Peter usually asks prospective lab members (undergraduate and graduate) the following questions.
Are you interested in plant science that often integrates many different types of data and fields? Students who work with me usually get exposed to many different sub-disciplines in science, from molecular biology to remote sensing.
Many of my projects involve field work. Would you be able to work in the field in places requiring off trail travel, driving on rough roads for many hours, etc..?
Are you interested and willing to learn multiple new kinds of software, including some coding (we mainly use R)? Since different sub-disciplines have different data types (eg. climate measurements vs. reflectance from satellite or airborne cameras), lab members often need to learn many new kinds of software or analysis options.
Are you interested in lichens specifically? Most of my projects focus on lichens in some way, although our lab also works with other organisms (trees, shrubs, mosses).
Are you interested in working with organisms from and possibly traveling to Alaska, Chile or Maine? Most of my current research is happening in these places or uses samples from there.
Are you able to work independently or in non-standard arrangements? The Nelson lab is based at an undergraduate institution so graduate students must matriculate to another University. Peter can serve on committee's at other institutions but is only able to have graduate advisees at U Maine (Orono). This requires graduate students to attend there but work with the lab via traveling to the Schoodic Institute periodically and meeting elsewhere (eg. field work).