Graduate
Study
with
Me
in
Wildlife
and
Fisheries Science at the University of Arizona
I thoroughly enjoy learning about natural systems and their use and conservation by humans--the mosaic of desert, grasslands, and montane 'sky islands' of the southwestern United States is a wonderful place in which to do so. Since moving to the U of A in Fall 2000, I have been working to establish a research program that focuses heavily on the mammals of the forested montane islands (AKA 'sky islands') and surrounding sea of desert and grasslands. I welcome graduate students with a similar enthusiasm for science and a real passion for the conservation, behavioral, and population ecology of wildlife (for more on my interests you can visit my homepage). The program here has a wealth of expertise in applied and basic science with a particular strength in the resources of the desert southwest, sky islands, and borderlands. Because the graduate school experience is where you will develop your professional reputation, selection of the right environment for you is critical, and a real passion for your model system and questions of interest are what help you succeed. You should contact me about a year before you are interested in starting graduate school to enable initial review of your qualifications and to discuss project options. This page contains a number of links that may be helpful in your quest to find the appropriate match of a graduate school program that may include the University of Arizona. Click on the area of interest to you:
*--A
quick
overview
of
my
lab
group Koprowski
Research Group Overview
*--Potential Projects--possible opportunities
available
in my research group
*--Information on the UA and
studies
in Wildlife Conservation and Management
*--My
Lab
Group
The Cast of Characters--Links to web pages
of
my graduate students
Journal Club--This week's readings
*--Graduate Assistantships
*--The
GRE
*--Fellowships available for Graduate Study
*--Funding for Research Projects
*--Where
do
I
get
external
information
on
Graduate
Programs at the University of Arizona?
*--Helpful
hints
on
graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--FAQ's about Graduate School?
*--A
suggested
timetable for the Application
process
*--Hints for increasing your competitiveness
One of my favorites from PhD Comics...
Project 1: Impact of introduced Abert's squirrels on endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels: an experimental examination using removals (PhD student). This project would involve intensive field work in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona to examine the potential impact of introduced Abert's squirrels, a large bodied tree squirrel, on the smaller bodied endangered endemic Mt. Graham red squirrels. We will use removal experiments to determine changes in space and habitat use, nest site selection, and diet. POSITION FILLED
Project 2: Reintroduction of black-tailed prairie dogs: effects of an ecosystem engineer on desert grassland communities. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) have been called ecosystem engineers and keystone species by many biologists. The species was extirpated from Arizona in the early 1900's. Recent concern about the species throughout its range has led to the reintroduction of the species. This project will examine the growth of BTPD populations and their impacts on plant and animal communities. POSITION FILLED
Project 3: Are red squirrels a keystone species in coniferous forests? (MS student) Red squirrels construct large piles of debris in which they larderhoard cones. These structures, known as middens, represent a significant increase in structural complexity and energy concentration within many forests. We know that other species use these middens but just how integral middens are to diversity and ecosystem function is not known. POSITION FILLED
Project 4: Are roads barriers to juvenile dispersal in endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels? (MS and PhD student) This project would involve intensive field work in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona to assess patterns of natal dispersal in juvenile squirrels and assess the influence of roads on dispersal behavior in endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels. Radiotelemetric monitoring will be used to assess juvenile dispersal and propensity to cross roads. Patterns of gene flow and demographic linkages between different portions of the mountain range may also be studied. In addition, radiotelemetric monitoring and remote cameras will be used to assess road crossing and habitat characteristics that facilitate successful crossing will be examined using GIS and field collected data. POSITIONS FILLED
Information
on the graduate school experience at the University of Arizona
College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences
School of Natural Resources and the
Environment
Wildlife
and
Fisheries Conservation and Management
The U of A Graduate School
Koprowski Research
Group
Overview
John L. Koprowski's web page and the Mt. Graham red squirrel research page (find publications and meet the staff)
My
current
and
recent
graduate
students
are
more
likely
to
give you the
straight scoop on me...here are links to their webpages or email
Seafha Blount
(PhD)
Traditional
and
scientific
knowledge of fishers and martens on tribal
lands
Hsiang Ling
Chen (PhD) Red squirrel road
crossing behavior
Jonathan Derbridge
(PhD) Impacts of non-native Abert's squirrel on endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels
Nate
Gwinn
(MS)
Response
of
introduced
Abert's
squirrels
to
fire
Sarah Hale (PhD)
Behavioral
ecology
black-tailed
prairie
dogs following reintroduction
Rosa Jessen (MS)
Tree
squirrels
as
indicators
of
rainforest
quality
Tim Jessen (MS)
Efficacy
of
hair
tubes
for
population
monitoring
of
tree
squirrels
Yeong-Seok
Jo (PhD)
Ecology of cliff chipmunks: competition with an
endangered species?
Shari Ketcham
(MS)
Differential response of
native Arizona Gray Squirrels and non-native Abert's Squirrels
Melissa Merrick
(PhD)
The
role
of natal experience in natal dispersal of red squirrels
Karen Munroe (PhD)
Social
and
mating
Systems
of
Round-tailed
Ground
Squirrels
Geoff Palmer (MS)
Impacts
of
introduced
Mexican
Red-bellied
Squirrels
in
Biscayne
National
Park
Erin Posthumus (MS)
Red
squirrel
middens
as
hotspots of diversity
Nicolas Ramos (PhD)
Ecology
and
conservation
of
endemic
Mearns's
Squirrels
in
Baja
California
Recent Alums of my lab:
Seafha Blount
(MS)
Response of endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels to fire...
('09, PhD @ U
Arizona)
Debbie
Buecher
(MS)
Microchiropteran
bat
community
ecology
at
seasonal
water sources
('07,
Ecological Consultant, Tucson)
Carol
Coates
(MS)
Habitat
characteristics
in
occupied
&
unoccupied
BT
prairie
dog sites
('05, Ecological Consultant,
Grand Junction, CO)
Nichole
Cudworth (MS)
Ecology
of the sky island endemic Arizona Gray Squirrel
...('09, Research
Biologist, Wyoming Fish & Game)
Sandy Doumas
(MS)
Response of Mexican Fox Squirrels to fire
...Congrats!
(Dec
'10,
Research
Technician
U
Arizona)
Andrew
Edelman
(MS)
Ecology
of
Introduced
Abert's
Squirrels
in
the
Pinaleno Mtns
('04; PhD
@ U New Mexico, Post-doc at U Wyoming)
Kate
Leonard
(MS)
Response
of
Mt.
Graham
red
squirrels
to
thinning from below ('06 field
biologist, State of Florida)
Rebecca Minor
(MS)
Cone
removal
by
introduced
Abert's squirrels
Congrats!
(Dec
'10,
Research
Technician
U
Arizona)
Bret
Pasch
(MS)
Influence
of
fire
on
the
ecology
of
Mexican
Fox
Squirrels
('04...PhD @
U Florida,Post-doc at U Texas)
Margaret
Rheude
(MS)
Conservation
genetics
and
the
impacts
of
urbanization on mesocarnivores
('08, field
biologist US
Fish&Wildlife Service)
David
Wood
(MS)
Spatially
explicit
models
for
the
endangered
Mt.
Graham
Red
Squirrels ('07,
Presidential Fellow BLM)
Meghan
Yurenka
(MS)
Microclimates
of
occupied
&
unoccupied
Mt.
Graham
Red Squirrel middens (Vet near Seattle)
Claire
Zugmeyer
(MS)
Ecology
of
Mt.
Graham
red
squirrels
in spruce-fir forests
damaged
by
insects
(Research
Scientist,
Sonoran
Institute)
______________________________________________________
Where to now?
*--Back to Top
*--Potential Projects--possible opportunities
available
in my research group
*--Information on the UA and
studies
in Wildlife Conservation and Management
*--My
Lab
Group
The Cast of Characters--Links to web pages
of
my graduate students
Journal Club--This week's readings*--Graduate
Assistantships
*--The
GRE
*--Fellowships available for Graduate Study
*--Funding for Research Projects
*--Where
do
I
get
external
information
on
Graduate
Programs at the University of Arizona?
*--Helpful
hints
on
graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--FAQ's about Graduate School?
*--A
suggested
timetable for the Application
process
*--Hints for increasing your competitiveness
______________________________________________________
Graduate
Teaching and Research Assistant Tuition and Fees:
Graduate
teaching
and
research
assistants receive a stipend (around $14,400
for masters and
$17,000
for
Ph.D.
students
presently),
non-resident
tuition
waiver
(you
will
pay
in-state
fees),
health
insurance, and a 10% bookstore discount.
Helpful Links on the required test for Graduate School programs:
Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) --the standardized test required for most
graduate
school
programs.
Two
exams
are
available:
General
and
Subject.
The
General
test
is
the
most
often
required
test,
is
available
on
line,
and
provides subscores
for skills
in
3
major
areas
(Verbal,
Quantitative,
and
Analytical).
The
Subject
or
Advanced
test
is
also
required
or
recommended
by
many
but
not all graduate
programs.
Subject
exams
are
given
in
a
number
of
specialized
fields
including
Biology
and
test
specific
disciplinary
knowledge.
Both
exams
are
extraordinarily
rigorous
and
require
significant
preparation.
Do
not
use
the
first
attempt
at the
exam
as
'practice'--a
number
of
good
practice
materials
can
be
found in
your
college
bookstore
and
are
available
through
the
testing
agency
itself.
Because
of
the
delay
in
scoring
the
exam,
you
should
plan
to take this exam by
mid-fall
in
the
year
before
you
hope
to
be
attending
graduate
school. Most
schools
require
these
scores
to
make
decisions
on
admission
and
financial
aid
packages
such
as
teaching/research
assistantships
and
fellowships.
Princeton
Review --see the graduate school page for strategies and a free
practice
GRE
exam
Kaplan's Online
--various test taking information
TOEFL - language test for international students
Helpful Links for Fellowships:
University
of
Arizona-CONACyT
Fellowships for students from Mexico
University
of
Arizona
Fellowships
and
External
Sources
American
Society
of
Mammalogists
Fellowships --another source
of potential research funds for students
George
Melendez
Wright
Climate
Change
Fellowships --fellowships for Ph.D.
climate change work
in the NP's
Gloria
Barron Wilderness Society Fellowship --fellowship for wilderness
study
Loreal
American
Women
in
Science
Graduate
Fellowships--fellowship for US and
international students
National
Science Foundation Student Research Opportunities
Wildlife
Conservation
Society
Research
Fellowship
Funding
for Specific Student Research Projects
American
Museum
of
Natural
History--Teddy
Roosevelt
and
Frank
Chapman Memorial
Funds
American
Society
of
Mammalogists
Grants-in-Aid
of
Research --another source
of potential research funds for students
Animal
Behavior Society Grants
Animal
Behavior
Society
List
of
Conservation
Oriented
Grants
Cleveland
Zoological Society--a number of funding opportunities...for
research
in Latin and NAmerica, Africa, and Asia
Conservation
Endowment Fund --Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Explorers
Club
Grants --provide grants for conducting field research
National
Fish
and
Wildlife
Foundation
Various
and
Sundry
Grant Opportunities
National
Geographic
Society
Committee
on
Exploration
and
Research
Awards
National
Geographic
Society
Young
Explorer's
Award
Oregon
Zoo Future for Wildlife Conservation Grant --a variety of studies
are
funded
Pittsburgh
Zoo
Conservation
Fund --a couple of grant opportunities
available...links
to contact the director here
Sigma
Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research --provides grants for conducting
scientific
research
Society
for Integrative and Comparative Biology Student Grants-in-Aid
Southwestern
Association
of
Naturalists--Howard
McCarley
Student
Research
Award
T
& E, Inc.
University
of
Arizona
Internal
Funding
Western
National Parks Association
Wildlife
Conservation
Society
Research
Fellowship
Helpful Links on Graduate School Programs:
NAGPS
Survey of Graduate Students concerning Graduate Programs
Peterson's
Guide to Colleges
Kaplan's Online
--various test taking information
gradschools.com
--information on nearly 50,000 graduate programs
U.S.
News and World Report --various rankings and information
College
Net --general information and search capabilities for graduate
schools
Careers
in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and
Beyond --a very helpful guide
available
free
on-line
Links
to Graduate School Programs in Ecology and Zoology
Helpful
Sources of Information about Graduate School Life and
Admissions:
What
every new graduate student should know... --suggestions from
Indiana
University
How
to be a good graduate student --a paper with helpful suggestions
Princeton
Review --a nice site for tips and general information
______________________________________________________
Where to now?
*--Back to Top
*--Potential Projects--possible opportunities
available
in my research group
*--Information on the UA and
studies
in Wildlife Conservation and Management
*--My
Lab
Group
The Cast of Characters--Links to web pages
of my graduate students
Journal Club--This week's readings*--Graduate
Assistantships
*--Graduate Assistantships
*--The
GRE
*--Fellowships available for Graduate Study
*--Funding for Research Projects
*--Where
do
I
get
external
information
on
Graduate
Programs at the University of Arizona?
*--Helpful
hints
on
graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--A
suggested
timetable for the Application
process
*--Hints for increasing your competitiveness
______________________________________________________
What does Graduate School in general entail?
The
short
answer is a ton of work-- often with only yourself as a
motivator.
If you thoroughly enjoy the field of biology and working a problem
through
to an answer, then graduate school is a rewarding option. Don't
continue
on just because someone else thinks you should or because you don't
have
any other options for employment. Because self-motivation and a
real
enthusiasm for a topic are what will drive you to the successful
completion
of a graduate school experience, a half-hearted start is not likely to
lead to success. Although most degree programs require some
coursework,
much of your growth as a professional occurs outside the classroom
during
your research experiences. Summer breaks in the academic schedule
are typically viewed not as vacation periods but as opportunities for
intensive
research.
Typically,
3 types of degrees are possible.
Some
schools
have
two
types
of
Masters
degrees:
a
thesis
and a non-thesis
option; Masters degrees usually require 2-3 years for completion.
The non-thesis Masters (can be
the
M.A. or M.S. degree depending on the school) option typically requires
only coursework and library research and is meant as a terminal degree
for those not interested in continuing with biological research; a
final
written paper is often required. The thesis
Masters(M.S. degree) typically involves coursework as well
as
an independent research project that culminates in a substantial
written
document, the thesis, that is ready for publication. Often
written
or oral exams are required as well. The Doctor
of
Philosophy(Ph.D) also entails some coursework and an even
more substantial research project usually over 4 to 6 years culminating
in doctoral dissertation that often contains in several publishable
chapters.
An oral and/or written comprehensive exam is typically required as is a
final oral defense of your dissertation research. Postdoctoral
positions are often in academic departments as well and usually are
focused
on a continuation of research experiences above and beyond that
obtained
in pursuit of the doctorate; typically, although one might get academic
credit for enrollment, postdoctoral positions are not formal degree
experiences.
As I
mentioned,
the primary emphasis in most graduate school experiences in on
research.
However, coursework often is taken on the advice of an advisory
committee
of faculty that you have assembled to mesh with your interests.
Some
US schools and many foreign universities have no formal coursework
requirements.
Courses taken usually focus on those necessary to round out the
background,
required to increase technical proficiency, or to make up for
deficiencies
in the undergraduate academic record.
What are my career options with an advanced degree?
Advanced degrees can be used in a number of ways but typically open the door for more research-intensive positions as well as those with teaching components. The new skills and independence that are developed in graduate school will help in many avenues of life. The job market is very tough, especially for academic positions. Master's degrees typically keep open the option of a Ph.D. at some point and prepare you for work in the Biotech industry, administrative and management positions in State and Federal governments (research labs, environmental impact, forestry, wildlife and fisheries, parks), NGO's, lobbyists positions, and community college/lab instructor teaching positions. The added research experience typically means that you might move into something other than an entry level position. Although there are some research positions available with State and Federal agencies for individuals with a Master's degree, the opportunities for advancement maybe limited without a Ph.D. If teaching at the postsecondary level is a goal, then you should seek as many teaching opportunities as possible while in graduate school. A Ph.D. increases your competitiveness in the academic world but the market is still quite difficult--a postdoctoral research/teaching experience is often necessary. Positions in biotech, federal/state agencies, NGO's, etc. are possibilities as well. The Ph.D. will increase your competitiveness for research oriented positions where some sort of leadership role is expected; however, doctoral recipients may be less competitive or viewed as 'overqualified' for some positions due to the experience in independent research.
How do I narrow my interests to select an appropriate program?
Perhaps the most common question asked by students considering graduate school. You probably know more than you think. Start with determining what you are not jazzed about studying in graduate school.
1.
Do
you
prefer
a
certain
level
of
organization
(cell/molecular
vs.
community/ecosystem)?
2.
Do
you
prefer
a
certain
taxonomic
group?
(fungi
vs.
animals, flowering
plants vs.
gymnosperms,
fish
vs.
birds)?
3.
Do
you
prefer
a
certain
research
setting
(laboratory
vs.
field, aquatic
vs. terrestrial)?
4.
Do
you
prefer
a
certain
level
of
analysis?:
a)
questions
of
mechanisms
b)
questions
of
physiological
processes
c)
questions
of
developmental
processes
d)
questions
of
survival
value
of
a
trait
e)
questions
of
evolutionary
significance/phyogenetic
affinity
5.
Do
you
prefer
research
on
basic
science
or
with
an applied bent?
Skim the table of contents of scientific journals to see what kinds of projects get you the most excited. Visit websites of various schools to see what programs and courses are offered. Talk to professors in the courses that you enjoyed the most. Having very broad general interests in biology is a good thing and can be helpful in selecting an appropriate program.
How do I select an appropriate program?
Now is
the
time to do your homework. Use the questions and sources noted
above
and examine programs in detail. Are the courses of
interest?
The course listing can often give you a feel for the focus of a
program--lots
of interesting courses mean that faculty have similar interests.
If you have somewhat broad interests, then use that to find a program
that
will enable you to be surrounded with faculty and students with a
breadth
of interests. If you are more focused, then use that level of
focus
to ascertain the programs that are the strongest for you. Try to
find programs that have a number of people who are publishing in
scientific
journals and have active research groups in the area(s) that most
interest
you. For instance, if you have strong interests in
molecular
biology and animal ecology, a program that has good molecular labs to
hone
your techniques in combination with a diverse ecology program in which
you will be able to apply these techniques is what you might look for
in
a graduate school. Such 'broad' interests may actually help you
narrow
your choices considerably more than if you were only interested in one
of these subdisciplines. The on-line sources listed above, the
scientific
journals, and your professors can assist you with finding such programs.
Once you
have identified programs of interest, write to obtain more information
including a list of recent publications of the faculty. This
should
help you hone your list even further. From this point, you should
contact individual faculty members preferably by letter.
Carefully
craft a letter that states your interests and provides the details of
your
preparedness for graduate study, your familiarity with the faculty
member
to whom you are writing (read their publications), and expresses your
interest
in joining their research group. Inquire if the faculty member
anticipates
any openings at the time that you would like to begin graduate
studies.
Be certain to spend considerable time composing this letter and have a
large number of people review and comment on your composition.
Remember,
first impressions can be last impressions. You are going to be
one
of dozens of people (at least) who are writing and you are trying to
convince
this person that you are a developing professional who would be a
welcome
addition to their research group. The responses from these
letters
will narrow the choices considerably.
______________________________________________________
Where to now?
*--Back to Top
*--Potential Projects--possible opportunities
available
in my research group
*--Information on the UA and
studies
in Wildlife Conservation and Management
*--My
Lab
Group
The Cast of Characters--Links to web pages
of
my graduate students
Journal Club--This week's readings*--Graduate
Assistantships
*--Graduate Assistantships
*--The
GRE
*--Fellowships available for Graduate Study
*--Funding for Research Projects
*--Where
do
I
get
external
information
on
Graduate
Programs at the University of Arizona?
*--Helpful
hints
on
graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--FAQ's about Graduate School?
*--Hints for increasing your competitiveness
______________________________________________________
How do I apply? A Timetable for the Application Process:
You can never start too early is likely the best advice. But here is a suggested timetable for you to follow. I have geared the dates for a student coming directly out of undergraduate study who desires to start the fall semester after a spring semester graduation.
Junior
Year
(1.5
years
prior
to
desired
start
date)--Spring
semester
--Get
started
familiarizing
yourself
with
potential
graduate
programs
1.
Talk
with
faculty
about
what
programs
are
appropriate
2.
Use
the
Career
Services
office,
this
website,
and
the
internet
to
learn
about
programs.
3.
Review
articles
in
journals
and
note
schools/people
of
interest
--Contact
departments/download
information
on
programs
from
the
Web.
--Plan
test
date
and
register
for
the
GRE
--Study
for
the
GRE
exam
over
summer
Senior
Year--September
and
October
--Compose
a
letter
of
inquiry
and
a
statement
of
your
career goals
--Request
letters
of
recommendations
and
ask
your
writers
to
review
your
letter
and
statement
--Utilize
the
Career
Services
office
to
review
your
letter
of
inquiry and
statement of goals.
The
Writing
Center
can
also
be
very
helpful
here--the
more
comments the
better in
helping
you
to
craft
the
very
best
letter
possible
--Take
the
GRE
or
other
standardized
exams
--Visit
your
Career
Services
office
to
learn
more
about
strategies
for
financing your
graduate
school
experience.
The
links
above
for
Fellowships
should
also
be
a help.
--Send
out
letters
of
inquiry
to
faculty
members
with
whom
you are interested
in working.
Respond
to
all
letters
that
you
receive
in
response
to
your inquiry.
Send a follow-up
letter
if
you
do
not
receive
a
response
from
people
with whom you are very
interested
in
working.
Faculty
are
very
busy
or
may
be
on
sabbatical or out
of the country--don't
necessarily
read
too
much
into
a
slow
or
no
response.
Be tactful
in your second contact
November
and
December
--Request
copies
of
transcripts
be
mailed
--Submit
your
applications
early
to
maximize
your
competitiveness
for
financial
aid/fellowships/assistantships.
--Send
a
thank
you
note
to
prospective
advisors
that
reaffirms
your enthusiasm
to join their
graduate
program
and
alerts
them
that
your
application
is
on
the way.
--Discuss
potential
fellowships
that
you
might
apply
for
with
your
prospective
graduate advisors
January through March
--Contact
potential
advisors
or
programs
about
visiting
and
interviewing.
Be
sure
to meet with other
current
graduate
students
to
get
their
impressions.
--Be
certain
to
send
a
thank
you
note
to
those
that helped you on your
interview
--Complete
the
GAPSAF
form
available
at
your
university's
Career
Services
or
Financial Aid
office
or
via
the
schools
to
which
you
are
applying.
April
and
May
--If
you are accepted, rejoice! Discuss options with your
undergraduate
advisors/professors to
determine
which
option
is
best.
--Once
you
have
made
your
final
selection,
inform
all
of
the schools to
which you have applied. For
schools
that
you
have
not
yet
heard
from
a
letter
will suffice. A
personal phone call is appropriate
to
the
individuals
with
whom
you
have
been
accepted
to
work but opt to
go elsewhere.
--Contact
the
professor
with
whom
you
decide
to
work
and
ask what you might
do to prepare for the
fall.
--Prepare
a
bibliography
on
topics
of
interest
so
that
you
can hit the
ground running and know the literature
when
you
arrive
in
graduate
school.
--If
you
are
not
accepted,
contact
the
people
with
whom
you have
corresponded
and obtain feedback
on
your
application
and
assess
what
you
can
do
to
increase your
competitiveness
for the next
round
of
applications.
See
the
next
category
below
for
general
hints.
______________________________________________________
Where to now?
*--Back to Top
*--Potential Projects--possible opportunities
available
in my research group
*--Information on the UA and
studies
in Wildlife Conservation and Management
*--My
Lab
Group
The Cast of Characters--Links to web pages
of
my graduate students
Journal Club--This week's readings*--Graduate
Assistantships
*--Graduate Assistantships
*--The
GRE
*--Fellowships available for Graduate Study
*--Funding for Research Projects
*--Where
do
I
get
external
information
on
Graduate
Programs at the University of Arizona?
*--Helpful
hints
on
graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--FAQ's about Graduate School?
*--A
suggested
timetable for the Application
process
______________________________________________________
How do I maximize my competitiveness for admission? A few hints:
1.
Remember to keep your curriculum vitae (resume) active by gaining as
much
experience as
possible even with short duration volunteer
experiences.
Check with local government
agencies,
parks,
zoos,
museums,
universities,
clinics,
bio-oriented
businesses
and
school
systems
for
opportunities
to
keep
active
in
biology.
While
on
campus, try to
gain
experience
working
or
volunteering
on
research
projects
of
your
professors
even
if
this
initially
means
washing
dishes.
Also,
positions
associated
with
the
writing center,
computer
center,
library,
bio/chem
lab
preparation
room,
grounds
crew,
etc.
can
provide
good
experiences
that
demonstrate
a
commitment
to
a
science
oriented
career.
Consider
a
position
as
a
paid
or
unpaid
research
assistant
to increase your
experience
in
research.
If
you
have
corresponded
with
a
potential
graduate
advisor, you
should
ask
if
they
have
any
such
positions
available
this
will give them
a chance to get to
know
you
and
also
give
you
valuable
experience.
2. Choose
your courses carefully to demonstrate a rigorous undergraduate career--solid
coursework
in
biology/environmental
science
is
assumed
but
supporting
courses
in
chemistry,
math,
physics,
and
computer
science
not
only
increase
your
academic
breadth
but
also
demonstrate
to
your
potential
advisor
that
you
have
had
a
rigorous
undergraduate
experience.
Also,
consider
taking
meaningful
support
courses
in
speech/media/rhetoric,
writing,
geographic
information
systems,
geology/geography,
sociology,
psychology,
anthropology,
politics,
etc.
These
courses
will
provide
a
more
well
rounded
appearance
to
your
academic career
and
help
you
demonstrate
to
graduate
schools
that
you
are
a
serious developing
professional.
Be
sure
to
take
courses
that
provide
a
solid
foundation
in biology in the
broad sense.
3. Obtain
as much research experience as possible--any
experience
that
you
can
be
it
paid
or
volunteer
will
be
helpful.
Not
only
will
this
experience
enable
you
to speak with authority
when
you
discuss
your
future
goals
in
a
letter
or
interview but it will
also help solidify
your
goals
and
allow
you
to
convey
your
interests
with
conviction.
Choose courses that
have
a
significant
research
component
in
them
so
that
you
can gain
experience
and further
substantiate
your
interest
in
conducting
biological
research.
Conduct
a
research
oriented
senior
thesis
or
independent
study
project
that
is
focused
on
your area
of interest. Attempt
to
publish
your
research
findings.
4. Join
a professional society/organization--each
subdiscipline
of
biology
has
a
least
one
and
often
many
journals
associated
with
it.
Many
of
these
journals
are supported
by
a
professional
society.
Members
of
that
society
get
the
journal
and newsletter.
These
publications
allow
you
to
keep
up
with
changes
in
the field and also
job
openings
while
demonstrating
that
you
are
in
fact
interested
in the
field. Most
societies
have
a
special
student
rate
as
well.
Ask
your
professors
which societies
are
the
most
pertinent
and
'student/recent
graduate
friendly'.
Attend
society
meetings
and
participate
in
student
chapter
activities
etc.
5.
Take the GRE very seriously and study accordingly--while
graduate schools look at the entire application
package,
solid
GRE
scores
will
open
doors
that
might
otherwise
be closed
to you. Use
a
good
introductory
biology
textbook
and
study
it
from
cover
to
cover.
Study guides and
practice
tests
available
for
purchase
or
through
the
GRE
On-line
are very
helpful and will
enable
you
to
take
the
exam
and
feel
comfortable
with
the style of questions
and the
breadth
of
material.
Oh...and
did
I
say
study--I
cannot
say
this
enough. Put the time in
to
give
yourself
the
best
possible
chance
of
doing
well
and flaunting your
stuff. I would
recommend
a
minimum
of
6
weeks
of
high
powered,
full-time
studying.
If you are taking classes
simultaneously
then
you
should
adjust
accordingly.
6. Carefully
craft your cover letter and curriculum vitae to demonstrate a logical
progression
in
your
growth
as
a
professional.--remember
first impressions can be last impressions.
Your
letter
should
be
the
very
best
that
you
are
capable of writing.
Be certain to
have
a
number
of
people
who
you
trust
to
give
you a brutally honest review
look
over
and
comment
on
your
cover
letter.
Make
use
of
the
writing center
and career services
office.
How do I finance the graduate study?
Graduate
study
can
be
expensive
and
a
visit
to
your
institution's financial
aid office and career services
office will enable you to assess
different
possibilities to fund your continued study. However, the vast
majority
of graduate programs in biology offer teaching and research
assistantships
at the time of acceptance (or soon after).
In exchange for
teaching
labs or working in a lab, graduate students typically receive a stipend
that will enable you
to cover living expenses and also pay your tuition
so that you are only responsible for general fees, health
insurance,
etc.
Discuss financial aid options with prospective graduate advisors.
Unless you are only moderately
competitive, you should expect to
receive
an offer similar to what I have just described and graduate school in
biology
should not make you wealthy but you will be able to cover your living
costs
and break even.
Updated
1
Feb
11
John
L. Koprowski
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