Considering
applying to graduate school and potentially interested in our lab
group? The Baskett Lab might be a fit for you if:
- You are interested in
dynamical modeling as your primary methodology
(i.e., using mathematical modeling and computer simulations).
This might entail a primarily theoretical thesis with one empirical
(field or lab) project for a thesis chapter, which is a great way to
place theory in context and integrate data and models; pursuing such a
project will require the student to seek out a secondary mentor who has
the empirical expertise to provide the relevant guidance. For
students who are pursuing primarily empirical theses on topics related
to the research in our group, including those who are potentially
interested in incorporating a theoretical project, I better serve as a
secondary rather than primary mentor. UC Davis is a highly
collaborative institution, with a plethora of ecologists and
evolutionary biologists across many departments, where shared
mentorship is common.
- You are interested in
questions at the interface of basic and applied science.
While projects in our lab include a broad array of topics in the areas
of theoretical population, community, and evolutionary ecology, a
primary focus is the application of this ecological theory to
conservation management, where we look to advance both, particularly
(but not exclusively) in marine systems. For more details on
current members and research topics, please visit the research page of this site.
- You are interested in pursuing an
independent thesis.
My goal is to mentor lab members towards research independence as
future colleagues (whether in academia, government agencies, NGOs, or
other sectors). Given that a PhD is an approximately five-year
commitment focused on research, which is quite different from
undergraduate learning, having research experience before pursuing a
PhD is crucial to knowing whether or not graduate school is a good fit
for you. Undergraduate research can be a way to gain this
experience, or taking time off between undergraduate and graduate
school to explore different areas of research is very common in the
field of ecology. If you're looking for such experience, the
Ecological Society of America's Physiological Ecology website lists
positions (in all subfields in ecology) at the undergraduate, internship, and technician levels, and
the Ecolog
listserv includes position postings among other ecological topics.
- You are a team player.
Our lab members use similar quantitative tools in theoretical
population biology to address a variety of ecological and conservation
questions in an array of different systems. We look to create a
supportive, collaborative atmosphere where lab members learn from and
help each other.
If you are considering applying to the lab, please
email me (mlbaskett(at)ucdavis.edu) with a CV and brief description of
your research interests. For prospective graduate
students, note that I accept students through the Graduate
Group in Ecology and the Population Biology Graduate Group.
(Instead of graduate students applying to a particular department, UC
Davis has cross-departmental graduate groups to promote student
engagement with faculty in multiple relevant departments.) Note also
that I am part of the graduate training program in Sustainable
Oceans: From Policy to Science to Decisions that can accept
students from any relevant graduate group.
Graduate student advice resources
For advice on applying to graduate school,
see:
Note that I maintain a resources page for
academic career development, focused on job & grant resources, writing & presenting advice,
and theoretical biology resources.
Other comprehensive resources pages that include advice on
being a graduate student are available at:
Relevant departments and programs at
UC Davis
Environmental Science and
Policy
Wildlife, Fish, and
Conservation Biology
Evolution and Ecology
Coastal and Marine Sciences
Institute
Bodega Marine Laboratory
Marine Ecology, Economics, and
Policy
Center for Population Biology
John Muir Institute of the
Environment
Institute for Contemporary
Evolution |
