Undergraduate students: We are always happy to hear from students at UGA who are interested in gaining hands-on experience participating in ecological research. Depending on the semester, we may have opportunities both for student technicians (who receive an hourly wage but have less freedom in the tasks they are assigned) or for mentored student research projects (i.e., research for credit). Students who are interested in research for credit are also encouraged to apply for a CURO Research Award which can provide a small stipend to further support the student. Students are mostly likely to find a good fit with us if they are earlier in their academic careers (i.e., freshman and sophomores) and if they are planning to major in Ecology. If you are interested, reach out to our lab manager to learn more.

Potential PhD students: I welcome applications from prospective PhD students interested in the community ecology of infectious disease. As an advisor, I will strive to foster your growth into a creative and independent scientist. I invite students to develop questions that are similar or adjacent to conceptual questions that motivate my research. You would be encouraged to focus your empirical work in zooplankton study systems to build synergy with existing lab projects, equipment, and expertise. I expect students to seek their own funding through grants and fellowships, but funding can also arise from my own research grants and teaching assistantships through the Odum School. Students interested in joining my lab are encouraged to read a few of my papers and email me with their CV along with an informal ~1 page research statement that addresses 1) What questions in disease and/or community ecology are most motivating to you? 2) What experiences have inspired you to pursue a graduate program in ecology? 3) What specifically attracted you to my research and my lab?

Postdoc Position in Freshwater Disease Ecology: We are seeking a postdoc to contribute to a project on the functional diversity of cyclopoid copepods in the context of Guinea Worm Disease (GWD). This project is a collaboration between the Strauss lab and the Civitello lab at Emory University. The postdoc will be based in the Strauss lab but will spend a substantial portion of their time conducting field work in Cameroon, Chad, and Ethiopia. Funding is anticipated for two years. The goals of the project are to characterize copepod diversity across the endemic range of GWD, assess the efficacy of current interventions with common garden experiments in the field, and quantify disease competence of field-isolated copepod lineages under laboratory conditions. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in field ecology and disease ecology, experience conducting lab experiments, familiarity with ecological models, a strong publication record, and an interest in mentoring students.

If you are interested in this postdoc position, please send 1) your CV, 2) pdfs of your two most significant or relevant publications or manuscripts, 3) names and email address of three potential referees, and 4) a cover letter describing your research interests and motivations via email to Alex Strauss at ats50851@uga.edu. Feel free to reach out with questions. Review will begin May 15 2026, and the position will remain open until filled.