The Kroeker Lab is committed to creating and fostering a lab culture of inclusion and respect, a safe space for learning, and an appreciation for diverse backgrounds and knowledge bases.
We welcome all students of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, or sexual orientation.
Click here if you’re a Prospective Graduate Student
Click here if you’re a prospective undergraduate volunteer/intern
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS
Thanks to those of you who are interested in the lab. I am not considering new students at this time.
MY APPROACH TO GRADUATE TRAINING
My goal is to train environmental leaders to use cutting-edge science to inform solutions to our most pressing environmental problems. My approach is to help students build a foundation in interdisciplinary problem solving by coupling deep ecological expertise, science communication, and social engagement.
I expect to invest significant time and resources in my students over the course of their PhD and throughout their career. Given this investment, I want to work with students that are deeply motivated, independent, and creative, with strong written and oral communication skills.
While I endeavor to work on policy relevant questions and engage with stakeholders and decision makers, I am primarily a community ecologist. I am best suited to mentor students in experimental and field ecology projects, focusing on the interactions between organisms and their environment and how these interactions scale-up to ecosystems.
I strive to create a supportive, stimulating work environment with weekly lab meetings, as well as to create the time and space to support my students’ individual development as scientists and environmental leaders. I want my students to be happy and successful people, and it is imperative that you are a good fit for the lab. I strongly encourage prospective students to visit the lab, ask lots of questions, and think critically about whether I would be a good fit for their interests. I am happy to connect you to colleagues or students that could give you more insight into my work style.
APPLY
If you are interested in the possibility of joining the lab, please start by emailing Kristy Kroeker (kkroeker[at]ucsc.edu) the materials below. If it seems like the lab might be a good fit, I will contact you to set up a time to chat by phone and, if appropriate, to visit our lab in person.
A cover letter or statement of purpose highlighting what motivates your research, what kind of projects you might be interested in pursuing in graduate school, and your short and long-term career goals.
A curriculum vitae (resume) that outlines your academic and professional experience.
A writing sample. This could be a technical report, academic paper, or class research project.
Copies of unofficial transcripts or a list of classes taken. These do not need to be official.
Names and contact information for 3 references.
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Interested in working with the Kroeker Lab?
All of the research conducted in the Kroeker Lab benefits enormously from the help that we receive from our stellar undergraduate volunteers and interns. Typically, we ask interested undergraduate students to start their involvement with our lab by volunteering some time (total hours to depend on your availability and circumstances) for at least one quarter, in order to familiarize yourself with our work and lab members and ensure that our research aligns with your interests. If our lab seems like a good fit, and you decide you’d like to increase your commitment, we will work with you to secure support to bring you on as a paid intern (see more information below).
A volunteer position in our lab is ideal for individuals who are motivated hard workers, who are interested in research experience, and who may plan to pursue a graduate degree or a career in marine biology (or are just curious about what this could look like!). Volunteers typically work with a mentor on a specific project, and tasks can range from repetitive laboratory procedures to processing biological samples to helping with fieldwork. Your mentor will work with you to define a fair time commitment at the beginning of the quarter and clarify expectations for your workload. Volunteers may be asked to support larger lab projects, such as mesocosm experiments, that require help from the whole lab group. Although this is an unpaid position (at least to start, see below), we can offer you hands-on research experience that can help you determine whether you are interested in pursuing this kind of work as a career. Past undergraduate students have used their involvement in the Kroeker Lab to develop innovative senior projects, present at international conferences, and co-author publications on work that they were significantly engaged with. As a volunteer in our lab you have the option to define your level of involvement; in return, we expect that you will honor your time commitments (and ours), work hard, be safe and respectful, and be an engaged member of our team. Please think carefully about whether a position in our lab is right for you.
Check out our lab’s current project descriptions to see what piques your interest!
Apply
Summer 2023 update: we currently do not have any projects in need of volunteers. However, if you are interested in working with please use this Google form to tell us about yourself and why you’re motivated to work with the Kroeker Lab. We will get back to you if an appropriate project opens up!
SCHOLARSHIPS AND PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR UCSC UNDERGRADS
We understand that our work is technical and that research can have many barriers to entry. Experience in field methods can be expensive and time intensive. We encourage interested students to inquire about participation in our lab regardless of their specific field training status, as there are many ways to be involved in our work. We are committed to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and are dedicated to connecting these students to opportunities that most interest them. If you’re interested, please do not hesitate to reach out, as perspectives from different backgrounds can only create stronger and more inclusive academic environments.
Below are links to funding opportunities for undergraduate students. We are happy to help you apply for any of these opportunities if they seem like a good fit for you and your research interests.
CAMINO: Center to Advance, Inquiry-Based Opportunities in Ecology and Conservation
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program
Future Leaders in Coastal Science Award
Kathryn D. Sullivan Scholarship Award in Earth and Marine Sciences
Gunderson Family Student Research in Coastal Sustainability Summer Award
Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology Award
UCSC Student Awards and Research Opportunities
EEB Undergraduate Research page
PBSci Undergraduate Research Division page: “funding your research”
