Ben Burford
I am a 5th year PhD Candidate in the Denny Lab at the Hopkins Marine Station. Working with gregarious squids and fishes, I study how social behaviors facilitate the competitive ability of ecologically-critical marine species under environmental variability.
As a teacher, I am driven to facilitate a fascination and appreciation for the natural world in those around me, a characteristic that I believe is key for them to become effective citizens that make informed decisions. I also believe that those who harbor the greatest potential to impact science and society have yet to be granted an opportunity to contribute to our understanding of the natural world. As a mentor, I am therefore determined to provide research opportunities for those with the greatest need. To achieve these goals, I am excited to be pursuing a career as a professor at a comprehensive university.