Join Us
There are several ways that people get involved with the Hadly Lab. This page provides information on:
Lab Meetings
The Hadly Lab holds weekly lab meetings where members get feedback on their research, host presentations from visiting scholars, and more. We often welcome interested non-members to sit in on our lab meetings. You are encourage to reach out to Dr. Hadly if you are interested in joining us.
Undergraduate Opportunities
We are always looking for motivated undergraduate students to join our lab! If you are a current Stanford undergraduate student who is interested in participating in our research or is looking for a senior thesis lab, please contact Dr. Hadly or another current lab member whose research interests you. You may be able to get course credits for your research with the lab. If you are interested in learning more about current research in the lab, but do not necessarily wish to join a project, feel free to attend our lab meetings.
Research in the Hadly Lab depends on the interests of the current members. However, past projects have included genetic analysis of past and modern animals, food web modeling, non-invasive biodiversity monitoring, animal bone identification, and tracking toxins in our local environment. Gained skills might include: working with specimens to obtain genetic or morphological data, computer analyses of DNA sequences, coding in R, scientific writing, and/or field work. None of these skills are required for you to join our research - just a passion for learning! Take a look at the bios of current lab members to get a better idea of our open projects.
Funded opportunities for undergraduate research:
- SSRP - Stanford Summer Research Program - All Undergraduates
- B-SURP - Stanford Only
- Basser - Stanford Only, contact Dr. Hadly
Graduate Students
Dr. Hadly is seeking graduate students for the 2020-2021 cycle. Please take a look at our current research projects and reach out to current members to determine if our lab is a good fit for you. If you are interested in applying, please:
- Review Information for Prospective Students on the Department of Biology PhD Program pages.
- Email one of our current graduate students to discuss what the lab is like and if it is a good fit for you. They can also answer general questions about the application process.
- Check out the links below, especially Demystifying the Application Process.
Also consider applying to the new Stanford Biology PhD Preview Program, which gives students the opportunity to go through the application process with current Stanford PhD students.
Relevant resources:
- Graduate Research in the Biology Department
- Online Application
- Biology Preview Program
- Demystifying the Application Process
- Graduate Student Handbook
When to Apply
Dr. Hadly is currently looking for PhD students for the 2020-2021 application cycle. Dr. Hadly sits in the Ecology and Evolution subdivision of the Biology department, so if you are interested in the Hadly Lab please apply to this program. The deadline for applying to the Biology program is typically in early December. Check the Stanford graduate admissions page for details.
If the Hadly Lab is your primary interest at Stanford, please contact us prior to applying. You can do so by emailing a current graduate student (cc’ing Dr. Hadly) with your research interests. We look forward to hearing from you!
Philosophy and Expectations
The Hadly Lab is highly interdisciplinary. We have had members with classic biology or geology backgrounds and we value the expertise of both. Many of the biologists have strong molecular phylogenetics backgrounds, with experience in genetics labs. However, we also have had students and postdocs with backgrounds in behavior, development, systematics, statistics, morphology, isotopes, and population genetics.
In general, students working in the Hadly Lab will focus on the evolutionary and ecological impacts of the environment on vertebrates: past, present and future. Current graduate students study a wide range of systems and organisms, but all are interested in the impacts that humans have had on modern ecosystems. This interest in the Anthropocene ties our highly-interdisciplinary lab together. Read more about our current research
As a major advisor Dr. Hadly works to: (1) create a stimulating intellectual environment; (2) provide a physical work space that is functional and inspiring; (3) foster students as professional colleagues; and (4) challenge them to make meaningful contributions to science and the global community.
Graduate students in the Hadly Lab typically finish their degree within five years, depending on individual circumstances. During these years, Hadly Lab graduate students will learn to write grants, present at professional meetings, collect and analyze data, write academic papers, and become professional colleagues. When you join our lab, you become a member of a community. Members therefore help foster this sense of community through attending lab meetings, assisting with lab functions, training other members, and openly discussing ideas and providing feedback.
Graduate Student Selection Process
Even if you are applying directly to the Hadly Lab, all applications to the Ecology and Evolution program will also be reviewed by other faculty. Selection criteria include the following: undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and evaluation of the applicant’s statement of purpose. Spending time honing your statement of purpose as well as asking your peers and research mentors to review it is a great way to strengthen your application. Our program no longer requires GRE scores. Learn more about the application package here:
Dr. Hadly recommends that students have thought about types of projects they would be interested in pursuing in her lab prior to interviewing. A great way to do this is through applying for an NSF GRFP or another, similar fellowship.
See this helpful site for more advice on applying to Ecology and Evolution programs: https://www.mordecailab.com/news-marquee
Financial Support
Stanford Biology PhD students are guaranteed five years of funding for tuition and fees (not research expenses). However, you will be asked to apply to the NSF GRFP or an equivalent fellowship in your first year as well as for fellowships to support your tuition for Year 5 and beyond. Hadly Lab students also typically apply for external grants to fund their research projects.
Post-Doctoral Scholars
Please contact Dr. Hadly directly for information about postdoctoral positions that might be available in the lab.