Join us!
The Gaynor Lab is a collaborative, supportive, and diverse group of scholars. I am open to lab members joining our existing research projects or designing their own, grounded either in fieldwork or synthesis of existing datasets. Members of the research group will be expected to:
- Lead independent research and work collaboratively in teams
- Conduct research that is grounded in theory while advancing conservation outcomes
- Engage in service towards an inclusive community in the lab and beyond
- Develop strong quantitative skills and reproducible research practices
- For those conducting fieldwork, thrive in remote and challenging environments
Postdoctoral researchers
There are several funding opportunities for postdocs at UBC, including the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Killam Fellowship, Liber Ero Fellowship, and Mitacs Fellowship. Some of these fellowships are open to candidates of any nationality, while others are restricted to Canadian residents. If our research interests align, please e-mail me, and I would be happy to provide feedback on proposal ideas and materials if it seems like a good mutual fit.
Graduate students
Graduate students can join the group through the UBC Zoology Department, Botany Department, or IRES (Institute for Environment, Resources, and Sustainability). More information on graduate funding opportunities at UBC can be found here.
Note: I am not planning to admit MSc students until 2028 at the earliest, and likely not until 2029.
Current opportunity: PhD position in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
I am recruiting a PhD student to join the Gaynor Lab at the University of British Columbia through the Zoology PhD program, to begin in September 2027 or January 2028. The student will be expected to conduct independent dissertation research in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, on topics that may include (but are not limited to) community ecology, restoration, movement ecology, and predator-prey interactions. More on our lab’s research themes can be found at our website, and more information on research in Gorongosa can be found on the park’s website.
The student will be expected to help maintain operations for WildCam Gorongosa, our long-term camera trap project, and their dissertation work will likely leverage this dataset. The student will also have the opportunity to work on the ABRUPT project (Antelope Behaviour and Resource Use at Population Thresholds), a new study involving the GPS tracking of two of the park’s most abundant antelope species: waterbuck and impala.
Preferred qualifications:
The position will come with a typical UBC Zoology funding package, including TA-ships, and applicants are expected to apply for external fellowships when eligible. To be considered for this opportunity, please fill out this form. I will get back to all respondents in August 2026 to discuss next steps, and continue to check the form on a rolling basis.
Note: I am not planning to admit MSc students until 2028 at the earliest, and likely not until 2029.
Current opportunity: PhD position in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
I am recruiting a PhD student to join the Gaynor Lab at the University of British Columbia through the Zoology PhD program, to begin in September 2027 or January 2028. The student will be expected to conduct independent dissertation research in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, on topics that may include (but are not limited to) community ecology, restoration, movement ecology, and predator-prey interactions. More on our lab’s research themes can be found at our website, and more information on research in Gorongosa can be found on the park’s website.
The student will be expected to help maintain operations for WildCam Gorongosa, our long-term camera trap project, and their dissertation work will likely leverage this dataset. The student will also have the opportunity to work on the ABRUPT project (Antelope Behaviour and Resource Use at Population Thresholds), a new study involving the GPS tracking of two of the park’s most abundant antelope species: waterbuck and impala.
Preferred qualifications:
- Masters degree, or equivalent independent research experience
- Fieldwork experience, ideally in African savannas
- Familiarity with camera trap and/or GPS telemetry methods
- Experience with data science and statistical methods in R
The position will come with a typical UBC Zoology funding package, including TA-ships, and applicants are expected to apply for external fellowships when eligible. To be considered for this opportunity, please fill out this form. I will get back to all respondents in August 2026 to discuss next steps, and continue to check the form on a rolling basis.
Advice for graduate students
Here are some great websites that have compiled and created resources for prospective and current students:
Here are some great websites that have compiled and created resources for prospective and current students:
- UBC graduate resources
- The Inclusive Conservation Lab at UBC
- First Gen Guide
- Jennie Miller's personal website
- This preprint by Estien et al. demystifies the process of applying to graduate school (with a US/North America focus).
Undergraduate students
There are limited research opportunities available for undergraduates at UBC, with more to come in the future. If you are interested, please fill out this form here and we will be in touch if an appropriate opportunity arises: https://forms.gle/fMejfhixpnwXt2Wj7
