Prospective Graduate Students
October 2009
Dear Prospective Graduate Student:
Thank you for your interest in our lab group and the University of Maryland. This letter provides information about my research program, possibilities for prospective students, and some background on graduate programs at the University of Maryland, College Park. After reviewing this letter, please browse the Gruner lab web site, read some publications, and then contact me with information about yourself and your research interests, including your CV and a brief outline of your potential ideas for research.
My research program focuses on empirical food web dynamics and the maintenance of biodiversity in ecological communities and ecosystems, with particular focus on terrestrial arthropods. I have active collaborative research programs in Hawaii, California, here in Maryland, and several other locations. Please take a look at my research page and track down some of the publications, most of which are available as pdfs. Currently, we have three graduate students in the lab, but I am always on the lookout for exceptional candidates for graduate study. I will consider students for either the Masters or PhD degrees; PhD candidates should have the equivalent experience, if not the degree itself, of MS-level research. MS students should develop a crisp independent research topic related to or involved with my research, while PhD students should design and fund their research with greater independence.
Our graduate programs have been re-organized for the upcoming recruitment cycle. At present there are two paths for candidates who wish to work with our lab group. Students may apply through Entomology (ENTM) or through a new cross-disciplinary graduate program under the umbrella, “Biological Sciences (BISI). ” This will streamline admissions and administration in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences and will allow flexibility and potential for interaction among different research disciplines in the college. Students choose an area of focus within this umbrella - at present I am affiliated with the program in Behavior, Evolution, Ecology & Systematics (BEES) .
In our graduate programs (present and future), students are evaluated and admitted by a committee and on the condition that a package of financial support can be guaranteed. This support package may consist of a mix of Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Research Assistantships (RAs), and/or fellowships. Unless students arrive with funding (a plus!), I prefer graduate students to work as a teaching assistant (TA) during the early years while on campus, and to switch to RAs or fellowships as research projects gain momentum. Students are expected to seek outside fellowships (e.g., NSF GRFP, EPA STAR) and other independent funding to support their salary and research projects. This is essential training for a career in science.
I look forward to hearing from you, and the best of luck in your search for the best fit in a graduate program.
Sincerely,
Daniel Gruner
