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Opportunities

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Our work on the cover of Nature Neuroscience
Lab celebrates Prather's 40th Birthday
Student Opportunity - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

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I am searching for talented and strongly self-motivated graduate students whose interests include educational practices in STEM classrooms and how those approaches may be continually improved by rigorous scientific assessment and adaptation of those practices.  Students who are interested in aspects of learning that lie at the interface of biological science and educational practice are also encouraged to apply.  This research is an NSF-funded collaboration among the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Education, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engineering, and the School of Energy Resources.  We are investigating ways that new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality can be harnessed to help students understand and apply foundational concepts in introductory STEM courses.  Graduate Fellowships may be available to outstanding MS or PhD candidates, and those candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  Outstanding and self-motivated undergraduate students who are comfortable working independently are also encouraged to apply.  If you are interested in applying or learning more about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Prather using the Contact page on this site.

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PostDoc Opportunity - Electrophysiology and Optogenetics

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I am searching for a talented and strongly self-motivated PostDoc to join me in two projects investigating the neural basis of sensory perception and signal evaluation in service of female songbird mate choice.  Experiments will involve electrophysiological characterization of neurons implicated those processes and optogenetic manipulation of activity in those pathways as birds are engaged in behavioral testing.  Training can be provided in each of those approaches, but candidates with a strong background and expertise in electrophysiology are preferred.  Initial funding for this postition through an NSF CAREER Award ended in Fall 2023.  Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Prather directly to dissucc possible opportunities.  Competitive salary and support will be available, with the opportunity for additional support for very productive individuals.  If you are interested in applying or learning more about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Prather using the Contact page.

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Interested in joining the lab?

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I am always looking for talented, vibrant and highly self-motivated people to join our team.  There are many possible opportunities for funding, as research in our lab has been funded by NSF, including a CAREER Award from Integrative and Organismal Systems (NSF IOS) and a grant from Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (NSF IUSE: EHR).  We have also won funding from NIH, NASA, UW INBRE, UW EPSCoR, the UW College of Arts and Sciences, the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, and the UW Neuroscience Center Grant.  If you are interested in joining the lab as a PostDoc, Graduate Student or Undergraduate Student, please contact Dr. Prather using the Contact page.

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Neurons in the songbird brain
Vedauwoo sunset
Bengalese finch on perch
Prather and finch in infrared
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