Biology - PhD

The primary goal of the doctoral program in the Biology Department is to provide advanced training in ecology and evolutionary biology, and experience in biology teaching. The program features an exciting range of subdisciplines, including evolutionary ecology, bioinformatics, systematics and phylogenetics, population, community, and ecosystem biology, and conservation. We emphasize original and creative research and teaching that prepares students for careers in academics, and leadership positions in government or industrial settings. Faculty members do research in a variety of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments on several continents across a broad spectrum of taxa (vascular plants, nematodes, crustaceans, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals). Doctoral research frequently combines field work with computational and laboratory work. Our program is enhanced by excellent on-campus resources including: a natural history museum with extensive collections, state-of-the-art gene sequencing facilities, a controlled-environment laboratory facility, electron microscopy, herbarium, and greenhouse. Our program provides a scholarly setting designed to fit the individual goals of students.