Thank you so much for your interest in joining the Bales Lab! We study the comparative neurobiology and behavior of monogamy in three different species of nonhuman animals: voles, titi monkeys, and seahorses. Our graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff research a variety of questions related to parenting and pair bonding in the aforementioned species using a variety of research methods. Please read the following carefully, including the 2025 updates.
Graduate Students
The Bales lab takes PhD students from the Psychology program as well as the Animal Behavior and Neuroscience Graduate Groups. We are not taking new graduate students at this time, but please check this page periodically for updates.
Undergraduate Internships
The Bales lab is currently at capacity and will not be taking new undergraduate interns at this time. Please check this page periodically for updates.
Prospective undergraduate interns do not need to have previous animal experience to apply.
Our lab offers two undergraduate internships: the titi monkey portion of the lab and the prairie vole/seahorse (frequently referred to as "seavole") portion of the lab. Because these two sides of the lab require extensive, specialized training, we ask for you to specify interest in one or the other.
Our internships require 8 hours a week of work in person. We ask for a two-quarter commitment to the internship; depending on performance and fit, many of our interns stay with us for longer than two quarters.
We are able to offer research credit in the form of PSC 99 or PSC 199 units. We do not have paid positions available at this time. You must be an enrolled UC Davis student to intern with us. In order to ensure our interns are able to maintain their academic standing while working with us, we have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.
We do offer mentoring and support for students who need a practicum or senior thesis to graduate (for example: Animal Biology or Global Disease Biology majors, University Honors Program students, McNair Scholars, etc.). We ask you to specify up front your need for a practicum support, as our lab can only accommodate a certain number of practicums at a time.
Our internships require travel to a variety of locations in Davis, CA. Titi monkey interns will work exclusively at the California National Primate Research Center at the intersection of Hutchison Rd and County Rd 98. Seavole interns will spend time in Green Hall on the main campus and the TRACS animal facility south of I-80/campus. The CNPRC and TRACS are not near public transit, and our staff do not arrange for transport. As an intern, you'll be expected to bike/walk/drive yourself to these locations.
There have been a number of scam attempts circulating recently. Faculty will never text you about available research positions, nor will you ever be asked to purchase equipment in order to be a research assistant. If you ever receive an email claiming to be from a UC Davis faculty member that seems too good to be true or suspicious in any way, please report it to the UCD IT department and to the faculty member.
Address
University of California, Davis
Department of Psychology, Young Hall
California National Primate Research Center
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616
Phone Number
Prairie Vole Lab
(530) 752-0668
balesvolelab@gmail.com