Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Associate (Undergraduate Biology Education Research)
About the role
The Ballen Lab is always looking for motivated undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs to join. Send an email to mjb0100(auburn.edu).
Location
We are located in the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) at Auburn University. Auburn is a fantastic, affordable college town, and DBS is a vibrant and collaborative setting for discipline-based education research. We have great resources here to study education, including our friends over in the chemistry education research lab, the geosciences education research lab, the physics and engineering education research lab, and the mathematics education research lab.
Contact Information
Auburn University and the Ballen Lab are interested in candidates who are committed to high standards of scholarship and to fostering a climate that supports inclusion, equity, and diversity.
Postdoctoral Opportunities
I encourage postdocs to apply for independent funding for projects focused on STEM equity in undergraduate biology, and I am happy to contribute ideas for collaborative proposals. If you are interested in joining the lab as a postdoc, let's chat about funding opportunities!
Graduate Student Opportunities
Auburn supports a large community in our Department of Biological Sciences (DBS). Students can apply at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. level, and should have a strong biology and analytical/quantitative background. Application for admission to the DBS graduate program can be found here. Materials include a CV, personal statement, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation (note: no GRE requirement!)
I am currently recruiting both MS and PhD students to work with me on research that integrates learning sciences, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and undergraduate biology.
If you are interested in joining the lab as a graduate student, send an email to mjb0100(auburn.edu) for more information! When emailing me, please include:
- A cover letter with a brief description of your research interests and experience.
- Your curriculum vitae, including your GPA, and contact information for professional references
Ph.D. Opportunities
Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to apply for the NSF-GRFP (take a look!). The fellowship deadline is in mid-October, AU grad preview weekend is in January, and the DBS application is due in February. There is also the Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program in Education Research.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
If you are an Auburn undergraduate student looking to get research experience in the lab, there are lots of different ways to get involved. Send an email and we can set up a meeting to talk more about possible opportunities.