Graduate school is a chance to learn how to ask your own questions, design studies, and carry out research. It can be exciting, rewarding, and frequently challenging. Many students find that success comes from steady effort and curiosity rather than raw talent. For some people, starting with a master’s degree is a helpful way to explore interests, build experience, and decide whether a PhD is something they want to pursue. These are good things to keep in mind when thinking about where you might want to go to graduate school.
OIMB is a special place to study marine biology, and the west coast of North America offers many opportunities to learn about the ecology, biogeography, and evolution of marine species. Admission to graduate programs at the University of Oregon is competitive, and my lab receives more inquiries than I can take.
If you are interested in working with me, please send an email introducing yourself. Tell me a little about your background, any research you have done, what you hope to learn, and how your interests may overlap with the work in my group. Including a CV is a must. It is also useful to read a few of our papers and then describe the kind of question or project that appeals to you.
Graduate students at Oregon are usually supported through a combination of teaching, research assistantships, and fellowships, including programs such as those from NSF. Anyone getting in touch should already be learning about these possibilities.
If this sounds like a good fit, I would be glad to hear from you.