Dr. MacDougall-
Shackleton's Links:
Research projects combine molecular genetic techniques, with extensive fieldwork on songbirds in the wild [photo: Scott MacDougall-Shackleton]
Dr. Beth MacDougall-Shackleton
Behavioural ecology and population genetics of songbirds
Graduate Positions Available
Western has a very strong, collegial graduate community in Ecology and Evolution. The intellectual environment for birders is particularly excellent, with an active and tight-knit Avian Research group (6 professors plus dozens of grads and postdocs) that meets every two weeks. Our new Advanced Facilities for Avian Research (http://birds.uwo.ca/afarpeople.htm) offer unique research facilities and infrastructure.
The common thread throughout much of my lab’s research is the use of song sparrows as a model system. Most of our field work is conducted on a long-term colour banded focal population in eastern Ontario, so that lifespans, song repertoires, and histories of breeding and disease are known for most individuals in the population. We also have access to other sites in Ontario for students interested in gene flow and population structuring. In general, I find that having my students collaborate on the same study species fosters a supportive, collaborative research environment in the field. However, students with extensive field experience are welcome to work on different species.
I am always looking for serious, well-qualified, independent, creative and enthusiastic students at either the M.Sc. or the Ph.D. levels. Previous experience working with wild birds, and with genetic analysis, is an asset but not an absolute requirement.
If you are interested in applying to my lab, please read some of the papers that we have published in the last few years (http://www.uwo.ca/biology/Faculty/macdougallshackleton/publications.htm). After this, please send me a detailed letter or email outlining:
(1) your specific research interests,
(2) your research experience and the names of people that you will ask to provide letters of reference for you (the letters themselves are not required at this stage),
(3) your GPA, particularly over your most recent two years of study,
(4) any other relevant qualifications.
