If you’re interesting in joining us as a graduate student, postdoc, technician, or intern, below is some information to help you decide.
Graduate students
On average, the lab takes on one graduate student each year. Generally, the student needs to bring their own funding for at least three years (e.g., a NOAA fellowship or NSF GRFP). Occasionally, there will be funding available to support a student, but this is rare and will be advertised broadly (e.g., this website, HIMB’s website, Coral List, Ecolog and Twitter).
Graduate students in the J Madin lab develop their own research questions, which means they come to the lab with a vision for what they want to pursue. We are a quantitative ecology lab, and so a solid grounding in mathematics, statistics and coding is a prerequisite. Therefore, when writing about joining the lab, please state both why the lab is a good fit for your vision and describe the research you would like to pursue in specific terms (e.g., specific hypotheses theories you would like to address). Avoid broad statements about saving coral reefs and climate change without reference to the specific scientific questions you would like to pursue. Generic emails simply seeking graduate support may not be answered.
Postdocs
There is occasionally funding to support a postdoc, which will be advertised broadly. We are more than happy to help people apply for postdoc funding opportunities. Postdocs with their own funding and overlapping research interests are welcome to discuss joining the lab at anytime.
Interns
Interns will be considered on a rolling basis when space and projects permit. Please consider what it is that you would like to get out of your experience and express this when you contact us (we might not be able to respond to generic requests).
Visitors
Moku o Lo’e (Coconut Island) is a fantastic place for a sabbatical or to conduct coral reef research. If you’d like to be a visiting researcher associated with the lab, please contact Josh directly.