Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, Ph.D.

The Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology program is a research-based interdisciplinary graduate program leading to a doctor of philosophy degree. The program consists of faculty from the College of Science, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, and the Desert Research Institute.

The program promotes education in theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects of ecology, evolution and conservation biology. The overarching goal of the program is to produce Ph.D. level scientists with the best technical skills and place them in superior positions in academia, government, and the private sector. Students examine the ecology, evolution and conservation biology of organisms and ecosystem processes of the Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada and throughout the world. Student research encompasses a broad range of biological techniques and levels of ecological complexity, including investigations of individual organisms, populations, species, communities and ecosystems.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

conduct rigorous research that makes a significant contribution to scientific progress.
produce clear and coherent written presentations of their work.
complete the program in a reasonable period of time.
attend and give presentations at professional meetings.
prepare and submit papers for publication.
prepare and submit grant proposals.
mentor undergraduate students.

Contact Information

Lee Dyer, Graduate Program Director
(775)784-1360
ldyer@unr.edu

Department Office:
147 Fleischmann Agriculture

Admission Requirements

Students who seek admission to the program should have:

a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0,
a TOEFL score of 600 (for international students) and
should have completed the following course requirements:
- biology course work (24 units, ideally including genetics, evolution, and ecology), or equivalent evidence of ability to succeed in a doctoral program in ecology, evolution and conservation biology,
- physical or other environmental sciences, math, or chemistry course work (18 units).

Each student must have a temporary advisor among the EECB faculty before they are accepted into the EECB Program. Within the first academic year, an advisory committee and major professor must be chosen, and the first committee meeting held.

I. Program Requirements

A. Comprehensive Exam

Students will be required to pass a comprehensive written and oral examination. After the written examination is completed, the student’s oral exam will be conducted by the student’s advisory/examining committee.

EECB 795 - Comprehensive Examination (1 to 3 units)

B. Teaching and Research

Students spend a minimum of two semesters teaching an undergraduate laboratory or lecture course, and complete a rigorous program that includes the writing of a dissertation.

EECB 799 - Dissertation (1 to 24 units)

C. Core Curriculum Courses (14-20 units)

EECB 701 - Research Rotation I, II (3 units) *
Statistics (6 units) **
EECB 703 - Principles of Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (3 units)
EECB 750 - Research Design in Ecology (4 units)
EECB 794 - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Colloquium (1 unit) (4 units required)
* One research rotation is required of students without an M.S. or equivalent graduate degree. None is required of students holding an M.S. or equivalent graduate degree.

** Up to 3 units may be waived for completion of an appropriate undergraduate statistics course.

II. Total Units (60 units)

Candidates for the doctoral degree must satisfy all the general requirements of the Graduate School and complete a minimum of 60 units, which include the following:

12 units of research and dissertation,
10-16 units of electives, 1 unit of which will be comprehensive examination,
16 units of lecture courses,
14-20 units of core curriculum and
2 units of seminar.

The comprehensive examination may not be used to fulfill the required 18 units of 700-level course work.

Notes

Graduate teaching and research assistantships for the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology program are available on a competitive basis.