Opportunities for prospective students and postdoctoral researchers

Current opportunities:

  • Postdocs: We are not currently advertising postdoctoral positions, but welcome inquiries from researchers interested in applying for external fellowships or collaborative grants (see below for details).
  • Graduate students: We are not currently accepting applications for new graduate students. Please check back in the fall.
  • Undergraduate students: Undergraduate students interested in research opportunities are welcome to contact us (see below for details). 

About the Castorani Lab

Our research group includes undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. We value curiosity, intellectual independence, strong quantitative thinking, and a collaborative approach to scientific research. 

Graduate students and postdocs are expected to develop independent research questions and take intellectual ownership of their projects. All researchers in the lab should share broad intellectual interests in ecology at population and community scales. Because our work is largely empirical, prospective students should be primarily interested in experimental field ecology and statistical modeling of ecological data. To learn about the research questions that we ask and methods that we use, please read our research themes and recent publications. 

After leaving our research group, many students and postdocs have gone on to successful careers in ecology, marine biology, conservation, management, and environmental science in academic, private, and government sectors. Others have found equally fulfilling work applying their skills in related fields, such as veterinary medicine and biomedical research.

Postdoctoral researchers

Prospective postdoctoral researchers are welcome to reach out about opportunities for collaboration, particularly those interested in applying for a postdoctoral fellowship or authoring an external grant proposal to support their postdoctoral position. There is a list of potential postdoctoral funding opportunities at the bottom of the page.

Graduate students

I advise students in the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia.

Prospective students interested in working with me should send an email including:

  • a brief description of research interests, career goals, and motivations for graduate school
  • ideas for potential research projects and why you are specifically interested in our lab
  • a CV outlining academic and research experience (including GPA)
  • contact information for three references
  • a writing sample, if available

Because I receive many inquiries each year, I am most likely to respond to messages that demonstrate familiarity with our research program and clearly explain why our lab is a strong fit.

Coursework, research topics, and thesis committees in the program often have a strong interdisciplinary component. Prospective Ph.D. students are expected to have substantial research experience, such as a Master’s thesis; an independent undergraduate research project, senior honors thesis, or research internships; employment as a research technician; or professional experience in a related field (e.g., conservation, management, data science).

Information on how to apply and further details of the program are provided by the Department of Environmental Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. Strong faculty sponsorship is critical for admission to the graduate program.

Undergraduate students

We frequently offer opportunities for undergraduates to gain experience and training in ecological research. There are options for students with a broad range of abilities and interests, including research in the laboratory (in Charlottesville) and in the field (based out of UVA’s Coastal Research Center on Virginia’s Eastern Shore), as well as computational work that can be done remotely. Undergraduate research is a great way to explore your career interests, develop your resume for employment or graduate school, and earn academic credit.

The Department of Environmental Sciences offers several programs to encourage undergraduate research, including the Distinguished Majors Program and Undergraduate Thesis Program. 

Students interested in undergraduate research opportunities should contact us by email.

Why the University of Virginia?

The University of Virginia is a research-intensive public university and member of the Association of American Universities. The Department of Environmental Sciences has long been a leader in environmental research and education, offering interdisciplinary training in ecology, hydrology, geology, and atmospheric sciences. 

The department maintains several field facilities, including the Coastal Research Center on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, home to the Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research project (VCR LTER) funded by the National Science Foundation since 1987.

UVA is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. The city offers a vibrant academic community, strong arts and food culture, and convenient access to Washington, D.C., Richmond, and coastal field sites.

Funding for students and postdocs

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are strongly encouraged to apply for external fellowships and research grants to support their work. Prospective students or postdocs interested in applying for external funding to work with us are encouraged to contact us early to discuss research ideas. Below are some relevant funding opportunities to consider.