Join the lab!

I am currently recruiting graduate students for Fall 2025! See below for more details.

The Williamson Lab will be opening in Fall 2025 at the University of Wyoming. The lab will be part of the Department of Zoology & Physiology and jointly affiliated with the Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE), UW Museum of Vertebrates, and WYOBIRD.

Values

Our lab is committed to supporting a diverse community of scientists. In all that we do, we work to make academia more inclusive. We are independent scholars and team players who always strive to support one another. We collaborate closely with local partners and NGOs in the regions where we work. We are passionate about studying and protecting the world's biodiversity. 

Scope of projects

Projects in the lab should address evolution, ecology, and/or ecophysiology of birds in the following topic areas:

(1) elevational and/or austral migration (particularly across environmental gradients)

(2) adaptation and plasticity in high-elevation or mountain environments

(3) seasonal physiological changes in response to elevational migration

The work we do is integrative and question-driven. Fieldwork typically takes place in Peru, Chile, and Wyoming / the Intermountain West. To address our questions, we use a variety of methods –– from migration tracking with miniature devices to manipulative field experiments to sequencing of whole genomes. Projects at the organismal level, as well as comparative projects focused on species-/family-level or macroevolutionary comparisons are welcome. Work in our lab typically involves data collection in the field, natural history museums, wet lab, and on the computing cluster. 

Examples of current projects include: Migration and genomics of giant hummingbirds, ecology and evolution of 'extreme' elevational migrants, blood physiology of Andean hummingbirds, and high-altitude adaptation and gene expression. See the research page of this site for more on current/past projects.

Prospective graduate students

If you're interested in joining the lab as a PhD or MS student, please fill out this prospective student inquiry form (Se aceptan respuestas en inglés o español!) This will help me learn more about you and your research interests. If your interests are a good fit, I'll reach out to coordinate a time for us to talk via Zoom.

>>> Note: For Fall 2025, I am recruiting students to participate in ongoing research in the Andes of Peru and Chile or in local systems in Wyoming. 

Competitive applicants will have strong overlap in interests with core research areas in the lab and experience with field ornithology, molecular lab work, and/or coding/bioinformatics. Some fluency in Spanish is recommended. Please take some time to read 1-2 of our lab’s recent papers in which Dr. Williamson is first or last author to make sure your research interests mesh. Those planning to apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (example applications here) or other fellowship to join the lab should reach out by early September.  

The application deadline for the UW Zoology & Physiology PhD and MS programs is rolling; however, for best consideration, submit applications via email to Dr. Williamson (jessie.williamson[at]uwyo.edu) by December 15th. Be sure to speak with Dr. Williamson before moving forward with your application. Graduate students receive a stipend, tuition scholarship, and health insurance. Prospective students can learn more here. 

Note on advising philosophy: I aim to help my students reach their fullest potential as scientists and research professionals. I invest significant time, effort, and funding into each of my students over the ~5-year PhD or ~2-year MS and to continue to support my students in their careers long after graduating. It is important to me to build a lab community that shares values of inclusion, enthusiasm, and strong work ethic. It is equally important to me that prospective students feel I am a good fit to their academic needs and personalities.

Prospective undergraduate students

Beginning in Fall 2025, I look forward to welcoming UW undergrads seeking field and wet lab research experience in ornithology! 

Prospective postdocs

I do not currently have funding for postdocs but I’m happy to support applications to the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology, Smith Conservation Research Fellowship, Schmidt Science Fellows, and other funding opportunities (see database of postdoc fellowships compiled by Allison Barner here and by Dieter Lukas here). Please reach out via email (jessie.williamson[at]uwyo.edu) to discuss proposal ideas, and include a copy of your CV.

About Laramie & big, beautiful Wyoming

University of Wyoming is based in Laramie, a small college town in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West situated at 7,220 ft / 2,200 m above sea level. Laramie is tucked between the Snowy Range (~30 mi west) and the Laramie Range (~10 mi east) with nearly endless opportunities for outdoor recreation: Hiking, birding, fishing, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, snow shoeing, skiing –– you name it. Laramie is one hour from Fort Collins, CO, 2 hrs from Denver, CO and an easy jumping-off point to great habitats and epic mountain ranges (like the Tetons, Winds, Big Horns, and various northern Colorado ranges).

Recently, Laramie was dubbed the most affordable mountain town in the West and the #1 college town in the U.S. It has abundant sunshine, massive big blue skies, and nature in every direction –– some call it “Laradise”.