Join the Lab
We are a collaborative, interdisciplinary group working on some of the most pressing and fascinating questions in wildlife ecology and conservation. If you share our curiosity and drive, we'd love to hear from you.
What It's Like to Work Here
Cutting-Edge Methods
We develop and apply the latest tools in environmental genomics, passive acoustic monitoring, AI-assisted image analysis, and quantitative modeling — giving lab members skills highly valued in academia and beyond.
Field Work Across Three Continents
Our research takes us to old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, salmon streams in Southeast Alaska, and tropical rainforests in Amazonia and Central America. Lab members have opportunities for compelling field experiences.
Policy-Relevant Science
We maintain active partnerships with tribal nations, state and federal agencies, and conservation organizations — ensuring that our science translates to real-world conservation and management outcomes.
Opportunities for Prospective Members
We welcome motivated, creative scientists at the graduate student and postdoctoral levels. We have a strong track record of placing lab alumni in academic, government, and NGO positions.
Graduate Students
We accept PhD students through the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University. We are looking for students who are:
- Passionate about wildlife ecology, conservation biology, or molecular ecology
- Enthusiastic about learning quantitative and molecular methods
- Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as collaboratively
- Committed to rigorous, reproducible, and impactful science
- Interested in field work, lab work, or both
- Able to identify a specific research question that fits within the lab's focus areas
Students in this lab are supported either on research grants — for which I advertise specific funded positions as they become available — or on competitive external fellowships such as the NSF GRFP. No student in the lab is supported primarily by a teaching assistantship.
This matters for how you approach us. If there is no current advertisement for a funded graduate position, securing a fellowship or grant is the way in. I am glad to work with strong prospective students on fellowship applications, and doing so well ahead of the deadline makes a real difference.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Postdoctoral positions arise as funding allows. We also strongly support postdocs in applying for independent fellowships, including:
- NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology
- David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship
- USDA NIFA postdoctoral fellowships
- Life Sciences Research Foundation fellowships
- Institutional postdoctoral fellowships at OSU
Ideal candidates will have a strong publication record, clear research vision, and expertise complementary to current lab directions.
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in: spatial statistics, occupancy modeling, genomics, AI/machine learning for ecology, or tropical field biology.
How to Get in Touch
Before applying formally, we strongly encourage you to reach out by email to gauge fit and discuss potential projects. A well-crafted initial email goes a long way.
Read our recent work
Browse our publications and research areas to understand what the lab does and identify areas that genuinely excite you.
Send a brief introductory email
Email Taal at taal.levi@oregonstate.edu with: (1) a short description of your background and interests, (2) why you want to join this lab specifically, (3) a brief sketch of a potential project idea, and (4) your CV.
Formal application
If there is funding secured and mutual interest, you'll be guided through the formal graduate school application process at OSU. Application deadlines for FWCS are typically in January for fall enrollment.
Contact
Questions about the lab, potential projects, or fit? Get in touch — we're always happy to talk science.
Send an EmailCorvallis, Oregon