Hello everyone :) If you're reading this blog post, then hopefully you are at least a little bit interested in volunteering with the Perry Lab as an undergraduate researcher, you've already thought of a great friend who might be interested, and/or you just like to read my blogs. If you fall into the two latter groupings of people, thanks for spreading the word/reading!
If you are interested, I am looking for an undergrad volunteer research assistant to help me with some wet lab work over the next ~2 years. My dissertation work combines morphometric and genomics techniques to study the evolutionary process of non-human morphological adaptation in response to human behaviors in three different study systems: size-selective hunting of Verreaux's sifakas in SW Madagascar; size-selective harvesting of West Indian fighting conch in Bocas del Toro, Panama; and introduction of an invasive species that preys upon eastern fence lizards in SE USA. This means I need to extract DNA from literally hundreds of samples and do some sequencing, so I could use some help!
Once you've passed an initial screening via our online form (see end of post) and an in-person interview, you will go through a fairly rigorous training period with me before I can allow you to process any of my samples on your own. You will be assisting me in my wet lab endeavors in exchange for research experience (good for graduate and medical school applications!) and, minimally, acknowledgements in my future publications. There is also a possibility that you could earn PSU credit once you've become an established member of our lab, to be discussed with Dr. Perry [i.e. PJ] at a later date. I've detailed a few more expectations for you in the yellow box below. |
What to expect as an undergrad researcher
during current application cycle:
- Volunteer directly with a graduate student [me] to develop research and professional skills
- Have opportunities to discuss research process, scientific literature, and careers in academia with other grad students/post-docs in the Perry lab
- Learn modern DNA wet lab techniques, including sample processing, DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, PCR amplification, and library preparation
If you are interested in submitting your information for this volunteer research opportunity, please read through our PSU Anthropological Genomics Lab General Undergraduate Research Description. Please pay special attention to the "Expectations" section. You will find a link to an online submission form in the "How to Volunteer" section. Potential volunteers should expect to receive a response to your submission by December 6th, and any materials submitted after this date might not be considered. Depending on the number of submissions, you may/may not be selected for an additional in-person interview during the last two weeks of the Fall 2017 semester (December 4-15). Please email me if you have any questions.