Connect With Us!

At the CHAOS Lab, we strive to create a space where every member feels welcomed, supported, and valued. We view our lab as an academic family founded on respect, reciprocity, and shared curiosity.

This sense of family celebrates diverse identities and perspectives, honors Indigenous and local knowledge, and uplifts voices that have historically been marginalized. By cultivating an environment of acceptance and belonging, we aim to spark the collaborative creativity and rigorous inquiry that drive transformative science and meaningful change.

Whether you are a prospective student, a potential collaborator, or simply curious about our work, we invite you to connect with us and become part of the conversation.

Joining the CHAOS Lab

We welcome inquiries from motivated graduate and undergraduate researchers who share our passion for understanding the dynamic relationships between people and ecosystems. Below is some guidance to help you decide whether our lab is a good fit and how to start the conversation.

Explore Our Research

Spend time reading about our work on historical ecology, food and land sovereignty, Indigenous data governance, and ecosystem service modeling. Browse recent papers, theses, and ongoing projects to understand the kinds of questions we ask and the approaches we use.

Clarify Your Interests

Reflect on the ecological and social questions that excite you most and consider how they intersect with our research themes. Whether your strengths lie in field ecology, advanced modeling, social science methods, or a blend of these, we value people who are eager to integrate diverse approaches.

Develop a Project Idea

Think about one or more research directions you might pursue here. It doesn’t need to be a fully formed proposal, but having a “dream project” in mind, ideally related to our focus on coupled human-natural systems, helps spark a meaningful conversation.

Reach Out

Send us an inquiry email describing:

  • Your research experience and technical skills

  • Your emerging research interests or potential project ideas

  • Any experience or aspirations related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in science

Use a clear subject line such as “Prospective Graduate Student - CHAOS Lab.”
If you don’t hear back within two weeks, it’s fine to send a polite follow-up.

Application Logistics

Our lab recruits through the SUNY-ESF Graduate Program in Environmental Science.

  • GRE scores are not required.

  • Application fee waivers or reductions may be available for those with financial constraints - ask us if this is a barrier.

We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and identities. If you are excited about our research but unsure whether you “fit the mold,” we urge you to reach out: diverse perspectives and lived experiences strengthen our science and our community.

Final Note

Many of us have taken nontraditional paths to research careers. We know the importance of persistence, curiosity, and mentorship, and we aim to cultivate an environment that values inclusion as highly as scientific rigor. If our work resonates with you, we look forward to starting a conversation.

Any questions concerning these opportunities should be directed to Josh at: jadrew@esf.edu