Prof. Wilson: Applications of Genomics/Evolutionary Biology to Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation

Responsibilities include general lab maintenance and assisting graduate students and other researchers with laboratory/museum collection protocols from sample organization to data collection (morphological and genetic), specimen preparation (i.e. preparing museum skins) for research and archival in the zoology collection, and analysis. There is a potential project to help digitalize (photograph) the zoological collection if desired. Student researchers will be expected to keep an organized and detailed lab/collection notebook. The position will be split between the SNR Conservation Genomics Lab and the Nebraska State Museum Zoology Division but can adjusted depending on student's interests and project needs.

We are looking for students with an interest in conservation genetics and biological sciences, wildlife, or fisheries. Potential students should be detail-oriented, hard-working, have strong organization, and be excited to learn new skills. Student researchers must be willing to work independently, in a team setting and alongside other students to help solve problems.

The SNR conservation genomics lab and State Museum Zoology Division has fostered an environment where students can be creative, support each other, and can explore career paths. Students supporting students provide the laboratory members with a foundation for personal and professional support network as they continue their professional career in STEM. As such, our lab is a team-oriented environment which is predicated on group learning. Incoming students will be working in a genetics lab and museum collection composed of young researchers at various stages of their career from other undergraduates just starting out to faculty members.

Students typically start assisting more experience researchers or help with smaller projects such as molecular sexing birds, using classical DNA sequencing techniques for species ID, or specimen preparation to help learn how to take morphological measurements and learn anatomy. As students' skills progress, students are afforded leadership roles by training other students in laboratory methods regardless of class standing and is based on experience.