Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology
Graduate Student Coordinator: Shonda Dukes
GRE is optional for this program
Evolutionary biology studies the origin and descent of species and their change and adaptation over time. Ecology involves the study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how those factors are affected by interactions between the organisms and their environments. Population biology involves the dynamics of species populations and how they interact with the environment.
The Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology & Population Biology studies the origins and maintenance of biodiversity on both evolutionary and ecological timescales. The Program combines field studies with the technical advances of molecular genetics, statistics, large-scale genomics, quantitative genetics, and mathematical theory to gain an understanding of evolutionary history and environmental biology.
Research in the Program is extremely diverse. Study organisms include model systems such as yeast, Drosophila, Arabidopsis, and Dictyostelium, human populations, agricultural species, and various natural plant and animal populations.
Students’ research opportunities are enriched by the University’s partnerships with local institutions. Our Tyson Research Center allows field studies in local natural ecosystems. The Missouri Botanical Garden conducts systematic study of plant diversity worldwide. The Saint Louis Zoo facilitates studies of the conservation biology of exotic large animals. Our faculty and students also conduct studies on a global scale, at field sites in Africa, Asia, and South America.