Prospective Students. - I am always looking for smart, hard-working students who are passionate about science, evolution, and fishes. I am open to taking both Master's and Ph.D. students. Here are a few details on our program.
I can take students through three different degree granting programs: Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (my home department), The Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (PEEC), and the Neuroscience Program. Thus far, all of my students have either gone through EEB or PEEC. There are subtle differences between the two programs. EEB has more summer funding than PEEC. PEEC has spring semester RAs. If you are interested in working on a species with a spring breeding season, then I encourage you to apply through PEEC. Otherwise, EEB may be more convenient. Both programs provide excellent training, and students from the two programs attend the same courses and seminars.
If you are interested in our lab, then please feel free to send me an e-mail. Please send me your CV/resume, a copy of your transcripts, and a statement of your research interests.
Here is a list of questions that you should be prepared to answer. (1) Why do you want to go to graduate school? (2) What are your ultimate career goals? (3) Why are you interested in my laboratory? (4) What are the scientific questions that you are most excited about? (5) What types of past research experiences have you had? (6) What are you math/statistical skills like? (7) What are your writing skills like? (8) Why are you interested in the University of Illinois? (9) What was the last scientific article that you read?
The University of Illinois is an excellent place for studying ecology and evolution. We have excellent centers for genomics (IGB and Keck Center) and microscopy (Beckman Institute). We have good student support. We have excellent historic fish records thanks to the INHS/Prairie Research Institute. Despite the fact that we are surrounded by a sea of corn, we have a number of compelling fish species in our area with intriguing biogeography.
I can take students through three different degree granting programs: Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (my home department), The Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (PEEC), and the Neuroscience Program. Thus far, all of my students have either gone through EEB or PEEC. There are subtle differences between the two programs. EEB has more summer funding than PEEC. PEEC has spring semester RAs. If you are interested in working on a species with a spring breeding season, then I encourage you to apply through PEEC. Otherwise, EEB may be more convenient. Both programs provide excellent training, and students from the two programs attend the same courses and seminars.
If you are interested in our lab, then please feel free to send me an e-mail. Please send me your CV/resume, a copy of your transcripts, and a statement of your research interests.
Here is a list of questions that you should be prepared to answer. (1) Why do you want to go to graduate school? (2) What are your ultimate career goals? (3) Why are you interested in my laboratory? (4) What are the scientific questions that you are most excited about? (5) What types of past research experiences have you had? (6) What are you math/statistical skills like? (7) What are your writing skills like? (8) Why are you interested in the University of Illinois? (9) What was the last scientific article that you read?
The University of Illinois is an excellent place for studying ecology and evolution. We have excellent centers for genomics (IGB and Keck Center) and microscopy (Beckman Institute). We have good student support. We have excellent historic fish records thanks to the INHS/Prairie Research Institute. Despite the fact that we are surrounded by a sea of corn, we have a number of compelling fish species in our area with intriguing biogeography.
