Graduate Program

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Graduate Research

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Earth & Marine Sciences A308
Phone: 831.459.5358
Fax: 831.459.5353
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Program Vision
The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Graduate Program at UCSC reflects the remarkable local and global diversity of species and environments studied by the EEB faculty and students. The vision of the EEB graduate program is to provide a nurturing, creative, and intellectual environment conducive to the development of world-class scientists. The small size of the EEB graduate programs encourages close working relations between students and faculty in an informal atmosphere conducive to rapid learning and professional growth. Interdisciplinary collaborations with oceanographers, geologists, toxicologists, and others enable students to explore the conceptual connections between related fields as they acquire mastery in their areas of specialization.

Quality and Tradition
The graduate program in EEB is one of the premier programs in the country. This is due to the quality and commitment of the faculty; the long-standing tradition of the University of California and the unique environment of the Santa Cruz campus. UC Santa Cruz has been singularly blessed with varied and easily accessible marine and terrestrial resources for research. UCSC is ideal for marine research, having its own marine laboratory, a fleet of boats, and one of the most active scientific diving programs in the country. In close proximity to pinniped rookeries at the UC Reserve at Año Nuevo, the campus is located on Monterey Bay, which has the largest concentration of marine research programs in the country. In addition to state-of-the-art departmental laboratories, students have full access to the analytical laboratories and other facilities of the UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences.

Terrestrial biologists have access to all of California's natural environments through the University of California's Natural Reserve System; the diverse habitats on UCSC's 2,000 acre campus itself (mixed redwood forest, fossil sand dune associations, rolling pasture land, chaparral) and on several adjacent preserves; the UCSC experimental Farm and Garden extensive Southern Hemisphere plantings in the UCSC Arboretum; and greenhouses and associated laboratory facilities. More than two-thirds of our faculty participate actively in field studies throughout the Pacific Basin (from Alaska to Antarctica), in Pacific Rim nations (Latin America, the Far East, and Australia), and beyond.

The graduate program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), which offers masters's and doctoral degrees, is comprised of four core tracks:

Educational Opportunity
EEB supports its students through Graduate Student Research (GSR) positions, Teaching Assistant (TA) positions, and fellowships. Fellowships are available for first-year graduate students who have overcome significant social or educational obstacles to achieve a college education and to those whose background equips them to contribute intellectual diversity. Additional funding may be available through the Graduate Division, STEPS Institute, and Minority Biomedical Research Support Program. Loans are available through the Financial Aid Office.

Building a Brighter Future
More than 150 EEB graduates consult and conduct research for academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and the private sector throughout the U.S. and abroad. More than 87 percent of our alumni earned an annual salary between $45,000 and $80,000 within the first year of graduating from UCSC. On average, Ph.D. students completed their degree within six years, while master’s students finished within three years. These graduates are working to make a broad, positive impact through conservation science and through teaching the next generation.

A five year job placement survey (1999-2004) showed that...

Diversity and Community
The EEB Committee on Diversity Enhancement (CDE) is dedicated to improving resources and educational contributions that enhance diversity. CDE focuses on (1) incorporating discussion of the minority experience in EEB; (2) hosting underrepresented speakers at the EEB seminar series; (3) developing a graduate student-based diversity committee; and (4) enhancing diversity recruitment and outreach.

EEB welcomes the diversity brought by minority, underrepresented and foreign students. CDE provides travel reimbursements awards to prospective minority and underrepresented students to visit the campus. Application fee waivers may be available through the Graduate Division, EOP, MCNAIR, Project 1000, SURF, and UC LEADS.

Graduate Student Representatives
In response to suggestions from the graduate student body, the EEB Department formed two Graduate Student Representative positions in 2003. These positions were formed in order to funnel communication between graduate students and faculty on issues, and to help maintain important initiatives over time.The Graduate Student Representatives serve as a liaison between the Graduate Advisor, faculty and Graduate Advisory Committee. These positions enable the the EEB graduate student body to take an active roll in assisting the department with sculpting activates and program requirements.

Graduate Student Commons
Students from all backgrounds use the Graduate Student Commons which includes lounges, study rooms, computers and office space. Designed, funded and operated by graduate students, The Graduate Commons provides a central location for graduate students to meet, study, relax and help build a strong graduate community on campus.

Prospective students are encouraged to review department research web pages and contact professors whose areas of interest match their own.

Additional information about our graduate program is available on the Advising website and in the EEB Graduate Handbook

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