Thank you for your interest in my research. I am currently accepting students to work in my lab. Below are some details to help get you started.
My lab generally addresses broad ecological and evolutionary questions in wildlife disease. I work in a variety of different wildlife systems and I am open to working in new systems if the research questions complement ongoing work. I am excited about students with diverse experiences. If you are interested in joining my lab, please review my publications and research page to determine whether my lab would be a good fit.
Process for applying to my lab: I ask prospective students to start with an initial email including the components described below. The next step is a formal zoom interview to determine whether we would be a good fit as advisor/advisee and discuss the opportunities that are currently available. Following a successful interview, applicants would then be invited to apply to the graduate program in Biology. Upon review of submitted applicants, students may be invited for an on-campus interview in February and final decisions are generally sent out in March. If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to ask.
For the initial email please include the following:
- In the body of your email please include 1-2 paragrpahs outlining your research interests, how this aligns with the work in my lab, and what you hope to achieve in graduate school.
- A Resume or CV,
- Send these to jrhoyt AT vt.edu with the heading “Prospective Graduate Student LASTNAME”.
Diversity: Academia is improved through the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences, and I am committed to promoting an inclusive and equitable environment. I especially encourage applications from first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and members of underrepresented groups to apply.
Expectations: Graduate school requires enthusiasm and passion. Students do not need to have the details of their project worked out, but I do expect that students will have a clear vision of what they hope to achieve during their M.S. or Ph.D. While my lab works in important conservation relevant diseases, I also expect students in my lab to think broadly about the research questions they are working on. This includes understanding how your research fits into the broader theoretical context of your topic of interest. Students do not need to have previous relevant taxonomic experience to join my lab but you should have a strong interest in infectious disease ecology.
Funding: I expect that all graduate students will apply for fellowships to help fund their salary and tuition. Occasionally, I have graduate student support on externally funded projects depending on the research interests. Funding can also come in the form of graduate teaching assistantships available through our department to help supplement grants or fellowships.