Prospective students – Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Lab

Phil Levin is currently on loan to the White Office of Science and Technology Policy and US Office of Global Change Research where he is directing the first-ever National Nature Assessment. He is not taking new students at this time.

Thank you for your interest in the Levin Conservation Science Lab for conducting your graduate studies at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington.

I am always on the look-out for sharp, motivated, and hard-working students who have a passion for conservation. Hopefully you have spent the time perusing my research interests and read a couple of my recent publications. From this you will notice that my research interests focus on issues related to interdisciplinary conservation with a slight marine bias. Don’t like salt water? Well, the fact is you can work on any number of projects in our group.

By applying to work with me you will have the opportunity to join a dynamic lab filled with a great group of students and staff working together as a cohesive unit. Quite simply, we play hard and work even harder!

Peter Kareiva once asked Bob Paine what was the best predictor of whether or not someone would be hugely successful as a scientist, and Bob’s reply was, “Whomever has the most fun at it.”

Still interested in joining the Levin Conservation Science Lab? Send me an e-mail at pslevin@u.washington.edu, and include the following information: (1) curriculum vitaé (or résumé), (2) copies of transcripts, (3) summary of research experience, and (4) statement of research interests. I hope to hear from you.

What should you do and what are your chances?

The most important component of the application process is identifying a faculty member who will sponsor your application. This is the person who will ultimately be responsible for providing you an offer (given that you meet certain admission qualifications). SEFS requires all incoming students to have at least 1 year of funding guaranteed. This support typically comes from my own research grants, or any fellowship that you might have been awarded. It is important to note that SEFS receives far more qualified applications than we can possibly hope to admit, which makes the application process very competitive.

What should you expect from me as an advisor?

As an advisor it is my responsibility to provide you with the resources and professional connections (or at least point you in the right direction) needed to ensure that you meet your career goals. I recognize that the needs of graduate students are not all the same. Some students prefer hands on supervision, others prefer no supervision, while still others (and I would bet, most students) fall somewhere between these two extremes. For this reason, I do not supervise all graduate students the same way. Together we will find the right balance. At the end of the day, I strive to make you a complete conservation scientist with the essential skills required for a successful and rewarding career in academia, government, nonprofit, public sector or wherever you want to be.

What do I expect from you as a graduate student?

I expect you to be hard working and passionate about your research. You can expect to write grants, publish your work in peer-reviewed journals, create and deliver presentations at local and national meetings, interact with other faculty and graduate students across campus, and have a fun time doing it. Do I expect your graduate research to consume every aspect of your life? Definitely no. Do I expect you to be committed to and excited about your work? Absolutely yes!