The Michaletz Physiological Ecology Lab is based in the Department of Botany and the Biodiversity Research Centre at The University of British Columbia. We study plant-environment interactions across levels of biological organization, from molecules to the biosphere, with a particular focus on ecophysiology and global change biology.
We aim to maintain a research group with diverse backgrounds and complementary skill sets, and we welcome inquiries from prospective undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Our research often combines fieldwork, experiments, theory, modelling, and data analysis, depending on interests and availability.
If you are interested in joining our group, please email sean.michaletz@ubc.ca to discuss your research interests and potential fit. Vancouver offers exceptional opportunities for ecophysiology research, and I am always happy to discuss whether the lab would be a good fit!
Prospective undergraduate students
Undergraduate research opportunities are typically supported through:
- NSERC USRA (deadline in February, annually)
- UBC Work Learn (deadline in August, annually, for winter session positions)
- BIOL 448 Directed Studies (deadlines at beginning of terms W1 and W2)
Students interested in gaining research experience in ecology, ecophysiology, global change biology, or quantitative biology are encouraged to contact me early.
Prospective graduate students (MSc and PhD)
Graduate program applications are due on 1 February for a September start date, and on 1 July for a January start date.
Graduate students are generally supported through a combination of research grants, teaching assistantships, and competitive studentships, including:
- NSERC CGRS-M
- NSERC GGRS-D
- Killam Doctoral Scholarships
- China Scholarship Council Doctoral Scholarships
For students considering graduate applications, I recommend the following readings:
- Carson (1999) – a classic overview with practical advice on contacting potential supervisors and applying to graduate programs
- Carson et al. (2021) – an updated version of Carson (1999)
- Estein et al. (2022) – a more recent perspective with additional insights
Prospective postdoctoral researchers
Postdoctoral researchers may be supported through lab research grants or external fellowships, including:
- Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
- NSERC Canada Postdoctoral Research Award
- UBC Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Liber Ero Fellowships
- Mitacs Elevate
Prospective postdocs are encouraged to reach out with a brief description of their research agenda and potential funding targets.