Training in Statistical Genetics with Dr. Wijsman

Please note: For trainees at all levels, please note that Dr. Wijsman is now retired and an emeritus professor. She is unlikely to agree to be a sole-mentor at this point. Also, please note that Dr. Wijsman's statistical genetics laboratory is a dry (computational) laboratory. Prospective applicants who want to do (wet) laboratory work or field work should apply elsewhere.

Trainees in the area of statistical genetics interact with students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty from a variety of departments. Applied projects include faculty from multiple departments as well as other other institutions. Fellows and students are encouraged to participate regularly in relevant courses, seminars, and a weekly discussion of current projects and journal articles.

Life in the Pacific Northwest has, as one of its amenities, wonderful access to outdoor activities. To see some photos, go to the photo gallery at the Washington Trails Association web site here.

Prospective Undergraduate Students

Please do not expect a response if you are emailing from outside the US and are looking for a summer internship or a volunteer opportunity! We do not have a mechanism to accept such students.

Prospective Graduate Students

Dr. Wijsman is no longer taking new graduate students. UW graduate students who are potentially interested in research work in statistical genetics or genetic epidemiology should contact one of the younger faculty members in the Department of Biostatistics, the Department of Genome Sciences, or the Public Health Genetics program (Click on Interdisciplinary Programs). Dr. Wijsman may still agree to serve on student committees, but only as a non-reader or a non-GFR member.

Students applying from elsewhere should not contact faculty members directly, and MUST apply to individual departments or programs. Only after students have been accepted and have completed the first year of their program (or more, depending on the program), can they then approach individual faculty members as possible dissertation advisors. Please note that the Division of Medical Genetics does not have a PhD graduate program, but does have a postdoctoral program and a MS-level genetic counsellor program.

Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows

Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows should contact Dr. Wijsman directly by email, although it is unlikely, at this point, that Dr. Wijsman would be willing to accept an application, except under a joint mentorship program. Under any circumstances, applicants will only be considered if they have a source of funding that meets requirements of the University of Washington.

Postdoctoral applicants should have graduate training in one of the following areas: population genetics, quantitative genetics, plant or animal breeding, statistical genetics, theoretical evolutionary biology, biometrics, statistics, biostatistics, mathematics, or computer science. Alternative previous training paths will be considered, but an applicant with a background that does not include substantial training in quantitative methods will not ordinarily be considered. Applicants should also be prepared to commit to an initial appointment of two years, with possible extension based on performance if funding allows. Any exception to this agreement should be requested in initial discussions about a position, and will be spelled out in detail as part of a firm offer of support.

Finally, although applicants with disabilities will be considered, they should understand in advance that the University of Washington will hold them to exactly the same strict standards as other postdocs. This includes an absolute limit of 5 years of postdoctoral training, across any number of institutions. Consessions, such as extra time to achieve benchmarks or to find a permanent position, are unlikely to be granted. This is an absolute requirement of the postdoctoral union. Therefore, since I want postdoctoral trainees to succeed, if I feel that your disability may create problems for you in meeting this 5-year time frame, I will likely suggest that you apply to an institution with a more ADA-friendly set of policies.