Graduate Students

 

The Brodie Lab is always looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated Ph.D. students whose interests align with our own research (see research pages and individual grad student pages). Students are expected to develop their own independent dissertation projects in an area that complements ongoing research in the lab. We are open to working with a variety of model systems - some students choose to work on organisms with which we have experience, while others develop their own systems. Both routes have their own challenges and rewards. Successful students in our lab are typically self-driven and question-oriented.

 

The Brodie lab is part of the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior group within the Department of Biology at University of Virginia. Information on admissions can be found on both the EEB@UVA program website and the Department of Biology website.  Applications are reviewed starting the first week of December each year. If you are interested in joining the lab, the best first step is to send Butch Brodie an email introducing yourself and briefly explaining your research interests as a way to start a conversation about whether the lab and program might be right for you and vice versa.

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Butch is also on the leadership team for EXPAND, UVA's newest graduate training program. You may find out more about EXPAND here.

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Undergraduates

 

Undergraduate researchers are an essential part of the Brodie Lab. Every year, we work with a number of  undergraduates who participate as volunteers, work-study, for-credit, or as part of the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP). In the summer, we work mostly with the MLBS-REU program. Unfortunately, we have few spots relative to the number of students that want to gain research experience. The best strategy is to approach a member of the lab (email is fine) with an explanation of why the lab is a good fit for you  and you for the lab. Persistence pays off, because there is rarely an opening when peoplaestrat looking.

 

Volunteers help with data collection, which will help train them with valuable skills such as data management and analytical programs. Students who conduct research for credit work one-on-one with graduate student mentors to develop and execute independent projects.