MS and PhD Positions in Sensory Ecology
 
There are two open graduate student positions in the Schweikert Lab at the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).  Applicants with experience in neurophysiological or behavioral approaches are preferred, though not required.
1. MSc in Marine Biology: Behavioral Ecology of Dynamic Color Change in Reef Fishes (starting Spring or Summer 2027)
 
2. PhD in Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology: Neuroethology of Adaptive Camouflage in Flatfishes (starting Fall 2027)
Prior to applying to the UNCW graduate program, interested students should email Dr. Lorian Schweikert (schweikertl@uncw.edu) with the following:
·      Statement of career goals and research interests (1 page max)
·      Resume or CV
·      Unofficial transcripts
·      Contact information for three references
 
Interviews for both positions will begin in early fall, though interest emails will be accepted until the positions are filled. The UNCW application deadline for the MSc position is October 15th, 2026 and for the PhD position is February 15th, 2027.
 
Program Synopsis:
Dynamic color change allows animals such as certain marine fishes to rapidly change the color and pattern of their skin, yet knowledge is lacking about how these animals gather and process the visual information needed to make color change decisions. Recent discoveries suggest that many color-changing animals can detect light with their skin, a process known as dermal photoreception, which may work alongside the eyes to regulate color change. Our lab investigates how dermal photoreception contributes to color change in fishes and whether the skin acts as a sensory system for monitoring the environment or the animal’s own coloration. By uncovering the principles underlying distributed light sensing and adaptive camouflage, the project may inform future technologies related to bioinspired sensing and material science.
 
Additional Resources:
For more information on the Schweikert Lab, please visit: https://www.schweikertlab.com/
 
For more information on the Biology/Marine Biology Department at UNCW, visit: https://uncw.edu/bio/
 
For more information on UNCWs Center for Marine Science, please visit: https://uncw.edu/cms/

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