Prospective Students and Postdocs

Undergraduate Students

UVA’s Environmental Sciences Department provides opportunities for undergraduate research projects mentored by graduate students and faculty advisors. There are options for students with a broad range of abilities and interests both in the laboratory (in Charlottesville) and in the field (based out of UVA’s Coastal Research Center on Virginia’s Eastern Shore). This is a great way to get research experience, explore your career interests, develop your resume, and earn academic credit.

Please contact a PI if you are interested in learning more about undergraduate research positions. The Department of Environmental Sciences also has several programs to encourage undergraduate research during the academic year, including the Distinguished Majors Program and Undergraduate Thesis Program. Additionally the VCR LTER has an undergraduate summer research REU Program at the Coastal Research Center.

Graduate Students

Masters and PhD degrees are offered through UVA’s Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences. Enthusiasm for science, self-motivation, a strong work ethic, and a collaborative, collegial attitude are valued. Prior research experience, such as an undergraduate research project, senior honors thesis, research internship, employment as a research technician, or professional experience in a related field (e.g., conservation, management, data science) is preferred.

The best way to learn about our work is to read the advisor’s bios under the Principle Investigators webpage and connect via email to see if they are accepting students. Information on how to apply and further details of the program are provided by the Department of Environmental Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students must be sponsored by a faculty member in order to be admitted into the graduate program.

The UVA Graduate program does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or any related traits.

EVSC Grad Admission Info
EVSC Admission FAQs

Postdoctoral Researchers

For available postdoctoral positions in the department, please look at the advisor’s bios under the Principal Investigators webpage and contact them about opportunities.

Funding for students and postdocs

The Department has a variety of ways to fund graduate students. Many first-year students are supported 50% by a teaching assistantship (GTA) and 50% by a research assistantship (GRA). The teaching assistantship comes from the Department and typically involves teaching one lab section a week. The research assistantship typically comes from the advisor’s research grant with duties determined by the advisor. Support includes stipend, tuition, and health insurance. There are additional external fellowships and grants for which you can apply to support your research.