We are now accepting applications for our Ph.D. in Comparative Biology
Program and Graduate Fellowships Program at the American Museum
of Natural History’s Richard Gilder Graduate School for Fall 2026.
Deadline: December 15, 2025.
The AMNH Ph.D. Program in Comparative Biology is training the next
generation of biologists through an integrative approach focused
on the history, evolutionary relationships, and interactions among
species. It builds on the Museum’s strength and experience in research
and training, educating a new generation of scientists to become
leaders in understanding the history and diversity of life on Earth
and in disseminating their work in ways that will support advances in
biological research, human health, biodiversity conservation, and other
related fields. This is an accelerated program, designed for students to
complete their degrees in four years. The Richard Gilder Graduate School
will typically provide full financial support to students matriculating
in the Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program.
We also offer Ph.D. Graduate Fellowships for students interested in
earning a Ph.D. at one of our partner institutions. The AMNH Graduate
Student Ph.D. Fellowship Program is an educational partnership with
selected universities, dedicated to the training of Ph.D. candidates
in those scientific disciplines practiced at the Museum. Our current
collaborations are with Columbia University, City University of New
York (CUNY), Cornell University, Stony Brook University, and New York
University (NYU). The host university in which the student enrolls
exercises educational jurisdiction over the students and formally awards
the degree. In these partnership programs, at least one Museum curator
must serve as a graduate advisor, co-major professor or major professor,
and adjunct university faculty member. Each student benefits by having
the staff and facilities of both the university and the Museum to support
his/her training and research. To be eligible for the AMNH Graduate
Ph.D. Fellowship, students must apply to both the host University’s
Ph.D. program and to the AMNH Graduate Student Ph.D. Fellowships
Program. Students already matriculated in a Ph.D. program are not eligible
to apply; only new, first-time Ph.D. applicants will be considered.
Students who plan to apply to both the RGGS Comparative Biology
Ph.D. Program and to the Graduate Fellowship Program complete one single
application, indicating on the application the program(s) to which they
wish to apply. Students applying for the Graduate Fellowship must also
apply for admission to at least one Ph.D. Program at one of the Museum’s
Partner Institutions.
Admission offered for the fall semester only
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a
member of the faculty prior to application (see:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnh.org%2Fresearch%2Frichard-gilder-graduate-school%2Ffaculty&data=05%7C02%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C2e53b36b4adc4321828108de112ea68c%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638967089290267717%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gnpczRUa1dnU5JawXF7pW6jHiOJN927tX2FpmUd1S1A%3D&reserved=0).
Students applying for the RGGS Graduate Fellowship program and applying
to the Columbia Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental
Biology (E3B) should ALSO contact a potential faculty co-mentor in
that Department, in advance of applying, with the goal of identifying
potential Columbia E3B and AMNH-RGGS co-advisors. Columbia E3B faculty
listing: https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fe3b.columbia.edu%2Ffaculty%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C2e53b36b4adc4321828108de112ea68c%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638967089290300421%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HrB4RYtSvrbt2ich4fjn1j6JnrfsT2nQmZfW%2BXkNYo8%3D&reserved=0.
For more information and to apply, please go to:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnh.org%2Fresearch%2Frichard-gilder-graduate-school%2Facademics-and-research%2Ffellowship-and-grant-opportunities%2Fdoctoral-student-fellowships&data=05%7C02%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C2e53b36b4adc4321828108de112ea68c%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638967089290325939%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=e%2FXnsMnFcYE3Lz8akemzC3TCR8IZ%2F7c0e6LteDiHHRw%3D&reserved=0
Anna Manuel <amanuel@amnh.org>