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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog

Ecology and Evolution, PhD

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Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolution
 
Chairperson: Joshua Rest, Life Sciences Building 650, (631) 632-8600
PhD Graduate Program Director: Elizabeth Watson, Life Sciences Building 634, (631) 632-8569
Graduate Program Coordinator: Melissa J. Cohen, Life Sciences Building 657, (631) 632-8604
 

The Department of Ecology and Evolution and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution (GPEE) at Stony Brook were the first such units in the United States and have served as models for corresponding units at many other institutions. The Faculty of the GPEE at Stony Brook has included several members of the National Academy of Sciences, and several past presidents of national and international societies in ecology, evolution, and systematics, and authors of influential books in these disciplines. Since its inception, the program has emphasized the integration of concepts from ecology and evolutionary biology.

The faculty and the graduate students in GPEE are engaged in research on Long Island and around the world, including Alaska, the continental US, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and Antarctica. They study terrestrial, freshwater, and marine organisms comprising a wide range of taxa, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, mollusks, insects, vascular plants, fungi, and bacteria. Their research incorporates experimental, comparative, theoretical, and statistical approaches and utilize field, laboratory, and literature survey studies. Research in GPEE includes interspecific interactions, population genetics, experimental evolution, evolutionary genomics, molecular evolution, evolutionary developmental biology, phylogenetics, population dynamics, biological invasions, phenotypic plasticity, ecosystem ecology and paleontology. Many faculty members are active in the application of their research to problems in conservation.

Graduates are qualified for positions in academic or research institutions, government agencies, conservation organizations, and environmental consulting companies. Former students have become faculty members in biology, ecology and evolution, agricultural entomology, and marine biology departments at prominent private and public universities as well as selective liberal arts and smaller state colleges. Although GPEE emphasizes basic research, many of its graduates have entered careers that apply ecological and evolutionary principles to problems in such areas as marine toxicology, agricultural entomology, invasive species, natural resource management, conservation, data science and risk assessment.

An atmosphere of collegiality and intellectual exchange prevails throughout the GPEE and is fostered by discussion groups and an exciting weekly program of invited speakers during the academic year.

Admission Requirements

To apply, fill out an online application on the Graduate School website.

Applicants will also need to provide:

  1. Official transcripts of undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate course work
  2. Three letters of recommendation
  3. A non-refundable application fee of $100.00. (Please note that applications will not be processed without the $100.00 fee)
  4. TOEFL or IELTS scores if the applicant’s native or primary language is not English
  5. Personal statement addressing the applicant’s background and research interests (more details on the personal statement are available on the Ecology & Evolution website).
  6. CV

All applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, mathematics or other courses of study that provide an appropriate background for advanced training in ecology and evolution. At least one semester of calculus is typically expected.

Prior correspondence with GPEE Faculty member(s) to discuss research interests and possibilities is strongly recommended and applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members whose interests they share.

All incoming students will need to be accepted by both the Graduate School and the Department of Ecology & Evolution.

For more information on applying, please review the E&E website. You are also welcome to contact the Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program Coordinator with questions.

Degree Requirements

The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for degree completion.

Course Requirements

1. In the first year in residence, students are normally required to take

A grade of B- or better is required for these classes. Grades lower than a B- may be accepted with the approval of the advisor and Graduate Program Director.

2. In later semesters, students must take a minimum of three other graduate courses, other than seminars, within this or other programs of this or other universities. Upon the recommendation of a student’s dissertation committee and with the approval of the Graduate Program Director, one elective course may be waived.

3. BEE 671  and BEE 672 , Colloquium in Ecology and Evolution must be taken each semester in residence.

4. Four graduate seminar courses are required under normal circumstances.

5. Most students will require advanced training in various ancillary disciplines appropriate to their chosen field of research. Requirements will be determined by the student’s advisory committee and may include a foreign language or advanced studies in mathematics, statistics, computer science, molecular biology, taxonomy, or other areas.

Preliminary Examination

At the end of the second semester, a Preliminary Examination is given testing students’ knowledge in the fields of ecology and evolution. Failing the preliminary exam may be cause for dismissal from the graduate program.

Oral Examination

In the second year of study, each student takes an Oral Examination tailored to the student’s interests and administered by his or her advisory committee. The student and their committee decide in advance on the areas to be covered in this examination. This examination is concurrent with the submission of a Dissertation Research Proposal that is written by the student and must be approved by the advisory committee before advancement to Ph.D. candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

The faculty will recommend a student to the Graduate School for advancement to candidacy upon satisfactory completion of the Oral Examination and any language requirement established for the student, and upon acceptance of the written Dissertation Research Proposal by the student’s committee.

Research and Dissertation

A dissertation is required for the Ph.D. degree. It must contain the results of original and significant investigation. A student’s progress in research is monitored by regular evaluations by the faculty in meetings held twice a year. Continued lack of progress may result in probation or dismissal.

Dissertation Committee

Students select a temporary advisor during the first semester and a permanent advisor at the beginning of the third semester. The advisory committee, consisting of the permanent advisor and at least two other GPEE faculty members, is nominated by the student in consultation with his or her permanent advisor and must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. A fourth committee member, external to the E&E graduate program at SBU, is also required. The final committee including the advisor, chair, third internal committee member and external committee member will be approved by the Graduate School.

Final Examination

The dissertation must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. A dissertation examining committee (which must include an external examiner) is then approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A formal public oral dissertation defense is held, at which the student presents his or her findings and is questioned by members of the audience and then by the examining committee in a meeting immediately following the presentation.

Teaching Requirement

All graduate students completing a doctoral degree will function as teaching assistants during at least one semester of their graduate careers.

Residence Requirement

At least two consecutive semesters of full-time graduate study are required. The demands of the course of study usually necessitate a longer period of residence.

Time Limit

The time limit imposed by the Graduate School is observed by GPEE. Students must satisfy all requirements for the Ph.D. degree within seven years after completing 24 credit hours of graduate courses in GPEE.

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