Graduate Programs

The graduate program in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology is intended for highly qualified students who plan to pursue a career that includes research in the fields of ecology and environmental science, organismal biology and/or evolutionary biology.

Brown's Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) is an interactive group of 20 faculty and approximately 35 graduate students engaged in research and coursework that spans the fields of anatomy, behavior, ecology, evolution, genetics, genomics and paleontology utilizing a range of organisms from microbes to dinosaurs.

Before enrolling, students typically identify one or two faculty with whom they want to study. Independent research begins early in the program, which is designed to prepare students for careers in research and higher education. Each student develops a program of preparation based on close mentoring by a thesis committee. Students are also required to take at least three graduate seminars that cover current topics in individual faculty members' areas of expertise. Students participate in the EEOB graduate seminar taught by a pair of faculty members who bring different perspectives to classical and current literature in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. Weekly colloquia give students contact with visiting scientists from a wide variety of disciplines.

Collaborative training programs: EEOB faculty also train students in collaboration with the Center for Computational Molecular Biology and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, and the School of Engineering, and faculty from those units often serve as co–mentors to EEOB graduate students.

Application Information

Please note that in lieu of a personal statement, EEOB asks that applicants answer a set of questions that are shared on our graduate application webpages.

Application Requirements

GRE Subject:

Not required

GRE General:

Not required

Dates/Deadlines

Application Deadline

Completion Requirements

Take three EEOB graduate seminar courses, maintain a course record in good standing according to the regulations of the Graduate School, pass an oral qualifying exam at the end of year two, defend a thesis proposal to a thesis committee of a minimum of four faculty members, complete the dissertation reporting original research, present the dissertation at a one-hour seminar, and pass an oral dissertation defense meeting conducted by the thesis committee.

Alumni Careers

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Leadership

Department Chair
David Rand
Director of Graduate Studies
Matthew Fuxjager

Contact and Location

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Mailing Address

Brown University
Box G-W
Visit the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Resources