The Williams Lab at UBC is looking for 1 MSc and 1 – 2 PhD students to join our group in 2026. We study how evolution and ecology interact to change population dynamics and species interactions in space and time. We want to understand how fast populations of native species can expand their ranges with climate change and invasive plants can expand following introduction to a new region, and also how plants in the endangered Garry oak ecosystem will respond to climate change. To answer these questions, we combine experiments in the field and greenhouse with quantitative models. We are also participating in research to understand the effects of trampling by hikers on alpine plants.
Graduate students have the flexibility to develop a project that fits into ongoing lab research. Specifically, for MSc students, there is an opportunity to lead a project in the Coast Range mountains investigating how the alpine plant community is affected by trampling by hikers (led by Dr. Nina Hewitt, and co-supervised by the Williams lab). PhD students will have more flexibility in project development, with the goal of one student leading a project on Vancouver Island, and a second leading a project exploring range expansion of invasive plants into higher elevations in the Coast Range and/or Interior mountains. In the Garry oak ecosystem, we have a 10-year (and counting) dataset on demography and community composition of understory species that can be harnessed in combination with experiments and/or further data collection. For the mountain invasion project, we have scouted a suite of candidate species and potential field sites, with much opportunity to develop the scope and particular questions of the project.
We are looking for graduate students who are curious about population and community ecology, with at least some relevant undergraduate coursework and/or research experience. Students in the group will develop strong quantitative skills (statistical and/or modeling) and do reproducible research. Prospective students should be in interested in becoming more quantitative, and we will help them get there. Prospective students should have experience identifying plants, an introduction to R and statistics, and a valid driver’s license. For students who wish to work in the mountains, backcountry hiking and camping experience is advised, and the ability to carry a backpack.
The Williams Lab is committed to creating a safe and supportive lab environment. Our group interacts with a diverse group of geographers interested in the environment, and with ecologists and evolutionary biologists from across UBC, who are brought together by the Biodiversity Research Centre for classes, seminars and discussion groups. We have ties with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Metro Vancouver, and land managers at native prairie sites across the Pacific Northwest.
Applications for MSc students are due in mid-December 2025 and for Ph.D. students in early January 2026, for a May or September 2026 start date. Curious if you might fit into the group? Send an email to jennifer.williams@geog.ubc.ca telling a little about your research interests. Already know you’d like to be considered, please fill out this webform. We will start reviewing responses in mid to late October.
For questions about the MSc position, email nina.hewitt@geog.ubc.ca. For more info, see the lab website: http://williamslabubc.weebly.com/; for more about the alpine trampling project: https://garibaldialpine.wixsite.com/garibaldialpine/copy-of-our-team-2024; learn about applying to UBC Geography here: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/graduate/.
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- — Jennifer Williams Professor, Department of Geography & Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia office phone: +1 604 827-1592 email:
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