About the lab
We are an active and supportive research group excited about ecology and evolution, conservation, and natural history. We are field ecologists who conduct research in several ecosystem systems. We work on the effect of environmental change on species interactions and how altered interactions affect community and ecosystem processes. In the lab, we embrace and respect diversity of individuals concerning sex, gender, race, ethnicity, age, citizenship, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, physical ability, mental ability, and expression. Our lab is a friendly and supportive environment conducive to learning and research. As a group, we are committed to treating each other with respect and ensuring that everybody feels welcome and appreciated in the lab. I am dedicated to recruiting and mentoring diverse lab members, especially of underrepresented groups in science, and to being an advocate for diversity in the department and on campus.
Our lab is in the Department of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University. BU is a part of the State University of New York System and one of New York's top-ranked public Universities. BU is in the "very high research activity" Doctoral University (R1) Carnegie classification category. We have a vibrant Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior group in a broader Biology Department.
Prospective graduate students
I'm interested in graduate students excited about ecology and evolution, community ecology, discovering biodiversity, spending time in nature, working with data, learning new skills, and doing science! I'm especially interested in students who are who may bring new perspectives and skills to current work in the lab. Our expertise is mainly in plant and insect systems, with ongoing projects in systems (see research) for more details. Students should be curious, self-motivated, hard-working, and enthusiastic. A lot of our science is done in the field, which means prospective students should like to be outdoors, be willing to be flexible and dedicated to their project, and like working as a team.
As a mentor, I work closely with students throughout the scientific process - from formulating ideas to helping with experimental design. I provide feedback on proposals, manuscripts, presentations, and advice for finding positions after graduate school. I work with students to use their time in graduate school to obtain a variety of experiences that may benefit their post-graduate goals, including jobs outside of academia. I am a supportive mentor and value work-life balance.
From my students, I expect them to take ownership and responsibility for their projects. We conduct high-quality science in the lab. Students are expected to follow good data curation, publish their work, present at conferences, and apply for grants and fellowships. At least one accepted first-author publication is expected before the defense, with other chapters being at least publication-ready. I expect graduate students to treat graduate school like a full-time job, to be present at work, dedicated, and professional. My students will be active lab and Department members. They should attend Department seminars, discussion groups, and lab meetings.
Students are supported on teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships, and admittance to the program, and my lab is competitive. Contact me directly in the Fall ([email protected]) before the year that you want to start, sending a cover letter, your CV, and transcript(s). If we decide that you are a good fit for the lab, applications are due in mid-December.
Prospective postdoctoral associates
I am happy to discuss and work with potential applicants to obtain funding to work on research related to my lab.
Prospective undergraduate students
I welcome undergraduate researchers interested in gaining research experience in ecology, evolution, and conservation. I expect that students who genuinely want to be a part of a research lab and gain experience will join the lab. Thus, students should be motivated and responsible, take ownership of their projects, and be productive and engaged lab members. Positions in the lab are competitive. I will prioritize students who demonstrate a genuine interest in the topics we research in the lab.
There is a three-semester commitment to the lab (thus, we generally don't take seniors) unless the student or mentor doesn't think the lab is a good fit. The more the student puts into the lab in terms of research time, depth, and engagement, the more detailed and meaningful reference I can be. Lower commitments in the lab (i.e., fewer than three semesters) might result in more generic letters. Experience in the lab may help with applications for fellowships, or graduate and professional programs, or jobs.
If you want to graduate school in biology - including ecology and evolution, experience in a research lab is a critical component of your application. Graduate programs often look for students with meaningful experiences - presenting at internal and external conferences, being a part of a publication, or performing independent work all may add to applications. Commitment and significant time spent on a dedicated project in some cases can be more critical than varied, but more surface experiences. If your intention is to go to graduate school, please set up a time to talk to me. Also, a reference from a known colleague or person in our field may have hight weight, and I will do my best to suggest labs of people I know in the field if the student's interests match the labs. People in the field often reach out to me about any student related to my lab group.
Performing an Honor's thesis is a great way to get meaningful experience. To do this, students must commit to at least three semesters in the lab plus their senior Honor's thesis year. Committing to summer is also important if the student wants to do fieldwork, and there are opportunities for competitive fellowships. I can help sponsor students for these opportunities.
There may also be select technician opportunities in the lab, for field or bench work. I often look for interested applicants from the lab group first.
If you are interested, please contact me (kprior(at)binghamton.edu) with a cover letter describing your interests, resume/CV, GPA, and relevant coursework.
We are an active and supportive research group excited about ecology and evolution, conservation, and natural history. We are field ecologists who conduct research in several ecosystem systems. We work on the effect of environmental change on species interactions and how altered interactions affect community and ecosystem processes. In the lab, we embrace and respect diversity of individuals concerning sex, gender, race, ethnicity, age, citizenship, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, physical ability, mental ability, and expression. Our lab is a friendly and supportive environment conducive to learning and research. As a group, we are committed to treating each other with respect and ensuring that everybody feels welcome and appreciated in the lab. I am dedicated to recruiting and mentoring diverse lab members, especially of underrepresented groups in science, and to being an advocate for diversity in the department and on campus.
Our lab is in the Department of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University. BU is a part of the State University of New York System and one of New York's top-ranked public Universities. BU is in the "very high research activity" Doctoral University (R1) Carnegie classification category. We have a vibrant Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior group in a broader Biology Department.
Prospective graduate students
I'm interested in graduate students excited about ecology and evolution, community ecology, discovering biodiversity, spending time in nature, working with data, learning new skills, and doing science! I'm especially interested in students who are who may bring new perspectives and skills to current work in the lab. Our expertise is mainly in plant and insect systems, with ongoing projects in systems (see research) for more details. Students should be curious, self-motivated, hard-working, and enthusiastic. A lot of our science is done in the field, which means prospective students should like to be outdoors, be willing to be flexible and dedicated to their project, and like working as a team.
As a mentor, I work closely with students throughout the scientific process - from formulating ideas to helping with experimental design. I provide feedback on proposals, manuscripts, presentations, and advice for finding positions after graduate school. I work with students to use their time in graduate school to obtain a variety of experiences that may benefit their post-graduate goals, including jobs outside of academia. I am a supportive mentor and value work-life balance.
From my students, I expect them to take ownership and responsibility for their projects. We conduct high-quality science in the lab. Students are expected to follow good data curation, publish their work, present at conferences, and apply for grants and fellowships. At least one accepted first-author publication is expected before the defense, with other chapters being at least publication-ready. I expect graduate students to treat graduate school like a full-time job, to be present at work, dedicated, and professional. My students will be active lab and Department members. They should attend Department seminars, discussion groups, and lab meetings.
Students are supported on teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships, and admittance to the program, and my lab is competitive. Contact me directly in the Fall ([email protected]) before the year that you want to start, sending a cover letter, your CV, and transcript(s). If we decide that you are a good fit for the lab, applications are due in mid-December.
Prospective postdoctoral associates
I am happy to discuss and work with potential applicants to obtain funding to work on research related to my lab.
Prospective undergraduate students
I welcome undergraduate researchers interested in gaining research experience in ecology, evolution, and conservation. I expect that students who genuinely want to be a part of a research lab and gain experience will join the lab. Thus, students should be motivated and responsible, take ownership of their projects, and be productive and engaged lab members. Positions in the lab are competitive. I will prioritize students who demonstrate a genuine interest in the topics we research in the lab.
There is a three-semester commitment to the lab (thus, we generally don't take seniors) unless the student or mentor doesn't think the lab is a good fit. The more the student puts into the lab in terms of research time, depth, and engagement, the more detailed and meaningful reference I can be. Lower commitments in the lab (i.e., fewer than three semesters) might result in more generic letters. Experience in the lab may help with applications for fellowships, or graduate and professional programs, or jobs.
If you want to graduate school in biology - including ecology and evolution, experience in a research lab is a critical component of your application. Graduate programs often look for students with meaningful experiences - presenting at internal and external conferences, being a part of a publication, or performing independent work all may add to applications. Commitment and significant time spent on a dedicated project in some cases can be more critical than varied, but more surface experiences. If your intention is to go to graduate school, please set up a time to talk to me. Also, a reference from a known colleague or person in our field may have hight weight, and I will do my best to suggest labs of people I know in the field if the student's interests match the labs. People in the field often reach out to me about any student related to my lab group.
Performing an Honor's thesis is a great way to get meaningful experience. To do this, students must commit to at least three semesters in the lab plus their senior Honor's thesis year. Committing to summer is also important if the student wants to do fieldwork, and there are opportunities for competitive fellowships. I can help sponsor students for these opportunities.
There may also be select technician opportunities in the lab, for field or bench work. I often look for interested applicants from the lab group first.
If you are interested, please contact me (kprior(at)binghamton.edu) with a cover letter describing your interests, resume/CV, GPA, and relevant coursework.
