Undergraduate research is highly valued in the lab!  Generally, initial student work is aimed at familiarizing students with the kind of data and projects that are available to them in the Blois lab.  For examples, students may sort owl pellets or fossils and start to identify bones to genus.  Occasionally, students will help with mammal surveys or with database tasks.  As students progress academically and in terms of lab experience, we will work together to develop a research project according to the students interests.

Students generally get undergraduate research credit (e.g., Bio or ESS 95, Bio or ESS 195) for work in the lab.  Students typically commit to 2 units of research credit or 6 hours per week, but this is flexible. In rare cases, paid opportunities may arise.

To apply to work in the Blois lab, please send Reina Warnert (rwarnert@ucmerced.edu) an application letter with the following information:

1. Your name, major, year, and your expected graduation time
2. A description of your own educational and career goals, and research interests
3. What previous lab experience or other relevant experience do you have?
4. A description of which aspects of the lab research are most interesting to you
5. What research tasks most interest you? What research tasks don’t interest you? What tasks do you think you would be best at and why?
6. How many hours/week could you devote?
7. How/why would working for me/this lab assist you personally or with your career?

This information is due at the end of the first week of each semester.  At that point, the graduate students will evaluate the applications and determine whether and which students will be accepted into the lab.  Preference is given to Bio/Eco-Evo and ESS students.

Students are expected to:

• Work in the lab for the agreed-on number of hours
• Meet with their graduate student supervisor at the beginning of the semester to develop a series of research goals for the students work
• Write a summary/report of the work they have performed in the lab and meet with the graduate student supervisor to discuss at the end of the semester.

Summer 2023 Opportunities

There is one position available this summer.

1. Summer field and lab assistant working with Reina Warnert For this field- and lab-based project, a student assistant will help Reina with mammal trapping and other projects in Yosemite National Park. See the full job ad here.  Applications due 4/9/2023.