Join the Lab!
The Beckman Lab pursues research questions that are interdisciplinary drawing from ecology, behavior, and evolution and involve mathematical, statistical, and empirical approaches. In my research group, I encourage this approach within a stimulating and challenging scientific environment in which members can exchange ideas, pursue independent research, and establish interdisciplinary collaborations.
I am currently recruiting motivated and qualified researchers passionate about their research to contribute to a productive and vibrant research environment. If you are interested in joining the lab, please send me a letter or email introducing yourself and include a description of your research interests, your prior research experience, and your academic background.
Graduate students. (Starting Fall 2017) While I will be closely involved in the research of master’s students, I expect a high level of independence from doctoral students in pursuing research questions and applying for funding. If you are considering graduate school, here are a few resources:
- Dr. Spencer Hall's library of resources for graduate students, including advice on being a graduate student.
- Dr. Walter Carson's 1999 "A Primer On How To Apply To And Get Admitted To Graduate School In Ecology And Evolutionary Biology" published in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America.
- Dr. Meghan Duffy's "Thoughts on Applying to Grad School (for prospective students and their mentors)", and see the links to references therein.
- A Guide to Graduate School for Students at Minority Serving Institutions from the Center for Minority Serving Institutions at University of Pennsylvania
- Resources available from PHDs.org
Undergraduate students. As undergraduate research was critical in defining my career choices, I involve undergraduates in my research and look forward to mentoring students in independent projects related to my research or other members of my research group. The skills acquired while conducting biological research are useful for potential scientists as well as students across various disciplines.
The summer internship program at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) is a wonderful opportunity to engage with socio-environtmental research. Interns must be registered as full-time undergraduate students at University of Maryland College Park, Coppin State University, Gallaudet University, or Salisbury State University.
If you are an undergraduate student at UMD and interested in pursuing an internship with me, please let me know. I have several opportunities for undergraduate involvement, including the following projects:
The first two projects are literature reviews. Review articles are syntheses of the primary literature with insight into new directions in the field. In aiding in the development of a review article, you will build on critical thinking abilities essential across disciplines. You will also become familiar with the ecological and sociological literature and engage in a widely used form of written communication within academia. Interns will aid in finding relevant information from primary literature and contribute to writing.
- (1) Review on the the influence of forest fragmentation on the homogenization of functional traits in plant communities (Collaboration with Drs. Jenny Zambrano, Carol Garzon, Clair Fortunel)
- (2) Understanding the environmental drivers and impacts of human migration: a coupled natural and human systems framework (Collaboration with Drs. Heather Randell, Allison Howard, Jenny Zambrano, Bill Burnside)
In the following project, interns will formulate an independent research question and develop models to address their research question. Interns are required to have a strong quantitative background with some programing or modeling experience which they will apply and further develop.
- (3) Using mathematical models to understand the influence of seed dispersal and seed mortality by animals and microbes on plants under global change. Read more here about this project here and here.
Postdoctoral researchers. I currently do not have support for postdoctoral researchers, but am interested in collaborating with interested researchers to codevelop proposals for funding.
Science Communication. If you are interested in science communication and ecology and conservation in Latin America and would like to contribute to Verde Elemental, please get in touch with me or the director, Dr. Carol Garzon. Verde Elemental is a digital publication dedicated to promoting and disseminating knowledge in ecology and conservation in Latin America.