Graduate Studies

Overview

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the School of Biological Sciences offers a program of study leading to the Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences. The graduate program and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) campus are described on this page (see also the main UCI web page). Details on application procedures may be found under Admission in the section describing the graduate program.

Research in the Department may be conducted at the molecular, biochemical, organismal, population, or community level. Emphasis is placed on development of theory and the formulation and experimental testing of hypotheses that lead to further understanding of important ecological and evolutionary issues. Experimentation is carried out under field and laboratory conditions. Primary attention is focused on ecological and evolutionary mechanisms, rather than on individual taxa or habitats.

Although the UCI campus is located in populous Southern California, a diversity of undisturbed natural settings lies close to campus, including sandy and rocky intertidal, chaparral, montane forest, alpine, and desert ecosystems. The University of California Natural Reserve System, a variety of private reserves and research stations, and state and national forest land provide ready access for field research. In addition, graduate research is frequently conducted farther afield in a variety of natural settings, both domestic and foreign. Students use the Department's sophisticated laboratory and field instruments and equipment.

The Department has 37 active faculty members. Their areas of interest overlap broadly in the fields of ecology, organismal biology, and evolutionary biology, and faculty engage in considerable communication and collaboration. Graduate students have ample opportunity for interaction with faculty in classroom, seminar, and laboratory situations.

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Nondiscrimination Policy Statement Regarding Student-Related Matters
The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy*, disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. The University also prohibits sexual harassment. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries regarding the University's student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to: Kirsten K. Quanbeck, Assistant Executive Vice Chancellor, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 4500 Berkeley Place, Irvine, CA 92697-1130, Phone: (949) 824-5594, email: eod@uci.edu

*Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Inquiries regarding the University's equal opportunity policies may be directed to Davida Hopkins-Parham, Acting Assistant Vice Chancellor, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, 524 Administration Building, University of California, Irvine, CA 92717; telephone (949) 824-5594.