Join the Dávalos Lab

The Dávalos Lab is open to motivated students at every level, from summer research experiences for High School students to PhD in the E&E or IDPAS programs, and postdoctoral work. Go to the Projects page to view current projects, or check out recent publications.

Eager to join the Dávalos Lab?

  • A sharp and quick mind cannot take the place of hard work
  • Own your project, whether you have picked it from a range of projects available in the lab, or developed it over months of wrestling with the state of the art in ecology and evolution, it is yours to conduct
  • You will only succeed if your project motivates you enough that you can slog through the uncertainty and frustrations of scientific work
  • Your project answers questions that have not been asked before. You must be determined to answer them
  • 95% of everything is showing up. Put in the time reading, working in the lab, analyzing data, etc. to be able to carry out your project

Undergraduate students:

  • Investigate the publications and projects up and running in the lab, and find one research line that attracts you
  • Consider why you want to join a research lab. Your motivation must come from within

Graduate students:

Baseline expectations of doctoral students:

While undertaking your doctoral studies and research you are expected to:

  • Read at least 10 articles (and sometimes up to 50) on your research every week
  • Pass the graduate program core courses
  • Attend weekly colloquia and ask questions therein
  • Attend weekly lab meetings and present progress reports every fortnight
  • Join and actively participate in lab journal club
  • Apply for external funds for your research/travel/conferences each year and occasionally succeed at obtaining such support
  • Give presentations based on original work at domestic/international conferences with posters during the first two years and oral presentations thereafter

How to apply

  • Applying to US Graduate School in Ecology, Evolution, and Related Fields see this page
  • How to apply to graduate school en español
  • Prospective Master students see this page
  • Prospective Doctoral researchers see this page