The Fitzsimmons Lab is a member of the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is located in the Life Science Building on the main campus of MSU.
Email: fitzsi63 [at] msu [dot] edu
Hello prospective Spartans! Thank you for your interest in the Fitz Lab. Working in a lab as an undergraduate was a formative experience for me, and I care deeply about everyone on my team having an enriching experience. Please read the information on this page carefully before reaching out about opportunities.
For recent B.A. / B.S. graduates or soon to be graduates interested in working as a research technician, please apply via the MSU careers website. We cannot accept applications emailed directly to Dr. Fitzsimmons and are unable to contact any candidates until after the job post closing date on the career website.
In general, applicants should follow instructions in the job post and include the following attachments:
A 1 page cover letter describing your previous research experience, reasons for wanting to join the Fitzsimmons lab, and how joining the Fitzsimmons lab will help you reach your career goals.
a copy of your CV
contact information for at least 2 professional references
If you are are a postbac trainee in either the BMB Biochemistry Research Trainee Program (BRTP) or the Success in Graduate Education (SiGuE) program, please email Dr. Fitzsimmons to set up a meeting.
Students interested in graduate training in the lab must first be accepted to one of Michigan State's graduate programs. These programs do not require a faculty sponsor to apply. We are currently affiliated with the BioMolecular Sciences Gateway Program.
If you are a current 1st-year MS or PhD graduate student interested in a rotation, please email Dr. Fitzsimmons with an overview of your research background an interests. Having a different background from the research done in the lab is not viewed negatively, however, you should clearly articulate why you are specifically interested in joining the Fitzsimmons Lab and how this will help you reach your career goals.
We are not currently hiring for any postdoctoral positions.
When jobs are available, they will be posted on the MSU career website. Interested candidates should apply via the career website. We cannot accept applications emailed directly to Dr. Fitzsimmons and are unable to contact any candidates until after the job post closing date on the career website.
In general, applicants should follow instructions in the job post and include the following attachments:
A 1-2 page cover letter describing your previous research experience, reasons for wanting to join the Fitzsimmons lab, and how joining the Fitzsimmons lab will help you reach your career goals. Having a different background from the research done in the lab is not viewed negatively, however, you should clearly articulate why you are specifically interested in joining the Fitzsimmons Lab and how this will help you reach your career goals.
A copy of your CV, including information about education and publications. If you have not yet obtained your Ph.D., please indicate your expected thesis defense date.
Contact information for at least 3 professional references.
A 1 page research proposal, in the style of a specific aims page, for a topic you would be interested in working on in the lab. This could expand upon one of the recent Fitzsimmons Lab papers, or leverage your Ph.D. background to propose a new direction. This proposal could serve as your project should you be offered a position in the lab.
I know it's tempting to use ChatGPT or other LLM AI tools to help you email professors and assist with research proposals. While it's important to "say" the correct things in your email or cover letter, it's also important to introduce yourself as a person, and with AI-generated emails we lose that personal element and inevitably they end up sounding exactly the same. Similarly, AI-generated proposals often lack depth and details, frequently misrepresent or fabricate studies, and sound disconnected from the voice in your cover letter.