Join the Lab

I will start recruiting for various positions in the lab in summer 2023. Stay tuned for more information soon! Depending on the position, researchers may be able to start projects in the lab as early as summer or fall 2024. I will be updating this page with contact forms to facilitate conversations about specific positions and research directions.

My lab works on research projects that overlap with data science, ecology, evolution, neuroscience, and open-source methods development. This research will be conducted with captive monk parakeets (medium-sized parrots) and zebra finches (small songbirds). I am open to using different modelling approaches to test ideas, as well as developing projects with other avian or mammalian systems that exhibit vocal learning abilities. Consider reaching out about the different positions below if you:

 • Are interested in how animals use learned vocalizations to communicate with others
 • Have experience in any of the following areas:
  ◦ Experiments or animal care with captive birds or other species
  ◦ Computational approaches to analyze large datasets
  ◦ Programming in Python, command line, R, or other languages
  ◦ Basic wet lab techniques in molecular biology
  ◦ Neuroanatomical microdissections
  ◦ Developing mathematical or agent-based models to test ideas
 • Enjoy learning new methods to analyze large datasets, developing open-source software, or developing new hardware tools with open electronics (Raspberry Pi)
 • Enjoy brainstorming new ideas with people from different areas of expertise


Students and postdocs in the lab will have opportunities to learn a wide variety of skill sets, including: computational and quantitative skills, coding skills in different programming languages, basic molecular biology skills, open-source methods development, scientific writing and communication, as well as how to brainstorm ideas, and how to lead or support projects as part of an interdisciplinary research group.

I am looking for driven individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities who can fill these different positions in my lab:

 • Undergraduate students: More info is coming soon! I am interested in supporting students who want to learn more about behavioral experiments and data analysis with captive birds, as well as computational methods.
 • Graduate students: More info is coming soon! I look forward to working with PhD or Master’s graduate students interested in the lab’s core research areas. I expect graduate students to learn how to lead rigorous scientific research, including developing their own independent research projects.
 • Postdocs: More info is coming soon! I am recruiting postdocs to work on core research projects in the lab. I look forward to discussing how I can support postdocs in my lab as they continue developing their independent research programs.

I’m also excited to work with incoming graduate students or postdocs interested in applying to competitive fellowships (e.g. NSF GRFP, NSF PRFB, Ford Fellowships, or others) to develop their own independent research in the lab.

Prior to getting in touch (links to contact forms coming soon!), please make time to reflect about how you will contribute to the lab’s research, what you want to learn from working in the lab, and where you’d like to go after leaving the lab. This information will help me assess which projects will be a good fit for you, both to support the lab’s research and your own career path.

Contact Email: jointhelab@smith-vidaurre.com