The Knutie lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut is recruiting highly-motivated applicants interested in pursuing a PhD in disease ecology and evolution in the Galapagos Islands. The PhD student will be expected to develop a novel research project in animal disease and/or urban ecology in the unique Galapagos Islands. Specifically, the Knutie lab studies the effect of an invasive parasitic nest fly and urbanization on Darwin's finches. Because of the nature of the work, prospective students are required to have extensive experience in field biology with birds. The equatorial field work, which includes living in the Galapagos for 3-4 months, is often met with intense and frustrating conditions (e.g. 9+ mile hikes on uneven lava rock, int