The Ward Lab at Ball State University is seeking bright and talented MSc
students for Fall 2018. Research in our lab seeks to understand the
proximate and ultimate factors that control variation in behavior. We work
primarily with stream fishes, but projects involving other organisms are
possible. Current projects in the lab focus on two non-mutually exclusive
lines of inquiry:
1. Communication systems, sensory perception, and information processing
How do organisms perceive and respond to one another and the environment?
This line of research focuses on understanding the mechanisms, function and
evolution of sensory and communication systems. Questions asked relate to
how animals have evolved to perceive, process, and respond to stimuli in
the contexts of mate choice, aggression, and predator-prey dynamics, as
well as how behavior develops in response to abiotic environmental cues.
2. Ecological and evolutionary consequences of human-driven behavioral
change on animals
What drives the behavioral responses of organisms to a changing world?
Another focus of our research is to clarify how different forms of human
activity (endocrine disrupting chemicals, land-use changes, invasive
introductions) modify the behavior of organisms, and the associated
ecological and evolutionary implications of these changes.
Interested prospective students should contact Dr. Jessica Ward at
jlward4@bsu.edu. Please include (i) a letter of motivation including a
maximum 1-page statement of your research interests and relevant technical
skills and experience, (ii) a CV, (iii) your GRE scores (if you have them),
and (iv) contact information for 3 references.
Funding is available to students through a variety of sources, including
teaching assistantships. However, the departmental deadline for
applications for assistantships is February 1 2018. Therefore, interested
students should contact Dr. Jessica Ward ASAP.
The Department of Biology at Ball State is a collaborative and
dynamic research environment with more than 30 faculty members and
~50 MSc and PhD graduate students. Ball State University is located
in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of
Indianapolis. To learn more about admissions requirements and processes,
applicants should visit the university graduate admissions webpage
(http://cms.bsu.edu/academ…/collegesanddepartments/gradschool
or the Biology Department webpage
(http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/biology).
Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community.
Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans
are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive
equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally
protected status.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Jessica Ward
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Ball State University
jlward4@bsu.edu.
Jessica Ward <jlward4@bsu.edu>