Research Opportunities in the Webb Lab

NOTE: The Webb Lab is moving to the University of Rhode Island in August 2006. There will be openings for Ph.D. students, a Post-Doc and a Lab Technician starting in Fall 2006 or Spring 2007. For inquiries: jacqueline_webb@mail.uri.edu

Opportunities for Graduate Research:

One or two graduate students conduct Master's Thesis research in my laboratory at any given time (Villanova does not have a Ph.D. program in Biology). I will provide all necessary training in laboratory techniques. Graduate students will be required to work independently, and will be asked to supervise the work of undergraduates participating in similar projects, as appropriate.

All of my students have conducted thesis research that we have presented at national or international conferences, and/or published in prominent peer-reviewed journals. Students have gone on to Ph.D. programs in Neurobiology (and then a NIH/NRSA Post-Doc at Case Western) and Systematic Ichthyology (Columbia University/American Museum of Natural History), and work in the pharmaceutical industry.

Prospective graduate students with an interest in evolutionary developmental biology (evo/devo), comparative and developmental morphology, and/or the sensory biology of fishes (specifically the lateral line system) are encouraged to write to me. Please consult the Biology Graduate Program home page for more information. The Biology Department provides financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantships (9-month academic year) and Research Assistantships (9-month academic year and summer), which are available on a competitive basis. Our graduate program is rather unique in that our MS students receive the same sort of support that Ph.D. students would in a larger university environment.


Opportunities for Undergraduate Research:

I generally have opportunities for qualified undergraduates to work in my lab as technicians/research assistants, and as thesis students (Senior Thesis or Honors Thesis), for those wishing to carry out a research project. Both academic year and summer opportunities are available. Students must commit to working for one summer (full-time or in some cases, part-time), or for one academic year (approx. 6-10 hours/week). Students may earn credit for independent research or be paid as research assistants with either Work-Study or Student Employment funds. I will provide all necessary training in laboratory techniques, with the assistance of my graduate students.

My undergraduate research students have gone on to prestigious medical schools (e.g., Tufts, Georgetown), graduate school, and industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, biotech).

Projects Available for Undergraduates:

  • Development of the lateral line system in zebrafish and other fish taxa (SEM, histology).

  • Zebrafish husbandry and rearing of embryos and larvae for various projects (in collab. with Dr. DiBenedetto).

  • Diversity of lateral line systems in teleost fishes.

Question? Please contact me at jacqueline.webb@villanova.edu.

Go back to Webb homepage