The students who have the most success obtaining a position in my lab are those who:

  1. have performed well during their undergraduate and graduate careers;
  2. have taken and scored well in the Graduate Record Exams and Biology Subject Exams;
  3. express themselves well (both writing and speaking);
  4. have gained practical hands-on experience with research;
  5. are experienced, qualified SCUBA divers and often have experience handling small boats;
  6. enjoy long hours of fieldwork in both sunny and inclement weather;
  7. are meticulous and attentive to detail;
  8. can tolerate long hours at the microscope; and
  9. are enthusiastic and willing to function as a team-player.

If you think you meet many of these criteria, take some time to read a few of the publications from my lab. If you are interested in the type of research conducted in my laboratory, feel free to contact me.

Admission to the Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries (MBF) at the Rosenstiel School is a multi-step process: Completed applications are first considered by the Academic Committee. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission are informed that they need to "match" with a suitable faculty member who is willing to serve as their advisor and will often provide financial support. This is the tricky part and it often comes down to timing. Whether I am in a position to support a new student depends on the number of current students I have and whether I have recently received new grant funding at the time you apply. Of course, depending on your record, you may be eligible for a university or Rosenstiel fellowship. Students in my lab frequently work on a topic related to the major avenues of ongoing research in the lab. M.S. research is more defined and smaller in scope, whereas there is greater flexibility in developing new research directions in a PhD. In either case, students are expected to participate and assist with broader lab projects in addition to their own research. It is essential that everyone in my lab is a team-player. For more information on the application process see the Graduate Studies Office webpage.

Message to Prospective Students

 

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