Core Principles

• We believe that people are at their best when they feel safe to be themselves. We encourage all lab members to bring their whole selves–their culture, identity, personality, values, religion, etc.–when doing science.
• We will lift each other up through support, collaboration, feedback and friendships.
• We will work to actively create a safe environment, both within and outside the lab, in which everyone can thrive and fully participate in the act of discovery.
• We will communicate with each other to collectively create an open and productive environment for all lab members.
• We will encourage and support productivity and fulfillment in all spheres of life.
• We will set ourselves to the highest standards of integrity and openness in our data and science.
• We believe that training in research builds skills that are applicable to all types of careers, not just academic.

How our lab works

In our lab, each member has the opportunity to carve out their own research projects. This could involve expanding on work with existing study systems, or coming up with your own projects. There is no a priori requirement that you work on an existing project in the lab, except in some cases where we recruit students to work on a grant-funded projects. Of course, there are real constraints with respect to costs, time and logistics involved with starting new studies, so there are trade-offs involved in different types of projects. We will have extensive discussions at the beginning of your graduate career to decide the best fit for the individual’s goals.

For undergraduates, research experience often means working on an existing project with someone in the lab. Postdocs may come in with existing study systems that they continue to pursue, or switch to an ongoing project in the lab. For Ph.D. students, some have worked closely with me on funded projects, and others have carved completely new study systems.

One common theme in our lab is that almost everyone does some kind of fieldwork, mainly because I believe that the most interesting questions in biology are “out there” in nature. However, I encourage everyone to incorporate multiple approaches to their science, including quantitative methods, genetics/genomics, comparative studies, simulations, etc. This can help you develop a well-rounded portfolio of work that can help you in whatever career you choose.

Lab recruitment

We seek motivated and talented undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs and collaborators who share our passion for ecological and evolutionary research. You do not need to have specific research projects in mind to inquire about joining the lab. In fact, we are proud of a lab tradition of students carving out new areas of research that expand the scope of the work we do. With that said, we love hearing about what interests you, what questions drive your curiosity, and what kind of approaches you might take to answer your questions. One can learn a lot about a person and how they think through such discussion.

As a POC in the ecologist and evolutionary biologist I am well aware of the dismal lack of diversity in our field. I am eager to mentor and collaborate with more scientists of color. I try to constantly seek out students of color who may be looking for mentorship and opportunities. But if we don’t find you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

About me (Dai)

I am a first-generation immigrant from Japan. I grew up in Tokyo, Houston and Chicago. I am a Japanese citizen, but I identify as Asian American and a Person of Color in the U.S. I am a proud father of two kiddos.

As a city kid, my passion for field biology and behavioral ecology grew out of books and exploring urban parks and zoos. It was not until college that I learned how to camp and hike, or to identify species of birds.

Aside from scientific research, I am passionate about empowering and supporting people from marginalized communities. I have served on the board of the Asian Community and Cultural Center–a nonprofit serving immigrants and refugees in Lincoln, NE–for 6 years. On campus, I have serve on the Chancellor’s Commission for the Status of People of Color.

I was elected to the Council for the American Ornithological Society in 2021. I am also the lead PI for an NSF BIO-LEAPS grant to establish a process for co-creation of affinity groups within ornithology.

I also conduct a lot of behind-the-scenes work to bring initiatives to promote faculty and students of color in biology and in the academy. People who know me know the work I do.