Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab

Join the Lab

Our lab handbook is a living document and lays out expectations of lab members.

All lab members must:

  • Be decent human beings (we don’t work with jerks)
  • Have an interest in ecological systems and using quantitative tools (e.g., mathematical models, statistics, R)
  • Want to change the world

Members of the lab are strongly committed to anti-racist practices, real diversity and inclusion efforts, and moving science beyond the ivory tower.

Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity

One of my main commitments as a faculty member is promoting and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. Please consider applying for a position in my lab if you are a first-generation college student, a student from a low-income background, a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, if you identify as a woman or as LGBTQ+, and/or if you have a disability.

Undergraduate students

The lab often has openings for undergraduate students to contribute to projects or design a project for an undergraduate thesis/research experience. All students are paid or receive course credits. These projects are typically co-designed by the student, QMEL graduate students, and Professor Easton White. The undergraduate researcher role in the lab is more detailed in the lab handbook.

We take applications at any time, but interns typically start in January, June, or August. There are UNH student specific opportunities, but we also have openings for non-UNH students and recent graduates. The students most likely to be accepted for a position are those with a keen interest in developing quantitative skills in the context of marine systems.

After completing this form, please send Easton.White@unh.edu a CV and brief introduction, including details of your prior research experience, as well as your research interests and goals and how you think these align with my research program.

Graduate students

I am currently reviewing applications for two graduate positions to start in January 2024 or Fall 2024. Students could work on a variety of projects, including the socio-ecological dynamics of small-scale fisheries, aquaculture mathematical modeling, or decision science related to how to optimize ecological monitoring programs. The applicant would be expected to have a strong data science or mathematical modeling background. Applicants that will be the most competitive for a position will have experience (and willingness to learn more) with R, quantitative skills (e.g., mathematical modeling, statistics), and field work. A basic understanding of Spanish, French, or American Sign Language is a plus for some of the lab’s projects. If you are interested, please fill out this brief survey and then send Easton.White@unh.edu a CV and brief introduction, including details of your prior research experience, as well as your research interests and graduate school goals and how you think these align with my research program. It is important to emphasize why you are interested in working in my lab specifically. I am also open to chatting about the topics above or potential projects related to other areas of my research program.

Our lab handbook is a living document and lays out expectations of lab members.

I can accept students through UNH’s Biological Sciences MS and PhD programs. There are specific programs in Integrative Biology (IB) and Marine Biology (MB). The priority deadline for Fall admission is January 15th each year. Although less common, I can also accept student through the Oceanography and Integrated Applied Mathematics programs at UNH. If you are interested in working with me, I strongly recommended that you reach out to me before applying for graduate study. Graduate work is typically funded through a combination of fellowships, research positions, and teaching assistantships. Currently, the minimum yearly salary for a graduate student in QMEL is $30,996 per year (including summer). The salary increases each year and is higher if you already have a MS degree. Health insurance and tuition are also covered by the lab/university. When we make an offer to a graduate student, their funding is described in detail in an offer letter.

In addition to funding I might have, I encourage my own students and applicants to apply for various grants and fellowships:

Depending on your specific interests, I might not be the best advisor for you at UNH. You may also want to reach out to Dr. Melissa Aikens (plants, biology education), Dr. Elizabeth Fairchild (fish, fisheries), Dr. Nathan Furey (fishes, sharks, animal movement), Dr. Elizabeth Harvey (phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms), Dr. Brittany Jellison (marine invertebrates, intertidal systems, climate change), Dr. Gregg Moore (marine plants, restoration), and others in the Biology Department or within the College of Life Science And Agriculture.

Postdoctoral fellows

I am currently recruiting for a postdoctoral fellow in quantitative fisheries science. The applicant is expected to have a strong data science or mathematical background. There is a lot of flexibility for the postdoc to choose their own specific projects. Projects will revolve around small-scale and industrial fisheries questions, especially in relation to our ongoing work in Madagascar. I will begin reviewing applications on Oct 25, 2023. The position start date is flexible, but January 2024 is ideal. Applicants must have a desire to mentor and promote an inclusive environment. If you are interested, please send an email and CV to Easton White (Easton.White@unh.edu).

I am also open to collaboratively working on proposals to help fund independent postdoctoral fellow positions through several different programs.

If you are interested, please send an email and CV to Easton White (Easton.White@unh.edu).

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