We are always happy to talk with new trainees at any level who may be interested in joining us to grow as scientists and to contribute to our research mission. We seek self-motivated, goal-oriented, life-long learners who enjoy thinking critically. We strive for mastery of the scientific method, discovery of molecular mechanisms of gene regulation, and acquisition of new knowledge for human betterment.
As a group, we actively recruit and support people from all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in science. We believe diversity is a strength that grows innovation and learning within the lab and us as people. Diversity leads to better science and to appreciation of the broader societal context of our research. Our group is committed to anti-racism and to be allies with the black and indigenous communities who face unjust discrimination. We oppose and will not tolerate xenophobia or anti-immigrant rhetoric. We seek to help build and support science as an international endeavor of co-equal scholars. Our goal is to provide sustained support and mentorship that helps trainees pursue a broad range of career paths. Feel free to contact us with questions and to learn more about joining our team at rlandick@wisc.edu.
Recent Ph.D. graduates seeking to prepare for independent research careers with further training in our group’s areas of interest and through professional development are encouraged to contact Dr. Landick to inquire about the possibility of postdoctoral training.
We emphasize broad training for success as an independent researcher, including high-impact scientific accomplishment, outstanding written and oral communication, mentoring, and rigorous and responsible conduct of research. We seek postdoc applicants with a track record of publications and graduate training in biochemistry, biophysics, microbial genetics, physiology, or bioinformatics. Successful applicants will be critical thinkers, diligent experimentalists, have good writing and speaking skills (or the potential to develop these skills), and a desire to participate in a diverse training and research environment. Underrepresented minorities in science are especially encouraged to consider postdoctoral training in our group, in which you will find a supportive and diverse community of scholars. Training includes opportunities to learn mentorship skills by guiding graduate students, undergraduates, and sometimes high-school students and to participate in lab outreach activities. Past postdoctoral researchers have gone on to faculty positions at major research universities as well as to research positions in the private sector.
- Read more about the commitment to mentorship in the Landick group (PDF)
- Read more about our lab mission and expectations (PDF)
- Trainees benefit from programs in the UW–Madison Office of Postdoctoral Studies (link opens in new window)
Graduate students are the foundation of our research program. Prof. Landick is a member of five Ph.D. training programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison: Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB), Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB), Microbiology (MDTP), Genetics, and Biophysics (program links below). Students seeking to join the lab as graduate students must be admitted to one of these programs and complete a research rotation in the Landick Lab. Each program has a different focus; students are encouraged to apply for all that are appropriate for their background and goals. Please contact us if you have questions. Candidates from underrepresented minorities in science are especially encouraged to apply – please explore our web site and feel free to contact Dr. Landick if you would like to learn more about the supportive environment in the lab. Past graduate students have gone on to careers in academia at both top-tier research institutions and small liberal arts colleges, in the private sector at biotechnology companies, and in science policy.
Graduate students from other institutions, including international graduate students, occasionally visit the lab to conduct collaborative research and are encouraged to contact Dr. Landick to inquire about this possibility.
- Read more about the commitment to mentorship in the Landick group (PDF)
- Read more about our lab mission and expectations (PDF)
Graduate training program links (will open in new tabs)
One full-time, 2-year internship is available to a recent bachelor’s graduate in biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemistry, or a related field who seeks further training prior to graduate school. Candidates from backgrounds currently underrepresented in science are especially encouraged to apply – please explore our web site and feel free to contact Dr. Landick if you would like to learn more about the supportive environment in the lab.
The next 2-year full-time internship will become available April–June, 2023, but applications or inquiries are accepted at any time.
Interns will join a vibrant, highly interactive research group as full lab members who generate, discuss, and present research results and share in lab support activities. We seek interns who are highly motivated and who are eager to gain expertise in scientific research. Summer interns need not have prior lab experience; our 2-year internship requires prior undergraduate research experience and is open to anyone eager to pursue a career in science.
Our three most recent 2-year interns are currently PhD students or postdocs at UW-Madison, Brown, or Stanford.
To apply, please send a cover letter explaining your career goals and research interests, a CV or resume, and names of at least one and preferably three references to rlandick@wisc.edu.
The Landick Lab invites undergraduates interested in completing a mentored research project on RNA polymerase, transcriptional regulation, synthetic biology, or bioenergy research to learn more about the lab and to apply to join us. Previous lab experience is not required. We help students develop as scientists by working together to identify and develop the skills they wish to gain from a research experience. We especially encourage minorities underrepresented in science to consider our lab – please explore our web site and feel free to contact Dr. Landick if you would like to learn more about the lab’s supportive environment. Undergraduate researchers in the Landick Lab can expect to develop a core set of skills, including the abilities to:
- perform research both independently and collaboratively as peers in the lab
- learn and build on established methods through hands-on experimentation
- acquire knowledge by reading scientific publications
- communicate clearly in written and oral presentations
- identify sources of uncertainty and properly acknowledge, reduce, and/or quantify them
- complete work with a flexible schedule
- sustain intellectual focus on a complicated problem
We encourage undergraduates to apply to the lab as early in their time in Madison as possible, preferably as freshmen or no later than as sophomores. Early engagement provides time to complete a research project before graduation. Undergraduate researchers should have a strong academic track record in math and chemistry and be eager to learn experimental science.
To apply, send a statement of interest in the lab and a resume of past education and experience to Dr. Landick (rlandick@wisc.edu). Undergraduate researchers receive academic credit based on the formula of 1 credit per 4 hours per week in lab and submit a written report of their research each semester.
Summer research opportunities are available and participation is encouraged. Summer fellowship funding is available from the Graduate School (Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship), the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Letters & Science (L&S), and the Department of Biochemistry (Mary Shine Peterson Award). Fellowship deadlines vary; applications are the responsibility of the student but we will provide letters of recommendation and feedback on applications.
Past undergraduate researchers have achieved authorship on scientific papers, including in exceptional cases first-authorship, and have gone on to top-tier PhD training programs throughout the US.
Undergraduates at colleges and universities other than UW–Madison are encouraged to consider applying to join our lab for summer research. Summer internships are available on an ad hoc basis, often through the fully funded UW–Madison Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Biological Interactions Program (link opens in new window). We especially encourage minorities underrepresented in science to consider applying for UW–Madison summer research programs – please explore our web site and feel free to contact Dr. Landick if you would like to learn more about the lab’s supportive environment. Students interested in research during the school year should contact Dr. Landick (rlandick@wisc.edu) with a statement of their interest and availability. Please see the tab about UW undergraduate researchers for more information about undergraduate research in the Landick lab.
We encourage high school students who find our work interesting and who want to learn more about the scientific method, research, or careers in science to contact us – no prior research experience is required. It’s never too early to explore a career in STEM! We can help you explore summer or academic-year opportunities that match your availability and interests, and in some cases are able to host high-school students in our research lab through partnership with programs for high-school students at UW–Madison. We partner with the following programs and encourage exploring their web sites for more information (links open in new tabs).
Some opportunities can take the place of summer or after-school jobs so that students don’t sacrifice needed income. We especially encourage students from minority backgrounds underrepresented in science to explore research opportunities at UW–Madison and with our group. Especially for students from Madison East and LaFollette High Schools but true for everyone, if you have trouble finding information on relevant internship programs to which you can apply, please contact us and we’ll try to help advise you. If interested, please send an email to Dr. Bob Landick (rlandick@wisc.edu) with your name, why you are interested in research, what you hope to gain from this experience, and your availability.