Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Example of a Graduate Student Research Proposal in the Department of Biological Sciences Cluster of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Research Topic: Students' Explanations of Graph Construction in Biological Sciences
How do novice biology undergraduate students, graduate students, and expert faculty differ in reasoning used for graph evaluation, construction, and understanding?
Department and Program
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is a research area within the department of Biological Sciences. It is a dynamic and cohesive research and teaching community with interests spanning ecology, evolution, organismal biology, conservation, and integrating fields across the diversity of life sciences with biology education. Focal research areas include Evolutionary Ecology, Physiology and Behavior, Biology Learning Research, and Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology. Many faculty members belong to multiple focus areas, and most areas include faculty from other departments due to the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research. (Source)
How to demonstrate discipline-specific competence
Select a topic in Ecology, Evolution, or Behavior and write a review based on the guidelines provided by the Trends in Ecology and Evolution Journal (TREE). You must also register for two seminar classes: Advanced Ecology Discussion (Fall semester) and Advanced Evolution Discussion (Spring) and get at least a B in both classes. In the spring, you must give an oral presentation (worth 30 points) and submit a review article (worth 70 points). You must earn at least 80 points out of 100 points in order to pass your qualifying exam.
Qualifer Research Project (Example) - The evolution of the avian wing in migratory birds of prey and its influence on conservation modalities.
How to demonstrate independent research competence
Come up with a novel project idea in Biology Education Research and present it to your committee. (Preliminary/Original Proposal)
Lab Rotations: Graduate students rotate through as many as four labs. Each rotation lasts about 6 weeks. During laboratory rotations, the students are exposed to methods, equipment, and experimental procedures currently inused in wet lab, theoretical, or education research laboratories.
Selection of Research Director: Graduate students submit their preference for a research director. The research director-graduate student relationship must be mutually acceptable.
Preliminary Examination and Research Conferences: After forming their Advisory Committee, graduate students take their preliminary examination.
Advisory Committee and Plan of Study: Graduate students select an Advisory Committee that consists of their research director, two additional members from within the Purdue Department of Biological Sciences and one member from a Purdue Department other than Biological Sciences (including facultyin the Chemistry Education or Science Ed programs). The Advisory Committee acts as the Examining Committee.
The exam is based on a proposed research project. Biology education research is an option. The student must come up with a novel project idea in Biology Education Research and present it to the committee. The student outlines the objectives of the proposed research and explains how the objectives would be met. After passing the preliminary examination, the student meets at least annually with the Advisory Committee.
Thesis and Final Examination: After the student has written their thesis, they defend it to the Examining Committee. This examination consists of a public seminar, during which the candidate summarizes his or her thesis research, followed by an oral defense of the research that is attended only by the Examining Committee members.
A student can complete the MS degree with at least 21 course credits plus 9 research credits from lab rotations for a minimum of 30 credits.
The Advisory Committee may approve a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours earned in appropriate coursework from another university toward an advanced degree at Purdue.
Suggested Course Work
After forming their Advisory Committee, graduate students submit an Electronic Plan of Study. On average most Ph.D. students take 24 course credits. The student and all Advisory Committee members agree to and sign the Plan of Study. A typical Plan of Study could look like this:
9 credits of BIOL 699 three 6-week Research Rotations
- BIOL 652 - Advanced Ecology Discussion
- BIOL 653 - Advanced Evolution Discussion
- BIOL 662 - Professional Seminar I and II
- EDCI 517 - Survey of Science Education
- EDCI 518 - The Nature of Science and Teaching Science
- BIOL 595 - Ecological Statistics
- BIOL 524 - Teaching Evolution: Online Course
- BIOL 624 - Human Learning and Memory
Chair of the Qualifier Examining Committee
Dr. Stephanie Gardner (in addition to the Research Advisor, each student is assigned a chair for the Examining Committee)
Graduate Funding Support and Opportunities
- Half-time Teaching Assistant (up to 7 years of tuition support)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (3 years of support; $30,000 per year, and a tuition stipend)