We are an
inclusive, transdisciplinary lab group working on climate risk management.
Members of underrepresented groups and first-generation students are
particularly encouraged to apply. There are typically openings for student
(undergraduate and graduate), postdoc, and programmer position(s). The group has
also hosted visiting scholars in the past.
Below is a
brief outline on how people typically join the group. Details can vary based on
the type of position and other constraints. For example, for undergraduate students,
we may skip a few steps. For graduate students that are not already admitted,
we need to add a few steps.
1- Read relevant
websites and example
papers to judge whether this is a good fit. Note the kind of quantitative
and transdisciplinary research we do, the approaches we use, and the
decision-problems we analyze.
2- Review the core
values we adopt in the lab group and decide whether this is a good fit. These
core values include transparency, accessibility, inclusivity, curiosity, life-work
balance, contributing to solving real-world problems, and excellence.
3- If you are
interested and see a good fit, send an email to Klaus (klaus.keller@dartmouth.edu) and
- a. Attach relevant documents as .pdf files or as
links to a web-page
- b. Explain why you are reaching out to Klaus
specifically and what your goals are
- c. Outline area(s) of your research interest.
- d. Ask specific questions
- e. We'll iterate via email. If this is of joint
interest, we move to the next step (video-chats)
4- Video Chats
- a. They are intended to evaluate your verbal
communications skills and how well you can articulate your interests
- b. If a video chat does not work for you, we can
find alternatives
- c. No need for fancy backgrounds, formal
presentations, or dressing up
- d. If this is of joint interest, we move to the
next step (guided paper evaluation)
5- Guided Paper
Evaluation
- a. Klaus will send you an email asking you to
provide a written evaluation of a paper, which he will provide in that email.
This paper will be selected based on your discussed interests. The goal of this
response is to get a sense of your reading, writing, and critical thinking
skills.
- b. Limit the evaluation to one page (12 point font) and address these questions:
- i. What are the main research questions and
hypotheses of the paper?
- ii. What are the key results?
- iii. What are (potential) caveats?
- iv. How would you improve on the paper?
- c. Please return your paper evaluation within
seven days
- d. If your paper evaluation suggests you have the
required reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, we’ll move to the next
step (you submitting a written application)
6- Your Application
- a. Please email a text document (.pdf file via
email) that addresses these questions (please limit this document to three
pages at most)
- i. How would joining this lab group advance your
career and life goals?
- ii. What kind of project would you like to do?
- iii. How does your current skill-set map to the
needs for the project?
- iv. Is Klaus the right supervisor for you?
- v. What synergies do you see with the group?
- b. If the application suggests a good fit and we
can work out the logistics, we move to the next step (you meeting
the lab group)
7- You meet the
lab group and present your project idea
- a. Please keep this presentation short (12 min
max)
- b. Feel free to reach out to other lab-group members
and ask questions
- c. If this step suggests a good fit and we can
work out the logistics, we move to the last step (you joining the lab group)
8- You join the
lab and we start the work ;-)
Credit
Credit: The workflow
has been refined over many years with inputs from students, postdocs, and colleagues.
The organization and content of this document borrows (sometimes heavily) from the
excellent (and much more thorough) documents written by the former lab-group
members Vivek Srikrishnan
and James Doss.