William Oakley

I hope to collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects and work with new study organisms as well as mentor students.

During my doctoral program, I did a number of preliminary studies which exposed me to species distribution modeling, using drones (aka UAVs) in ecological research, stable isotope analysis (SIA) methods, citizen science, using digital electronics and open-source technologies to design and test biologging devices, and using weather radar in ecological research. Assisting my colleagues at the University of Oklahoma (OU) with animal research projects has given me hands-on experience with several types of “biologging” tools, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, light-level geolocator tags, and automated radio telemetry systems. I am excited by the prospect of leveraging these skills in the service of novel research questions.

I also want to build on my record as an educator by supervising and/or mentoring undergraduate students. I take teaching responsibilities very seriously and always try to address the needs of every student in a respectful and individualized manner. My department has recognized my commitment to teaching with two awards for excellence in graduate student teaching. I also have some experience in generating educational activities. During my PhD, I collaborated with my advisor to design and instruct a hands-on “gadgeteering” course that taught undergraduate- and graduate-level non-engineers how to design and build their own interactive electronic devices, such as data loggers, using digital electronics and open-source technology (e.g., Arduino and Raspberry Pi).

Finally, a pressing goal for me is to build on my list of publications. Although my dissertation chapters will soon be added to this list, generation of new manuscripts will be a key part of my post-graduate career. I would particularly welcome opportunities to usher existing datasets into the scientific record.

My interests align with a job in academia. I seek a career that involves research and classroom teaching as well as opportunities for student advising/mentoring, public outreach, experiential education, and travel.

Throughout my time as a student and assistant researcher I have been able to closely observe and participate in several innovative and fulfilling research projects, and I am anxious to become the person who builds these programs, both to make new discoveries and to inspire new scientists.

More generally, my long-term goals include participating in a diverse community and fostering a collaborative, creative, and open-minded environment. I learned about the importance of varying perspectives as part of a diverse cohort of graduate students at OU where I was fortunate enough to take part in an NSF funded National Research Traineeship program that focused on interdisciplinary research. As I progressed through this program it became apparent to me that many of the problems we face in the future will require expertise from multiple fields. Working alongside students and instructors from a variety of different departments revealed the challenges that come with differences in professional cultures and vocabularies, but it also made me realize that overcoming these challenges opens an entirely new spectrum of research questions and capabilities.