The Wetzel Lab just moved to Montana State University and is recruiting students and postdocs. I take graduate students through the Ecology and Environmental Sciences PhD Program, the Entomology MS Program, or the Land Resources & Environmental Sciences MS Program. Please get in touch if you’re interested!
The Wetzel Lab strives to be a safe and supportive space for diversity in science. We fight injustice and work to make STEM and academia more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. Black lives matter! Please see our lab values page for more on our lab culture.
We are always looking for motivated graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate researchers. Please check out the research page for descriptions of some of the major projects happening in the lab. And please have a look at our publications to get an idea of the type of research we do. If our science interests you, please email me to start a conversation (william.wetzel@montana.edu). It would be ideal if you could provide the following:
- “Prospective student” or “Prospective postdoc” in email subject
- Brief description of research interests and career goals
- CV
- Sample of your writing (e.g., published paper, manuscript in preparation, thesis, paper from a class, essay)
- Names and email addresses for 2-3 references
I look forward to hearing from you!
In general, I am looking for people who love thinking deeply about the natural world, who love plants and insects, and who want to use science to make fundamental discoveries that are relevant for environmental issues (e.g., climate change, agricultural sustainability). Most of the lab’s work has a strong quantitative component, so potential lab members should either have skills in statistical and mathematical modeling or be motivated to learn them. Students will be expected to develop independent ecological research programs. These could include projects that build upon the work described on the research page or completely novel projects within the broader context of the role of variability/diversity/heterogeneity in plant–insect and tritrophic interactions.
My mentoring philosophy is to treat mentees as junior colleagues, whose future success is my goal. I also strive to mentor adaptively, being hands-on when a student needs and wants close guidance and being hands-off when a student needs space to think.
I take graduate students through the Ecology and Environmental Sciences PhD Program, the Entomology MS Program, or the Land Resources & Environmental Sciences MS Program.
Bozeman, Montana, is a dynamic and exciting place to live. The town has a great community with outstanding art and food. Plus we are in the Northern Rocky Mountains and surrounded by the amazing Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which, as one of the largest remaining intact temperate ecosystems, is a global treasure. Indeed, this ecosystem inspires much of our work, as we try to help understand and conserve it for future generations. And, of course, living in Bozeman makes it easy to commune with the mountains any way you choose from quiet contemplation to hiking, trail running, fly fishing, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, paddling, and more.
Postdoc opportunities
We have one grant-funded postdoc opening in the lab for a postdoctoral scholar on a collaborative project examining the effects of plant diversity on grasshopper ecology in Montana.
We have also had success mentoring researchers through applying for independent postdoctoral fellowships. The lab has had fellows supported through the USDA-NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowships program (usually due in summer or early fall) and the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology program (usually due in fall or early winter). If you’re interesting in applying for these fellowships to work with us, please reach out.
Undergraduate research opportunities
The Wetzel Lab typically has abundant opportunities for undergraduate students at Montana State University—in the field in the summer and in the lab and greenhouse during the academic year. In general, we are looking for undergraduates who are interested in the ecology of plants and insects and who want to get their hands dirty doing ecology in the lab, greenhouse, or field. Most students participate in ongoing research projects, but some students pursue independent research projects. Please explore the lab website and email me if you’re interested (william.wetzel@montana.edu).
The Wetzel Lab 