The Alaasam Lab at the University of Pittsburgh is hiring two Ph.D. students for the 2027 Fall semester.  We are an integrative biology lab interested in the behavioral, physiological, and genetic mechanisms that hummingbirds are using to cope with urbanization. We are open to students with broad interests within the realm of ‘urban ecology and evolution’, including physiology, energetics, movement ecology, behavior, genetics/genomics, functional morphology, community-sourced data, GIS, bioacoustics, etc.  Students may work on diverse projects involving any combination of field, laboratory, and computational work. Our group also prioritizes community engagement and strives to apply what we learn to promote conservation and environmental justice.  More info about our research & lab philosophies can be found here (http://www.valentina-alaasam.com). 

Ph.D. students will enroll in the Ecology and Evolution graduate program (https://www.biology.pitt.edu/graduate/e-e-program) within the larger Biology Department. Positions are fully funded for 5 years (with one term of required teaching for), during which students will receive a competitive stipend ($38,000), tuition waiver, and health benefits. No GRE or TOEFL exams required.

Prospective students should contact Dr. Valentina Alaasam (valentina.alaasam@gmail.com) with a brief summary of interests, CV, and the contact info for 2-3 references. Interviews will begin in early October and remain rolling until the positions are filled. Official applications to the University of Pittsburgh are December 1, 2026.

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