . .
Choosing my lab of course also means choosing Wright State University and its graduate programs (M.S. in Biology or interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Environmental Studies). Look closely at the university and the programs to make sure that they suit you. In addition to what you can read online, I’d like to share my personal perspective.
Wright State University in general and the ecology group in particular have a very solid reputation; however, in contrast to some of the more elite universities, Wright State is a relaxed, collegial place, where people tend to put more emphasis on collaborating than competing. Theoretically, you may have access to top names in your field at elite universities but, in practice, you may find that they don’t have much time for you. At Wright State teaching and mentorship have a high priority.
These are of course rather coarse generalizations and you should carefully weigh all options before making a decision. Talking to current grad students at a place you are considering is a very good way of finding out how students there are treated.
Is the Bahn lab a good fit for you?
I expect graduate students to be self-motivated and mature enough to develop their own ideas and projects. I will support you strongly but I cannot and will not make up for a lack of motivation or interest. If you are looking for an advisor who tells you exactly what to do and pushes you towards your degree my lab is not the right place for you. I welcome students with good ideas, enthusiasm and perseverance, who are looking for stimulating discussions, a collegial atmosphere, and thoughtful feedback for refinement and inspiration.
In terms of research interests I'm looking for students whose interests complement mine. Our research interests need not match exactly, especially if you bring your own funding. I will consider a wide range of topics in ecology and conservation biology, and I welcome both field-based and computer-based projects.
What to do if you are interested in my lab
- If you are reacting to a specific advertisement for a position, read the advertisement carefully and send me an application.
- If you are sending me an unsolicited application please send me the
following items:
- A one page essay about your interests, goals and sources of motivation
- A two page research proposal (this need not be what you end up doing but something that you can imagine doing) that relates to what I do and am interested in.
- A detailed curriculum vitae
- Contact information for at least two (better three or more) references.
If you would like more information about my research and your potential fit in my lab you are welcome to contact me by email before sending the above items.