A Top Graduate Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution
The Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS) at Emory University offers a Ph.D. program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution (PBEE). The "Chronicle of Higher Education" ranks Emory University as number 1 in the nation for scholarly productivity in the fields of evolutionary biology and ecology.
The interdisciplinary PBEE program pulls faculty members from Emory College of Arts and Sciences (Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Studies), the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, the Emory Rollins School of Public Health (Departments of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Global Health), the Emory University School of Medicine (Department of Human Genetics and Medicine), the Emory National Vaccine Center, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Faculty members and students investigate a broad range of issues in population biology, ecology, and evolution, all by using quantitative methods and models.
The program provides graduate students with competitive financial support.
Training and Expertise in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
The field of population biology crosses many levels of organization, from molecular to complex ecological systems, and as a result, PBEE research must employ a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the organization, dynamics, and evolution of natural populations. Hence, graduate students take courses not only in core subjects, such as ecology, molecular evolution, biostatical models, and applied linear models, but also in a host of electives that connect to their areas of expertise.
Graduate students conduct research in one of six areas of inquiry: bioinformatics and biostatistics; the biology of species interactions; disease ecology; ecological and evolutionary modeling; genetics of complex traits; and population and comparative genomics.
Outstanding Faculty and Research Opportunities
The program's faculty members are at the forefront of research in population biology, ecology, and evolution. Biologist Jaap de Roode has been named one of the "Brilliant 10" top scientists under 40 by the editors of Popular Science magazine, and Bruce Levin has been named to the National Academy of Sciences.
Doctoral Program Coursework and Research
Doctoral students in PBEE typically take between five and six years to complete their degrees. Students complete three laboratory rotations during their first year to help them identify thesis advisors and research topics. All students are also required to take a two-day teacher training course after their first year, and are required to gain teaching experience.
Students begin dissertation research and take written qualifying exams for the doctoral program in PBEE during their second year. After completing their dissertation research, students defend their theses both orally and in writing.
Excellent Research Centers and Facilities
Graduate students in the microbiology and molecular genetics program have the unique training opportunities through the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and the Emory Vaccine Center. Emory is unique in giving students the option to do dissertation work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Competitive Financial Support
Students in the Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Emory receive tuition scholarships, health insurance, and stipends. They enjoy the low cost of living in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.
The stipend for the 2017-18 academic year was $30,000. In addition, several competitive fellowships are offered to outstanding applicants each year. These fellowships provide students with supplements to their stipends that range from $2,500 to $5,000 per year for five years, depending on the award.
Living in Atlanta
Emory University is located in a beautiful, wooded area of northeast Atlanta, Georgia, just four miles from downtown. The area serves as a hub of medical research, encompassing both the CDC and the American Cancer Society.
Midtown Atlanta is home to museums, galleries, and cultural activities that students enjoy. Atlanta's temperate climate affords students many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, and camping.
