The School of Biology and Ecology hosts ongoing research focused on seven clustered areas. These pages will help you identify the various cluster topics and locate faculty doing research in your area of interest. Applicants need to identify an area of research interest and a potential advisor at the time of application, they should feel free to contact members of the faculty to discuss possible research projects before submission of the application. A research project is a central part of the PhD degree. All applicants will be automatically considered for teaching or research assistantships. Many students are supported by research grants to individual faculty members, interested students should contact faculty members directly for further information on grant-supported assistantships. By choosing a faculty advisor, graduate applicants can associate themselves with any of a number of research specializations, including: Animal behavior and behavioral ecology, Applied biology, Botany, Developmental and cell biology, Ecology and environmental biology, Entomology Fisheries biology, Freshwater biology, Genetics and molecular biology, Plant pathology, Physiology and physiological ecology, Science Education and Systematics and evolution.<br>Applicants need to identify an area of research interest and a potential advisor at the time of application, they should feel free to contact members of the faculty to discuss possible research projects before submission of the application. A research project is a central part of the PhD degree.<br><br>All applicants will be automatically considered for teaching or research assistantships. Many students are supported by research grants to individual faculty members, interested students should contact faculty members directly for further information on grant-supported assistantships.