Joining Us

We have many opportunities in the Walters Lab.

I will consider those seeking postdoctoral studies, graduate studies, field assistant positions, volunteer opportunities, foreign exchange positions, or undergraduate research. Please stop by my office (in Virginia August-March, in California April-July), or send me an email and we can talk more.

1. Graduate Studies

My students work on a variety of questions, typically at the intersection of behavior, ecology, and evolution. Master’s students typically have more applied / conservation projects whereas PhD students are usually working on broader subjects with a larger basic research component.

Students in my lab work in the United States (California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia), the United Kingdom, and the Dominican Republic. You can read more about my lab members under the Research Team link.

Students in my lab need to be “all in”. I expect students to be good departmental and academic citizens, independent, highly productive, and great ambassadors. They need to be good both in the field and be quantitatively minded, able to write creative and transformative grants, use modern quantitative methods, and be able to talk the academic talk.

My lab attends all seminars, meets with visiting speakers, performs public outreach, speaks with the media, and are leaders among their peers.

Maybe Old Dominion University doesn’t have the same international or national name recognition as other good schools but I can assure you that members of my lab are competing among the top tier of graduate students globally. We don’t settle for mediocrity and we push for excellence! I attract some of the best candidates globally because they know that I am committed to their success. I have lured many potential students away from Ivy Leagues or promises of better financial incentives than what I can offer. What these applicants know and understand is that the most important factor in your success as a graduate student is your academic advisor. It’s not the school, it’s not the financial incentives, it’s not the courses that are offered – what matters most is having an advisor that cares, who is looking out for you, and who will provide an enriching environment where you can flourish and be successful.

I am typically contacted by about 100 potential students per year. If you want into my lab, you need to make an effort. A blanket email that contains a bunch of vanilla comments like “I really love what your lab does”, “I think you do really cool research”, etc without any prior preparation (something that shows me that you know what our lab does) will be ignored. If you contact me and you don’t hear from me, try contacting me again. Persistence and perseverance are two of the most important traits that I am looking for in a grad student. Someone who gives up after one email is not the kind of person I want in my lab. If you want to be in the 1% of applicants that I accept, you really need to sell yourself and convince me of why my lab is the best fit, given your research interests. Please take some time and create a carefully crafted letter.

If you are interested in a graduate position with me, please send me the following:

  • a letter of interest (PLEASE DON’T ASK ME IF I AM TAKING STUDENTS – I will always make room for an exceptional candidate) that tells me about your specific research interests, background, types of questions you are interested in, etc. PLEASE do not tell me something vague like you are “interested in conservation” or “something to do with birds” – I will just toss your application and ignore your email;
  • an unofficial university transcript (your undergraduate GPA should be >3.5);
  • your CV

If English is not your native language, you must also take the TOEFL or IELTS.

Graduate students will be supported in one of five ways:

  1. A Dominion Scholarship (PhD applicants only) is available to qualifying applicants (undergrad GPA=3.2 (overall), 3.5 (in the major)), a stipend of $20,000 per year (no teaching required) and full tuition exemption;
  2. A teaching assistantship (PhD or MS applicants) stipend of $20,000 per year (teaching required) and full tuition exemption;
  3. An external fellowship / scholarship (e.g. NSF GRFP) – I will provide feedback to prospective students that wish to apply for an NSF GRFP on the condition that they commit to working with me should they be successful;
  4. A research assistantship funded by one of my grants;
  5. Self-funded (GI Bill, family inheritance, a rich uncle, etc)

Please indicate what category of support is applicable to your application. Students with external fellowships or those that are self-funded, for example, have a much greater likelihood of being accepted into the program.

In order to be considered for a graduate position in my lab, all prospective graduate applicants must eventually visit me in Virginia (Aug-Mar), in California (Apr-Jul), or over Zoom. I will not accept graduate students that I have not spoken to. Please plan accordingly.

Please also read my Primer On Getting Into Graduate School.

2. Field Assistants

All of my projects require field assistants. They are the bread & butter of any research program. I have a number of field projects that need field assistants. Because these positions are quite competitive, you will need to have some sort of experience (beyond having worked at an animal rehab facility, a pet store, a field course in some exotic land, or a veterinary hospital). I want individuals with field experience and a strong interest in behavioral ecology, conservation biology, or community ecology. Typically I hire individuals in their “gap year” – those that have recently graduated and are in the process of applying to graduate schools. To find out what opportunities are available, please contact us.

3. Volunteers

We have lots of opportunities for volunteers. Whether you want to gain field experience or help out in the lab, we have plenty of projects on the go. What we do require is that you make a commitment for an entire semester, preferably putting in at least 10 hours per week. In return, you will either get academic credit and / or future letters of recommendation; not to mention valuable research experience and a feeling that you are doing a good thing to help the environment and your career.

4. Undergraduate Studies

Many students graduate from college without any research experience. This is your chance to gain research experience while earning academic credit. Why not do something you enjoy and get credit for it? It’s a win-win situation. Come speak to Dr. Walters about potential projects and how you can help your career while making an important contribution to our overall research program. If you are contemplating graduate school, undergraduate research experience is a must. See my Primer On Getting Into Graduate School for more information on this.

5. Postdoctoral Positions

I am always interested in working with prospective postdoctoral candidates that share common research interests. I am happy to discuss possibilities for postdoctoral positions, but these will likely involve writing proposals to acquire funding. If you are interested in working in my lab, please contact me and include a CV and a brief synopsis of your research interests and what ideas you have for the direction you’d like to take for your postdoctoral work. I will certainly entertain the possibility of co-writing an NSF, EPA, or other type of proposal with you.

6. Foreign Exchange / Placement

Many foreign programs require that students find a potential advisor to gain research experience. While I am interested in sponsoring such foreign students, I do not have financial resources to support them. If you wish to work with me as a foreign sponsor, you will need to have your own funding for your time in my lab. Also, if you do want to work with me, do not include me in a mass email to several hundred potential PIs. Send one email at a time. I don’t want to go to the trouble of speaking with you only to find out that you are negotiating with several other labs. Please have the courtesy to contact me, and only me if you are serious about working with my lab.