The Webb Lab is currently recruiting highly motivated MS and PhD students to start in Fall 2023. Research in fish lateral line development, functional morphology, evolution. Funding possibilities:  1) Teaching Assistantship – to teach undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology labs; Prior completion of vertebrate or human anatomy and/or physiology courses required. 2) Research Assistantship – pending grant funding. 3) If you have done any research you are strongly encouraged to apply for the NSF GRFP. To inquire about opportunities in our lab, please send: a cover letter (in an email is fine) including a statement of interest and a description of your experience in fish and/or sensory biology and pertinent course experience. Attach a CV, and names/email addresses of two references to Dr. Webb ASAP for September start.

Prospective graduate students (MS or PhD), post-docs, and undergraduates with interests in sensory biology and ecology of fishes, evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), and/or comparative and developmental morphology are encouraged to contact Dr. Webb. Information about current and former students and post-docs can be found here.

Opportunities for MS and PhD Students

Dr. Webb is a faculty member in the Evolution and Marine Biology specialization (EMB) within the Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES) graduate program, which is housed in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS) at URI. She is also a member of the faculty of the Interdisciplinary Neurosciences Program (INP).  The on-line application process is administered by the URI Graduate School.

If you are interested in a position in the Webb lab, please send a cover letter that includes a statement about your interest and your experience in fish and/or sensory biology, CV, and a writing sample (or pdf’s of publications) to Dr. Webb. Students are trained in all lab methods, and are required to complete training in responsible conduct of research (RCR) and animal care (IACUC). Students are required to work independently, but also to participate in collaborative research efforts, laboratory meetings, and may be asked to supervise the work of undergraduates. Graduate students are expected to present the results of their work at national or international conferences and to write manuscripts based on their MS and PhD work to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Prospective graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (US citizens only; October deadline each year; www.nsfgrfp.org). Support through URI is available for qualified MS and Ph.D. students in the form of Teaching Assistantships (9-month stipend and tuition remission), URI Graduate Fellowships (9-month stipend and tuition remission) or support on research grants. Some research funds are also available from the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of the Environment and Life Sciences; research support  is available on a competitive basis from the URI Graduate School and Provost’s Office. Students would be urged to apply for small grants from other organizations (ASIH, SICB, AMNH, AMS, AAA, etc.)

Opportunities for Post-Docs

We are always looking for talented post-docs with interests and experience in comparative anatomy, developmental biology (including gene expression), and/or sensory neuroethology of fishes to work on projects of mutual interest. The PhD degree must be completed (dissertation defended, with documentation) by the start date. Potential post-docs are encouraged to seek their own funding, but when available, grant funding may also provide post-doc support.

Post-docs are strongly urged to consider applying for the the NSF Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Biology; Nov. deadline each year. See: NSF Biology Post-Doc.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research

We welcome undergraduates who would like to carry out an independent research project, assist with animal husbandry, or assist graduate students or post-docs with a research project. Co-authorship on conference presentations and/or publications is possible, depending on the degree of involvement in a project. Undergraduates need to commit to working for one summer (full-time or part-time), or for at least one semester (approx. 4-10 hours/week, depending on the student and the project), in order to receive training and to carry out a meaningful research project.  Students may earn credit for independent research (BIO 491/492) or be paid as research assistants with Work-Study (federal financial aid), student employment funds, or grant funds. In addition, the URI Coastal Fellows Program and NSF Rhode Island EPSCoR provide stipends (on a competitive basis) for undergraduate research during the summer.