The Biology Department at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM
Tech/NMT) is recruiting outstanding student researcher-scholars to join our highly competitive MS program beginning in Fall of 2025. The Biology Department is a growing force within NM Tech, and is committed to educating and training the next generation of biology-oriented scholars, scientists, and problem-solvers. Master’s students in our program can expect rigorous classroom/laboratory coursework, with the expectation of a high-quality Thesis resulting from research performed under the tutelage of our exceptional faculty mentors. Former NMT Biology MS graduates have gone on to earn PhD’s, MD’s, DVM’s, or immediately entered the workforce taking Biotech jobs, National Laboratory research positions, and work for NGO’s,
Non-profits and as Primary School Educators.
Having the support of a faculty mentor is critical to acceptance in the program. We have limited slots for Fall 2025 and encourage prospective students to contact one or more faculty (see below) regarding potential thesis projects.
Faculty research interests include: biogeochemistry, bioinformatics, ecotoxicology, fungal ecology, landscape genetics, medical microbiology & wildlife ecology
If a formal offer of acceptance is made to a candidate, we provide competitive TA support during the first semester that can be extended based on degree progress. The majority of our students receive a combination of TA and RA (Research Assistantship) financial support. Summer support is typically provided by extramural grants or institutional funding.
The Biology Department is also the historic anchor of an 11-department trans-disciplinary Biotechnology PhD program and outstanding MS students would be highly competitive for entry into that doctorate pathway. Interested prospective students should:
1) Begin formally applying to NMT graduate school:
2) Contact one or more faculty members below with a brief cover letter (email is fine) explaining your research interests and career goals
3) Include a 1-page CV/resume in the inquiry email
Dr. Benjamin Duval (ecosystem ecology, ecotoxicology, global change, soil science)
Dr. Paris Salazar-Hamm (mycologist, emerging fungal disease)
Dr. Joshua Jahner (bioinformatics, conservation biology, landscape genetics)
NM Tech is located in Socorro, NM which boasts proximity to the Rio Grande, Chihuahuan
Desert and the Magdalena Mountains are visible from campus. The town is ~8000 people, is minutes from world-class mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing. Albuquerque is ~1hr north. The cost of living is among the lowest for Southwestern mountain towns. The weather is typically spectacular!
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