One of the lab’s main goals is to mentor the next generation of scientists who will push the boundaries of knowledge and provide solutions to the many pressing problems facing our world.

The key requirements for working in our lab are an enthusiasm for science, a desire to learn more, grit, honesty, and clear communication.

Undergraduate students:
We mentor undergraduate students at UTSC who are taking Biology, or Computer Science courses and are interested in research in Biology. You can choose one or more of these paths to be part of the team:

1. Research Courses: An easy entry point into our lab is via research courses that can be taken for credit (BioB98/99 or BioC99). Students who have completed one of these courses with us can apply to work on an undergraduate thesis (BioD98/99) in our lab.. You can find more information about these courses here. I will be happy to chat about these options in person. If you want to do a thesis in our lab, plan a year ahead!
   
2. Paid summer research internships for University of Toronto undergraduate students are offered via the University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) and the Center for Global Change Science.
   
   Another source of paid research internships is via NSERC USRA. All three
   awards are competitive. Please get in touch by the end of January if you
   would like to apply for these fellowships. Please note that a) only Canadian
   citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the NSERC USRA, and b) students who have already spent time in our lab get priority for sponsorships for summer fellowships.
   
   If you want to work in the lab through one of these three pathways, please reach out with your transcript, resume and a cover letter outlining your interests. (see below)

Graduate Students: If you want to join as a grad student, you can join our lab either through University of Toronto’s Cell and Systems Biology or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Programs. Students with interests in Computer Science and Biology are welcome to apply. Please reach out to me with a resume, transcript, and cover letter. Please reach out before August of the year you want to apply!

Note to international applicants: I sadly cannot accept Masters students from outside Canada due to funding constraints. If you want to apply for a PhD position, please note that such positions are extremely limited. 😦

Post-doctoral fellows: We are always on the look out for great post-docs and am happy to collaborate on writing fellowship proposals. Please reach out a year before you graduate with your Ph.D.!

A note on applying:
Most Principal Investigators receive a significant number of emails inquiring about working in the lab. It is therefore essential that your application stands out. Here are some points of etiquette to follow:

1. Please read about the work we do before applying to us. This will help you
align your application and interests to our work.
2. Personalize your application by referring to the PI by name. A generic “Dear
Sir” email is not a great first move.A personalized letter shows that you
have taken the time to understand who will be reading your application and
will lead the PI to believe that you care enough about working here.
3. Your cover letter should be clear and concise. Highlight your relevant
experience, skills or interests and tell us clearly why you want to work with
us. Being truthful here is essential.
4. Make sure your application materials are free of spelling mistakes and
typos.
5. If you do not hear back from Satyaki within a week, please email again.
6. Do not use ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or another LLM to write me an email. Its easy to spot. This is an easy way for your application to be disqualified.