Graduate Student Opportunities
For
Study and Research
Ernest Lab - Ecological Genetics & Wildlife Population Health
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Quality education is a priority with Dr. Ernest and the laboratory.
For Fall 2012, due to graduate student funding challenges in California, only exceptional applicants with excellent funding opportunities for their research, stipend, and tuition can be considered (that means students who have secured fellowships prior to starting their graduate degree).
Acceptance into a graduate group in which Dr. Ernest is (or can be) a member is required prior to consideration for membership in my lab:
Avian Science, Ecology, Epidemiology, Forensic Science, Genetics, Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM)
Excellent grades (GPA), GRE scores, and demonstrated research laboratory experience (genetics and/or disease) is very important for lab membership consideration. These factors are vital for securing funding - for your tuition, stipend, and research.
Students interested in graduate research/study in ecological genetics and have a background some combination of the following may find special interest in our lab:
- Combination of molecular genetics and disease research (including immunogenetics) laboratory experience.
- Strong GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and/or avian/mammal population monitoring skills (abilities or interest in applications using programs such as MAXENT, DISTANCE, MARK).
- Professional connections with state or federal wildlife agencies.
- Innovative aspects of natural population genetics, including predictive modeling
- Excellent quantitative, analytical, and verbal skills
- Interests in
- developing and answering important questions in wildlife health, disease ecology & epidemiology, and conservation ecology
- Wildlife genetics, population health, and disease ecology
- Applications of genomics, disease diagnotic tests, field ecology, natural history, habitat modeling using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), avian population monitoring methods (MARK, DISTANCE, MAXENT, etc), statistics, and/or wildlife epidemiology methods..
- Free-ranging California birds (current focus is on hummingbird ecology, health, and population genetics) and California mammals (current areas of focus include disease ecology and/or landscape genetics in black bears, bighorn sheep, wild pigs, sea otters, and mountain lions).
Preference for graduate student membership in our lab may be given to California residents (lower tuition costs), demonstration of excellent scholarship (academic record, GRE's, research experience) and to students who are awarded external (such as NSF) or substantial UC Davis (such as graduate group fellowships) funding for their studies. Students who are not USA residents may be considered only if they secure multiple years of fellowship funding from their country, UC Davis, or other funding sources. Refer to specific UC Davis graduate group web sites for information on UC Davis fellowships.
Since funding for graduate wildlife science research is scarse, all students in our lab are required to apply for fellowships and scholarships. Students receiving fellowship funding are more likely to gain admission to the lab of their choice. Some are available for application prior to graduate school admission. Here is a partial list:
- NSF - Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) or go to main NSF web site
- EPA STAR fellowships
- Department of Energy (DOE) fellowships
- UC Davis graduate studies funding opportunities
- Visit UC Davis graduate group web sites
- Make your own connections with state, federal, non-profit agencies to get your research funded.
For Fall 2011, the lab is quite full and only exceptional applicants with excellent funding opportunities can be considered. If you believe the interests of our lab match yours and you have excellent grades and GRE’s, send me an email with the following:
- Transcripts including GPA
- GRE scores (both raw scores and %-iles)
- C.V./resume
- Interest and experience in the area you hope to work in.
- Brief email (short paragraph) detailing why you are interested in my lab and going to UCD for graduate work, and what skills and strengths you would bring to my lab. Explain what sort of research you would like to work on.
- Short emails help me to respond quicker to you. Also helps if you paste prior email threads we exchanged to help remind me of past communications..
- See these resources (and do your own internet searches
