Join the lab

Undergraduate Students

If you are a University of Tulsa undergraduate interested in getting involved with research in the lab please email Dr. Toomey (mbt6332@utulsa.edu). 

Graduate Students

The Toomey lab is looking for thoughtful, creative, and collaborative Ph.D. and M.S. students to help us build something great. Students are expected to develop independent dissertation/thesis projects that complement the ongoing research in the lab. Our approach to biology is integrative offering opportunities to learn a wide range of theoretical, analytical, and technical skills.

If you are interested in joining the lab, please email Matt Toomey (mbt6332@utulsa.edu) with a brief cover letter describing your research interests and experiences and a CV or resume that includes contact information for three references. I encourage students to consider pursuing an NSF GRFP fellowship. If you are interested in developing a proposal please contact me to discuss potential projects.

Animal Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tulsa

The Toomey lab is part of a growing group of animal evolutionary biologists at the University of Tulsa that offers opportunities for collaboration and training. Research concentrations include:

Graduate Studies at the University of Tulsa

The Department of Biological Science is in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences of The University of Tulsa and offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Our graduate program in Biological Science typically enrolls 20 to 25 graduate students. The majority of graduate students are full-time and supported from Departmental Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantships. The Graduate School offers annual research and travel grants, as well as other competitive fellowships. Our department houses excellent research facilities including a fully functional user-run genomics core, confocal, SEM, and TEM microscopy, and animal colonies. We welcome diverse applicants as we foster inclusive research groups. More information available here.

Life in Tulsa

Tulsa is close to a wealth of field sites in the Ozark Plateau, Tallgrass Prairie, and Ouachita Mountains. In general, eastern Oklahoma includes a wide variety of ecotones between eastern and prairie communities. The city of Tulsa is located on the Arkansas River in the rolling Osage Hills of northeastern Oklahoma, and is considered one of the most livable and affordable cities in the United States. The Tulsa metropolitan area has nearly a million people, with vibrant cultural and arts districts. The area also includes large city parks, biking trails and nearby lakes.