Apply for BioGEM Today

About BioGEM

BioGEM is an NSF-RaMP program designed to provide post-baccalaureates with a year of research experience in ecology & evolutionary biology or related fields. Scholars admitted are not guaranteed placement with a specific faculty but will interview at least three potential faculty advisors during orientation. BioGEM scholars do not need to contact potential faculty prior to the start of the program. Scholars will select a lab by early August. 

We do not provide relocation funds. We will facilitate incoming scholars getting together virtually to discuss relocation issues such as affordable housing. Scholars do have the opportunity to purchase insurance after which they will be reimbursed.

The program begins in early July, 2026 and ends on June 30th, 2027.  Scholars attend a weekly professional & scholarly advancement series. The series includes methods modules and professional development training. Scholars receive funding to attend field specific conferences. Scholars will also be provided a number of opportunities to present their research via posters, oral presentations and lightening talks. 

Please consider attending an upcoming information session for more details on the program or email the program coordinator with your questions at biogem@ku.edu. 

Navigating the Application Process

Applying for opportunities can be challenging. If you have concerns, need clarification, or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us! Take the time to thoroughly read this page, acquainting yourself with eligibility requirements, deadlines, BioGEM project descriptions, and the necessary application materials. If you decide to apply, your next step is to visit the NSF ETAP portal, where you'll create an account, register, select the BioGEM opportunity, upload your materials, and even send requests to your letter writers. 

Attend a Virtual Information Session

The director and program coordinator will give a short introduction to BioGEM and discuss, in detail, aspects of the application process. The session is informal and you have the opportunity to engage with staff and to ask questions. Click on the "Stay Connected" button below to be the first to know when sessions are scheduled or simply frequent this page for updates.

• Session 1: Wednesday, Feb 4th, 4:00 PM (CST) - Registration Link
• Session 2: Tuesday, Feb 10th, 2 PM (CST) - Registration Link
• Session 3: Friday, Feb 20th, 5 PM (CST) - Registration Link

Eligibility Requirements

• must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the United States
• must have a baccalaureate college degree in biology or related field
• must apply to the program before or within four years of graduation, with extensions allowed for family, medical leave, or military service
• individuals currently enrolled or accepted into a graduate program are not eligible
• be interested in pursuing a career in research in the fields of ecology, evolution and/or biodiversity science

Deadline

The application portal for BioGEM 2025-26 opens on December 3rd. The application information provided here should not be considered updated until December 3rd. If you have questions prior to then, please reach out at biogem.ku.edu. 

There is no fee to apply. Priority consideration is given to completed applications received by March 2nd. The application portal closes on May 1st or when all 10 slots have been filled. 

Application Review Process

Within 2 weeks of your application submission, you will receive information regarding the status of your application from the program coordinator. Eligible applicants will be asked to sign up for a virtual 15-minute interview with the selection committee. The first round of interviews will take place the week of March 9th. The first round of offer letters will be sent out between March 17th and March 21st. Subsequent applications will be reviewed similarly. No offers will be made after May 1st. Applicants with questions regarding the review process should contact the coordinator, Katrina McClure, at biogem@ku.edu. 

Instructions 

All submission materials are to be submitted on the NSF ETAP website. You will need to create an account and register to apply for any opportunities listed on the site. The site requires that the resume and transcript be uploaded as PDF documents. You can find the BioGEM listing on the NSF ETAP site here. 

Join the Baum Lab

Collaborate with Dr. Baum (KU) and partners at various institutions to explore how climate and host plant characteristics influence monarch butterflies. Monarchs undertake an extraordinary long-distance migration from southern Canada to central Mexico, with climate playing a critical role in the timing and success of their journey. Milkweeds, the sole host plants for monarch caterpillars, are vital to their development and survival. The BioGEM scholar will investigate the interplay of climate and host plant traits on monarch development, reproduction, diapause, and survivorship. Additional opportunities include participating in education and outreach activities through Monarch Watch, an education, conservation, and research organization based at KU.

Join the Bever Lab

The Bever Lab studies the ecology and evolution of plants and their microbiomes, with a focus on mycorrhizal fungi—beneficial root symbionts that enhance nutrient uptake and influence soil structure. Our research has shown that reintroducing native mycorrhizal fungi significantly aids native prairie plant restoration. We also examine how microbiomes contribute to the maintenance and ecological effects of plant diversity, revealing roles for host-specific pathogens in species coexistence and the productivity benefits of plant diversity. BioGEM scholars may engage in projects investigating how mycorrhizal fungi confer drought tolerance to crops, the ecosystem impacts of manipulating plant diversity or fungal composition, and the microbiome’s response to shifts in plant diversity and composition.

Join the Blumenstiel Lab

The Blumenstiel Lab investigates how genetic conflict shapes genomes, inheritance systems, and epigenetics. A central focus of the lab is understanding how systems of inheritance manage selfish genetic elements that can subvert the interests of the organism. Using Drosophila species as a model, our research integrates advanced genomics (long-read nanopore sequencing and RNA-seq), modern molecular genetics (CRISPR and RNAi), and molecular evolutionary analysis to address these questions.

BioGEM scholars have the opportunity to work on projects ranging from computational to lab-based research. Potential projects include analyzing global transposition profiles using long-read nanopore sequencing, studying the molecular evolution of transposable element invasions, investigating the evolution of DNA damage response pathways involved in cancer prevention, and exploring small RNA-based epigenetic silencing in natural populations.

This position offers an engaging opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of genetics, evolution, and molecular biology.

Join the Cartwright Lab

The Cartwright Lab focuses on uncovering the mechanisms that drive life cycle transitions in jellyfish, particularly the genetic signals involved in transforming a polyp into a medusa (jellyfish) stage in the hydrozoan Podocoryna carnea. We experimentally manipulate Podocoryna development to test how specific factors influence medusa production. The BioGEM scholar will collaborate closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher to conduct experiments utilizing pharmacological agents, morpholinos, and/or CRISPR technologies to investigate jellyfish development.

Join the Collela Lab

The Colella Lab studies how mammals and their parasites evolve through time, using natural history collections, genomics, morphology, and ecological data to understand patterns of speciation, adaptation, and host–pathogen dynamics. Scholars gain experience in fieldwork, specimen preparation, molecular lab techniques, and data analysis while contributing to projects on wildlife disease, community ecology, species delimitation, and evolutionary change. Scholars have the opportunity to work on the projects listed below.

• Species identification and viral screening of Kansas ticks
  Scholars will work with a graduate student in the Division of Mammals or Entomology to learn how to identify ticks to species level. There are three common species: Ixodes scapularis, Demacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum, with a few uncommon taxa. Ticks will be sorted by life stage (larva, nymph, adult) and species and preserved in 80% ethanol in the Entomology collection. A subset of ticks will be selected for genomic sequencing, including Nanopore Adaptive Sampling, Illumina metagenomic shot-gun sequencing, and/or targeted viral capture arrays. The intern will learn and practice whole nucleic acid extractions from tick specimens and work with a graduate student to perform library preparation, sequencing, and basic bioinformatic analyses. The intern will participate in seasonal (Spring, Fall) field-based sampling of ticks from the environment, using a combination of dragging, flagging, and dry-ice traps. All tick specimens will be preserved at the KU BI Division of Entomology.

• Great Plains Resurvey and community ecology
  Scholars will work with a graduate student in the Division of Mammals to perform DNA extraction, PCR, and Sanger sequencing on mammalian liver tissue. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene will be used for species identification by comparing them to available mammalian sequences on GenBank. Interns will work with a graduate student to perform basic statistical analyses in R (or another programming language of their choice) to analyze and visualize resurvey data. These data will inform state management, species inventories and reports to landowners, and a series of student-led projects stemming from the Bunker Resurvey Project. Interns will work with graduate students and staff in the Division of Mammals to learn specimen preparation and field workflows for local sampling expeditions in Kansas. 

• Seasonality of hantaviruses in small mammal communities
  Scholars will work with graduate students and staff in the Division of Mammals to learn specimen preparation and field workflows. The student will learn to set Sherman-live traps and perform post-mortem procedures on small mammals, including holistic specimen preparation. Students will work with the Collection Manager of Mammals and graduate students in the Division to sample tissues from mammals collected at the KU Field Station and perform RNA extraction, complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, and PCR to test for the presence of hantavirus in a host. Prevalences will be calculated across hosts, seasons, and months. Interns will perform basic statistical analyses in R (or the programming language of their choice) to analyze and visualize presence/absence data across space and time.

• Testing diet overlap of kangaroo & cotton rats
  Scholars will work with a graduate student in the Division of Mammalogy to identify tissue samples collected from Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ordii) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). Samples will be selected from allopatric and sympatric areas of the species range to test dietary overlap between the species. Samples will be submitted to the Center for Stable Isotopes at the University of New Mexico for analysis. Data will be analyzed by the student using the R programming language (or another programming language of their choice).

• Parasite species identification
  Scholars will work with a graduate student in the Division of Mammals to perform DNA extraction, PCR, and Sanger sequencing of endoparasites of mammals (e.g., nematodes, cestodes, trematodes). Sequences of the mitochondrial COX1 gene will be used for species identification by comparing them to available parasite sequences on GenBank. Sequences will be edited, aligned, and combined with related sequences for phylogenetic inference. Interns will work with a graduate student to perform basic statistical analyses in R (or another programming language of their choice) to analyze data and visualize results. Interns will work with graduate students and staff in the Division of Mammals to learn specimen preparation and field workflows for local sampling expeditions in Kansas, with a focus on parasite recovery and identification.

• Morphological variation in Philippine bats
  Scholars will work with a graduate student in the Division of Mammals to study morphological variation across six species of Rhinolophus (horseshoe bats) from the Philippines. Students will use natural history collection databases to locate specimens, retrieve associated metadata, and pull individuals from the research collection for measurement and examination. Interns will learn to take standardized external, and cranial measurements; assess diagnostic characters across species; and document qualitative and quantitative variation useful for species delimitation and comparative analyses. Together, these morphological data will be combined with related genomic data and will be used to evaluate species boundaries, characterize within- and between-species variation, and contribute to ongoing research on diversification of Southeast Asian bats.

Join the Franz Lab

The Franz Lab studies regional insect diversity. The lab includes a postdoctoral researcher, two graduate students, and one undergraduate research assistant. We regularly carry out field work throughout the state to build up a new insect species inventory that leverages and grows the KU Entomology Collection. There is a special focus on the diversity and natural history of weevils — the beetle superfamily Curculionoidea with more than 500 species known to occur in Kansas. However, research on all regional insect groups is supported depending on the BioGEM scholar’s developing interests. Our team integrates both the Specify and Symbiota software platforms to publish specimen-based inventory data and derived products such as insect species checklists and identification tools. BioGEM scholars will acquire specialized skills and experiences in insect sampling, identification, research-level curation, imaging, collaborative data publishing, and education and outreach. We expect that several extended field trips will be coordinated with the Bunker Resurvey Project led by the Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum. A related goal for 2026 is establishing an insect tissue collection for genomic research.

Join the Gleason Lab

The Gleason lab studies the evolution and genetics of behavior. Using Drosophila species, we focus on two major types of behavior: aggression and courtship. The BioGEM scholar will have a choice of projects examining the relationship between reproductive traits and the correlated effects on fighting, particularly female fighting, or courtship, particularly male choice, two areas of behavior that are understudied. Alternatively, the BioGEM scholar can examine the effect of developmental conditions on adult behavior. In addition to developing skills in experimental design and behavioral assays, the BioGEM scholar will be able to develop genetic and genomic skills according to their interests.

Join the Graham Lab

The Graham Lab is interested in how various organisms respond to low-oxygen stress (i.e. hypoxia), especially in high-altitude locations like mountains. We use large sequencing datasets (transcriptomic, genomic) and physiological measurements to understand which mechanisms are in use, and whether there are common features between them. Recent work from our lab has shown a surprising link between organisms invading mountain locations, and changes to their odorant/olfactory receptors. In this project, using Drosophila, a student can (1) work with wild-derived populations from Ethiopia and Peru to understand if high-altitude populations have  changes to their odorant receptor DNA, along with measuring hypoxia tolerance across populations, and/or (2) work with RNAi knock-down lines for specific odorant receptors to measure how it affects their response to hypoxia. These projects will involve learning some combination of : basic Drosophila husbandry, DNA/RNA extraction, analysis of large sequencing datasets (Unix/bash/R), micro-respirometry.

Join the Hileman Lab

The Hileman Lab explores the evolution of complex flower traits, with a particular focus on the transition from bee-adapted to hummingbird-adapted flowers in the genus Penstemon. Our research employs a wide array of methods, including histology, morphometrics, gene expression studies, genetic mapping, and bioinformatics, to answer fundamental questions about floral evolution.

BioGEM scholars will work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher to uncover the developmental mechanisms driving changes in flower form. Scholars will have the opportunity to investigate one of the many candidate genes already identified by the lab, delving into how variation in that gene has contributed to evolutionary changes in floral traits.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative research environment and contribute to advancing our understanding of plant evolution.

Join the Jensen Lab

The Jensen Lab investigates the patterns of diversity and host associations of marine parasites, with a focus on the tapeworms that parasitize sharks and stingrays (elasmobranchs) globally. Our research explores host specificity, variation in tapeworm diversity among host species, modes of attachment, and life cycles, providing insights into this unique host-parasite system.

BioGEM scholars will engage in integrative systematic research on elasmobranch tapeworms, combining morphological and molecular approaches such as scanning electron microscopy and histology. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary history of these fascinating host-parasite relationships and offers scholars the opportunity to develop valuable skills in both traditional and modern research techniques.

Join the Johnson Lab

The Johnson lab studies plant ecophysiology, focusing on photosynthesis and respiration. In 2026-2027, we have an opportunity for a BioGEM scholar to contribute to a project on measuring photosynthesis from space. The motivation for the project is that the capture of incoming solar radiation by photosynthesis is one of the most critical inputs to the Earth system and one of the most difficult to monitor and predict accurately.  We are tackling this problem using space-based measurements of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) – essentially, a “glow” of light that is emitted by all plants and algae when they are actively photosynthesizing. Our lab is currently starting up a new SIF project in support of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) mission which will launch in 2026 (https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/flex). The BioGEM scholar will develop an independent project that contributes to our calibration/validation activities for FLEX. Depending on the BioGEM scholar’s interests and experience, the project could emphasize biochemistry, physiology, remote sensing, and/or modeling. This is a great opportunity for someone who is interested in the role of photosynthesis in the Earth system, excited to learn new research techniques, and wants to work collaboratively as part of our research team.

Join the Kelly Lab

The Kelly lab explores how rapid evolutionary processes can be directly measured, challenging the traditional view that such changes are too slow for observation. By studying rapidly evolving systems, we test dynamic predictions of evolutionary models, addressing key questions in evolutionary biology. Most of our experimental work is on quantitative trait evolution in Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower).  Using a combination of classical techniques like controlled crosses and modern molecular approaches such as QTL mapping, we explore how genetic variation is maintained in nature.  We examine the genetic architecture of ecologically important traits, the effects of mating systems and self-fertilization, and how genetic complexities affect evolutionary change.

BioGEM scholars will work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher to contribute to ongoing projects, gaining hands-on experience with foundational and cutting-edge evolutionary biology approaches. 

Join the Lieberman Lab

The Lieberman Lab uses the fossil record to investigate macroevolutionary patterns and processes. Our research integrates diverse approaches such as phylogenetics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ecological niche modeling, and statistical analyses to explore critical questions in evolution. These include the causes and consequences of extinction, the role of abiotic changes in driving biogeography and evolution, variations in speciation rates across groups, and the factors influencing species and community stability over long time scales.

The BioGEM scholar will work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher on several potential projects. These may involve using phylogenies to explore the evolutionary processes that shaped the last evolutionary radiation of trilobites, collecting and analyzing traits of marine mollusk species to identify past extinction drivers and improve predictions for future extinctions, or employing ecological niche modeling to study the effects of climate change over the past ~3 million years—and anticipated future changes—on the distribution and survival of marine mollusk species.

This is an exciting opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at the intersection of paleontology and evolutionary biology.

Join the Mack Lab

The Mack lab studies the role of gene regulation in the evolutionary processes of adaptation and speciation. Our work integrates large genomic datasets (e.g., transcriptomic and genomic) with phenotyping in lab strains and natural populations to link genotype to phenotype for traits that affect fitness. The lab focuses on mammals, particularly the house mouse, a species that has rapidly colonized a diverse array of new environments worldwide in association with humans.  The BioGEM scholar will investigate questions related to either the genetics of rapid environmental adaptation or the genetics of hybrid male sterility, dependent on their interests.

Join the Unckless Lab

One of the fundamental tenets of genetics is Mendel’s Law of Equal Segregation, which assures that different alleles have an equal chance of making it into gametes. This is easy to see when the alleles determine biological sex: a male with an X and Y chromosome usually produces sperm that are 50% X and 50% Y and therefore has 50% daughters and 50% sons. Surprisingly, however, this law is broken again and again across a diverse set of organisms. Some chromosomes (usually the X) can kill sperm bearing the opposite chromosome (usually the Y) leading to biased sex-ratios that are as much as 100% daughters. We use genomic, genetic and cytological approaches to study how “sex-ratio meiotic drive” evolves and its genetic basis. BioGEM scholars could be involved in genomic analysis, cytological analysis, or field collections.

Join the Walters Lab

The Walters lab researches evolutionary genomics in Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), with an emphasis on sex chromosomes and reproductive traits. We use a combination of functional experiments (e.g., proteomics or RNA-seq) along with comparative genomics (contrasts between species) to make inferences about how genomes evolve and the role of selection in shaping reproductive traits. One reproductive trait of particular interest in the Walters lab is sperm dimorphism, when males produce phenotypically distinct classes of sperm. In Lepidoptera, sperm dimorphism is widespread across species and quite striking: one sperm morph (eupyrene) is essentially normal, while the other morph (apyrene) lacks a nucleus and nuclear DNA. Many outstanding questions exist concerning the function and evolution of apyrene sperm. 

The BioGEM scholar will investigate the evolutionary and/or functional biology of sperm dimorphism in Lepidoptera. The particular questions and methods can be tailored to the interests of the scholar, but will include at least some bioinformatic and computational approaches (prior coding experience is helpful but not required). For instance, nearly 1000 fully sequenced lepidopteran genomes are publicly available, providing a rich resource for investigating the molecular evolution of known sperm proteins. Or a project could focus on the proteomic characterization of apyrene versus eupyrene sperm from a novel species. Or the project might examine the mitochondrial physiology associated with the morphological differences between sperm morphs. There are many interesting avenues for investigating the enigma of sperm dimorphism in Lepidoptera!

Join the Zhou Lab

Across the tree of life, genome size varies by over 6 orders of magnitude. An extreme form of genome size increase is called polyploidy, where entire copies of the genome are duplicated. Across many clades including plants, insects and amphibians, polyploidy correlates with innovation of new traits and bursts of speciation. Polyploidy can also occur within a single species, including humans. For example, polyploid cells in our liver, placenta and immune system have specialized functions that are critical for the health of the tissue. Polyploidy can also be drivers of disease–whole genome duplications are highly prevalent in the most untreatable forms of cancers. The Zhou Lab is interested in the fundamental question: how do genomes adapt to huge changes in size? Our goal is to combine biochemistry, quantitative imaging, embryology and genomics to discover new molecular mechanisms that sense and adapt to changes in genome size that occur during embryogenesis and evolution. We envision that our discoveries will provide critical insights for how genomes naturally evolve and will empower new directions for treating diseases such as cancer. In this BioGEM project, the student will be co-mentored by Dr. Coral Zhou and Dr. Allie Graham to work with two model species—the African clawed frog and zebrafish to generate embryos with different ploidies. We will combine embryology and bioinformatics in both model organisms to compare and contrast new molecular mechanisms of genome size adaptation.