Polyploidy across populations, species, and communities
Science is for everyone. The Tiley lab for plant evolution is a positive environment that aims to translate rigorous research in basic evolutionary biology into real-world impact. Mentees are expected to develop a well-rounded conceptual basis for the field and bring original ideas and creativity to the lab. In return, I am committed to the success of mentees beyond their time in the lab and will help co-write career development plans that fit individual goals and provide a tool for continuous assessment. The lab is committed to supporting diverse goals that align with academia, industry, non-profits, or government.
I am a big believer in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ethos that we want scientists to put fundamental critical analysis skills first and develop original ideas. For PhD students, this means that I expect large creative contributions from you to your disseration projects. The goal is that by the time you leave with the PhD, that you are capable of independent research at every step of the process - from conceptualization to delivering on those publications. There is an expectation that you compete for appropriate fellowships and grants that would not only strengthen your PhD, but also better position you for the job market after graduation. Ideally, PhD students take on some level of mentorship along the way too, which would include supervising undergraduate research that benefits you as well. The work might be difficult at times, but I am here to help you every step of the way and I will be your biggest supporter. The lab is a positive atmosphere sometimes with baked goods and music. I am genuinely excited in your research, even if my face looks a little grumpy (it always looks that way)!
For undergrads and MS students, you might find that we do some of the work together at first to build basic skills, whether in the field, lab, or programming. I will over time be less involved not because I do not care, but this is the path to building independence and confidence. Even if I see a mistake in the lab, I might not comment immediately so you have a chance to realize yourself (unless it will be a very expensive mistake). There is a basic expectation that you read and develop some command of the literature underlying the problem you are working on, and that you will synthesize your findings and present them to a group. This might be lab meetings, departmental presentaitons, or regional conferences.
For postdocs, we are collaborators. My goal is to provide you the space and resources to further your independent program, and hopefully, you are able to gain something from working together that is helpful in the long-term. We focus on a career development plan to ensure research and other activities align with your goals. For some people, this might mean mentoring others and teaching. For some, we might look for ways to form stategic collaborations that get you to a specific geographic region. The point is that we have frequent open communication, are responsive to opportunities when they arise, and maimize the use of your time.
If there is anything that I learned through my own experiences, is that being intentional with your time is necessary. Aim for maximum alignment between what you are doing and where you want to be. That sometimes means saying no to “opportunities” and it sometimes means taking the risk and putting yourself in situations where you do not have all of the answers. I am here to help lab members and all. I will highlight a few general resources that I often point researchers at various career stages to: