The Department of Biology at Georgetown University has multiple opportunities for doctoral study in ecology, evolution and behavior (EEB).
The faculty and graduate program in Biology at Georgetown help doctoral candidates develop into insightful researchers and effective teachers and communicators. Funding for graduate study is supported by a combination of assistantships, teaching fellowships and research grant support. Our program and institution welcomes students of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Students interested in any of the opportunities listed below are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant faculty member(s) via email. The Department of Biology graduate program is described at http://biology.georgetown.edu/graduate/applicants/. Information about graduate school application procedures and deadlines can be found at http://grad.georgetown.edu/pages/admissions.cfm. Mechanisms of phenotypic evolution: Dr. Peter Armbruster seeks a highly motivated PhD student to join his laboratory’s research on mechanisms of phenotypic evolution in natural populations. The Armbruster lab is currently focusing on the invasive and medically important mosquito Aedes albopictus. This mosquito invaded the US in 1985 and spread rapidly over approximately 15 degrees of latitude. This natural experiment in evolution provides an exciting opportunity to identify the molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning climatic adaptation during invasion and range expansion. Dr. Armbruster’s research is currently supported by grants from both NIH and NSF, and integrates a broad range of approaches, including molecular biology, bioinformatics, physiology, and quantitative genetics. Interested students should contact Dr. Peter Armbruster ([email protected]). For further information on the Armbruster lab see: http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/biology/faculty/armbruster/ Mathematical Population Biology: Faculty in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics have ongoing collaborations centered on quantitative modeling and analysis of population genetic data. Ongoing projects span a wide spectrum of applications including the development of coalescent models that better suit natural populations in order to infer biological mechanisms acting on genetic polymorphism to the development of novel quantitative models to analyze the evolution of HIV within an infected individual. These projects are highly interdisciplinary, drawing on approaches and techniques from both disciplines. Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton (Biology) and Dr. Sivan Leviyang (Mathematics) are seeking an outstanding student to pursue a jointly mentored PhD in mathematical biology. The course of study will include classes in biology, mathematics and computer science, with the goal of providing the student with a firm background in population genetics, ecology, statistics, probability, and computation. The specific topic of research is flexible and can favor theory or application depending on the students’ interest. The ideal student should possess a bachelor’s degree in biology or mathematics (with some course work and experience in the alternate field) with some experience in computation. Most importantly, an ideal student will have a strong desire to engage in interdisciplinary research in quantitative biology. Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton ([email protected]) and Dr. Leviyang ([email protected]). For further information on Dr. Leviyang’s research see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/sr286/. For further information on the Hamilton lab see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/. Empirical population genetics and molecular evolution: Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton is seeking students interested in using genetic marker data to test fundamental hypotheses in population genetics and molecular evolution. On-going empirical projects include using transcriptome-scale data to compare the molecular clock in annual and perennial plants, studying temporal genetic variation in striped bass and testing for the ecological causes of changes in genetic variation in salt marsh insects. The ideal project in the Hamilton lab is one that combines empirical genetic marker data collection with mathematical or computer simulation work to develop novel expectations or hypothesis tests. Interested students should contact Dr. Hamilton ([email protected]). For further information on the Hamilton lab see http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/. Ecological interactions, behavior & learning: Research in Dr. Martha Weiss’ lab focuses on ecological interactions (between plants and animals, as well as predator and prey), with an emphasis on behavior and learning. Recent or ongoing projects include investigations of butterfly and caterpillar learning, retention of memory across complete metamorphosis, the ecological context of defecation behavior, and predatory wasp learning and foraging behavior. We are also working on development of hands-on science curricular materials, mostly related to plants and insects, for use in K-12 classrooms. We seek an outstanding graduate student interested in these or related projects. For more information see the Weiss Lab website (http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/emc26/MarthaWeiss/weissm/), but be aware that its content is out of date and in the process of being updated. Arthropod biodiversity and conservation: Professor Edward M. Barrows is seeking an excellent, self-motivated, and biology-passionate student to work on a long-term project regarding arthropod biodiversity and conservation especially in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (DMWP), Virginia, near Georgetown University. The study includes documenting DMWP species, their phenologies and relative abundances in habitats, and their food-web and other ecological roles in view of global change which may have significant effects on the Preserve. Dr. Barrows’ Entomology and Biodiversity Laboratory is currently analyzing a huge, baseline, historical (1998–1999) DMWP arthropod sample. The Friends of Dyke Marsh, National Park Service, Washington Biologists’ Field Club, and others are supporting this study. DMWP information is at http://biodiversity.georgetown.edu/files/informationfile.cfm? title=dykemarshintro . Interested students should contact Dr. Barrows at [email protected]. Behavioral ecology, development, reproduction & life history of Bottlenose Dolphins: Professor Mann is seeking outstanding PhD students in 2011 to collaborate on her long-term study of wild bottlenose dolphins. Dr. Mann directs the Shark Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Research Project, a 25+ year longitudinal study on a population of wild bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Members of her lab are currently focusing on research questions related to behavioral development, life history, female reproduction, information transmission/diffusion, social networks, home range and habitat use. More recently, members of her team are developing non- invasive techniques for sampling cetacean genetics, diet, and hormones. Her work is currently supported by NSF and ONR. Dr. Mann collaborates extensively with Dr. Lisa Singh in Computer Science. Dr. Mann is not accepting students in 2010 but will consider applicants the following year. For more information see www.monkeymiadolphins.org http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/mannj2 http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/Mann/ Community Ecology and Landscape Genetics: Dr. Gina Wimp is seeking students interested in understanding the mechanisms that lead to the loss of biodiversity and increased risk of extinction in fragmented habitats. Dr. Wimp’s work takes place in the intertidal salt marsh where a rise in mean tidal height over the past 60 years has led to a change in the demography of the two dominant grass species, with the more flood-intolerant grass (Spartina patens) contracting in size. She uses manipulative experiments to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation in S. patens on the abundance, diversity and composition of the dependent arthropod community. The Wimp and Hamilton labs have developed microsatellite genetic marker loci to examine the effects of habitat fragmentation on gene flow in two of the dominant herbivore species found in S. patens, both of which are flightless, specialist planthoppers. Interested students should contact Dr. Gina Wimp via email ([email protected]). For further information see the following websites: http://biology.georgetown.edu/faculty/wimp/research/ http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/hamiltm1/
