Positions in the Lab

Graduate Students

Students interested in PhD level work in evolutionary and conservation genomics should email me to discuss opportunities ahead of a formal application to the University of Memphis Graduate School and Biology Department.  Please describe your research interests, experiences, and career goals, and attach a CV.

Fall 2026 or beyond 

PhD- Adaptation genomics in bears

The Puckett Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Memphis is recruiting a  highly motivated student for a PhD in Evolutionary Genomics.  The Puckett Lab utilizes population and comparative genomics to understand the evolutionary history of bears with a particular emphasis on translating work for conservation and management decision makers.  The student will contribute to an NSF funded grant to study Arctic adaptation in polar bears, specifically focusing on pangenome analysis and population genomics.

Required Qualifications: Academic interests in evolution, genetics/genomics, and/or bioinformatics.  Candidates should be organized, persistent, a team-player, and have strong communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications: A Master’s degree, 2 years work experience, or a post-bac.  Experience working within Unix/Linux or a programming language (R, perl, python, etc). 

Students will receive five years of stipend support through a combination of Research and Teaching Assistantships and tuition waivers.  To learn more about the graduate program and intellectual community within the department, visit: http://www.memphis.edu/biology/ 

Please email Emily Puckett ([email protected]) with application materials (personal statement including relevant experience and future goals, CV, and contact information for two references) as a single pdf. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Dec 20, 2025.  The successful applicant will then be asked to fill out the formal University of Memphis application.  Feel free to reach out with questions.

 

PhD– Population structure and local adaptation of western lineage American black bears

The Puckett Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Memphis is recruiting a highly motivated student to pursue a PhD in Conservation Genomics.  The Puckett Lab utilizes population and landscape genomics to understand the evolutionary history of American black bears with a particular emphasis on translating work for conservation and management decision makers.  This specific project would utilize samples from the Pacific coast region, including the off-shore islands, to quantify population structure, estimate the colonization time onto islands along a latitudinal gradient (testing hypotheses of islands as glacial refugia), and identify genomic adaptations within these populations.  Further, there may be opportunities for broader landscape genetic analyses to quantify contemporary movement patterns.  Techniques to be used include population and landscape genomics of high and low coverage whole genome sequences.  The lab has ample opportunities for science communication training and practice in both live and online formats.

Required Qualifications: Academic interests in conservation genetics/genomics, evolution, and/or bioinformatics.  Candidates should be organized, persistent, a team-player, and have strong writing skills.  Availability to begin graduate school in August 2026.  A valid passport for travel between Canada and the United States.  Very high interest in cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning, listening, and communicating.

Preferred Qualifications: A Master’s degree, 2 years work experience, or a post-bac.  Experience working within Unix/Linux or a programming language (R, perl, python, etc).  Member of a First Nation, particularly within the study area which ranges from Southeast Alaska, USA down the coast of British Columbia and into Washington State, USA.

Students will receive five years of stipend support through a Teaching Assistantship and tuition waivers.  However, the PI will work with the student to write and submit fellowship applications to support their training and move towards a Research Assistantship.  To learn more about the graduate program and intellectual community within the department, visit: http://www.memphis.edu/biology/ 

Please email Emily Puckett ([email protected]) with application materials (personal statement including relevant experience and future goals, CV, and contact information for two references) as a single pdf.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Dec 20, 2025.  The successful applicant will then be asked to fill out the formal University of Memphis application.  Feel free to reach out with questions.

 

Other Information for Graduate Students

Please note that I do not support conferral of MS degrees in the process of a PhD.  An MS requires a thesis, a PhD a dissertation; an MS in the process of the PhD with me would be a 7+ year process with expectations of publishing a thesis and dissertation (and the papers within).

Undergraduates

Undergraduate opportunities will be available in Fall 2025.  If you are interested, please reach out with 1) your name, 2) major and year, 3) information on availability (specifically your time blocked weekly schedule), and 4) a short paragraph on why you are interested in the lab and your career goals.

Postdocs
I do not currently have funding to support a postdoc.  However, I am open to discussing opportunities with interested finishing graduate students.  Specifically, I could foresee working on a proposal together to support your time in the lab.