I am accepting 1-2 PhD students to begin in the 2026-27 academic year.
I am accepting 1-2 PhD students to begin in the 2026-27 academic year.
If you are interested in the possibility of joining the lab, please start by completing this form. The form asks for the following:
A cover letter highlighting the motivation for your research, your research interests, career goals, what skills you hope to develop as a PhD student, and why you are interested in the Nearshore Ecology Research Group.
Your curriculum vitae that outlines your academic and professional experience.
A writing sample. This could be a technical report, academic paper, research proposal, or fellowship narrative.
Copies of unofficial transcripts.
Names and contact information for 3 references.
This is not an official application. However, the materials requested in the form will allow me better understand the scope of your academic journey, your background, and your future vision! Applications for the UCSC graduate program are typically due in December for a fall start date in the following calendar year (Applications due December 10, 2025 will be reviewed in April 2026 for a fall 2026 start).
Please read about the EEB admission process here.
Graduate research fellowships
I highly encourage prospective students to apply for external fellowships and support, such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Dr. Nancy Foster, etc. I am delighted to mentor students in preparing fellowship applications, but please reach out early! The sooner the better. It can take several months to cultivate a competitive fellowship application!
My approach to graduate student training and mentorship
My approach to mentorship is scaffolded around four pillars: Initiative, Leadership, Impact, and Scholarship. By integrating these pillars into individualized mentoring plans, my goal is to provide authentic graduate experiences that prepare students for personal and professional growth. For graduate students, I focus on cultivating research independence through bold decision making, risk-taking, and by establishing research networks. My mentoring style involves deep questioning and reflective dialogue, challenging students to use outcomes that diverge from their expectations as launching points for risk-taking, growing through the process, and emerging as entrepreneurial leaders.
I expect to invest significant time and resources in my students over the course of their PhD and beyond. I believe that mentorship succeeds when high-level expectations are met with reciprocal motivation and investment from mentees. As such, I am looking for students who are independently motivated, creative, driven by curiosity for the natural world, and who have strong written communication skills.