Undergraduate research and outdoor work opportunities
Are you curious about the natural world, the built environment near your home, or the impact that humans have on ecosystems and wildlife habitat? Are you interested in broaden your experiences and learning how to become a scientist?
If so, I invite you to explore the numerous ongoing projects in our research group, and join our active and exciting conservation/ecology related student groups, Nature at ASU, and the Central Arizona Chapter of the Society of Conservation Biology.
Hall Lab Research: I am always on the look-out for curious, motivated, and responsible students who want to work in a team environment on scientific questions related to ecology and conservation. Students of all levels are welcome, from freshman to seniors. I am especially interested in meeting freshman and sophomores who are interested in becoming a longer-term contributing member of our team.
Research experiences are the some of the best ways to explore your interests and meet new scientists and students. Plus, you’ll gain valuable opportunities to participate in, design, and complete real science projects that make a difference – and have fun along the way!
Here is how you can become a part of our research team:
- Volunteer or sign up for Independent Course Credit:
If you are interested in learning about ecology and conservation by participating in our ongoing projects, please email me to set up an appointment to talk. When you write to me, please structure your introductory email like a formal cover letter. In other words, tell me a bit about who you are (year, major), what experiences you’ve had that have led to your interest in our research, and what type of experience you are hoping to gain. Also, please attach your resume and your unofficial transcripts. If you don’t have a lot of stuff on your resume or transcripts yet, don’t worry — these documents simply help me to learn about your experiences and strengths to assess the ways in which we might successfully work together. - SOLS Undergraduate Research Program (SOLUR):
The SOLUR program is a great opportunity for you to apprentice with our research team and eventually contact an independent research project under my guidance. As a part of the SOLUR program, you will be a part of a larger community of learners including other undergraduate researchers in the School of Life Sciences. SOLUR Researchers and Fellows are paid a stipend for their efforts, and all students participate in the Annual SOLUR Undergraduate Research Symposium. It´s a great opportunity — check it out!
Outdoor, field research, and leadership opportunities for students: Are you curious about a career in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation? You are not alone! Here are some tips to find out more about how to make a difference on behalf of the environment and wildlife
1. Consider majoring in one of these areas:
- Conservation Biology and Ecology within the School of Life Sciences (watch the video in that link!)
- Sustainability, within the School of Sustainability
- Earth and Environmental Studies, within the School of Earth and Space Exploration, or
- Applied Biological Sciences (Wildlife Management), within the College of Integrative Sciences at the Poly campus.
2. Gain skills and experience in outdoor field research and conservation leadership.
Join the Nature at ASU community (related article about Nature at ASU, here) or Central Arizona Chapter of the Society of Conservation Biology the to meet like-minded students and faculty members who share your vision and can help you to learn how to make a difference. These two groups will be able to help you get the experience you need for your resume to successfully compete for a job in ecology, conservation, or wildlife-related fields.
I am the faculty advisor for both groups, so if you have additional questions, let me know.
Prospective graduate students
If you are a hard-working, creative individual who shares our team’s interests in ecology, conservation, and sustainability science, I welcome you to consider pursuing an MS or PhD degree in my research group. Take a look below at the ASU graduate programs with which I am affiliated. Your coursework will depend on the program you choose. However, your specific training in my research group will be tailored to your interests and strengths, and it will depend less on the graduate program in which you are enrolled. If you are my graduate advisee, you will be eligible for financial support through the School of Life Sciences regardless of your specific degree program.
- Environmental Life Sciences Graduate Program:
This is a transdisciplinary PhD program that will train you to become a broad thinker in ecology and ecosystem science. - School of Life Sciences Graduate Program in Biology:
This is a program for MS and PhD students who are interested in a degree in Biology from the School of Life Sciences. - School of Sustainability Graduate Program:
This is a program for MS and PhD students who are interested in an interdisciplinary graduate degree in Sustainability.
Also, please check out the materials within the Student Resources link in the menu above, particularly ‘Expectations for graduate students in the Hall Lab‘ and ‘On Being a Successful Graduate Student’ (borrowed from the John Thompson lab). These two documents give you an idea of what I expect from graduate students, and how to be most successful in my research group in your pursuit of a graduate degree.
If you are interested in joining the lab, please email me.