*External sender: This message was not sent through the UConn email system. It might be safe, but use caution before interacting with links, attachments, or requests.*
I am currently recruiting graduate students to join my lab as part of the
Ph.D. program at UTK’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.
My research is focused on the building, analysis, and fitting of
multi-scale mathematical models relevant to evolutionary biology.
Specific areas of interest include:
1. Phylogenetics (See Beaulieu et al 2021 MBE and Beaulieu et al 2019
MBE)
2. Protein translation (See Gilchrist 2007 MBE, Shah and Gilchrist 2011
PNAS, GIlchrist et al 2015 GBE, Cope and Gilchrist 2022 BMC Genomics)
3. Host-Parasite interactions and evolution (See Gilchrist and Sasaki
2002 TBP, Gilchrist and Coombs 2006 TPB, and Coombs et al 2007 TPB)
General approaches involve development of multiscale models using coupled
differential or difference equations and data fitting using customized
Bayesian and Likelihood based approaches. Students benefit from careful
and attentive mentoring within a small lab situatied within a world class
and dynamics EEB department. Additional collaboration opportunities
also exist with faculty in the Dept. of Microbiology, Dept. Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology within the Division of Biology, as well as other
departments on the UT Ag Campus and labs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
EEB PhD Program Highlights
Program Highlights
* Our graduate students publish dozens of papers annually in
journals such as Science, Ecology, Systematic Biology, Proceedings
of the Royal Society B, American Naturalist, Biological Invasions,
Journal of College Science Teaching, and are awarded external
research funds (e.g., NSF GRFP and other fellowships).
* PhD graduate placement, for all graduates from 2000-2018: 43 tenure-
track faculty, 22 postdocs, 28 government, with the others in
NGOs, private business, or non-tenure track jobs. For those at
least five years after graduation, 57% tenure-track faculty, 3%
postdoc, 17% government.
* Resources to support student research: internal funds, DNA
sequencing facility, core microscopy, computer clusters,
greenhouses, and a field station.
* Available training in teaching best practices, including a
certificate in college teaching and training consistent with AAAS
national recommendations.
* Emphasis on creating a positive and welcoming departmental
climate for all
* Grad students receive health insurance, and tuition and campus
fees are covered.
* Outreach and service opportunities, including invasive species
removal, taxonomic forays with the broader public, participation
in Darwin Day Tennessee, and mentoring undergraduates and high
school researchers..
* Students commonly develop their research projects in close
partnership with NGOs and state and federal agencies to ensure
their research has a real-world impact.
* Nearby locations for research: Great Smoky Mountains N.P., a
biodiversity hotspot; numerous cave systems; campus greenhouses;
and experimental plots.
* Vibrant community: 86 miles of greenways and trails in Knoxville,
many festivals and parades, museums, and live music.
* Active departmental graduate student organization
(GREBE<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgrebeemail.wixsite.com%2Fgrebesite&data=05%7C02%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C1e2482a356494b7cd65f08de1dc9ba88%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638980949428064256%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DvJ4Y3gptMM03kVGlDzivRlt9EiTdaBdSmj73qnzfmA%3D&reserved=0>) to represent and
help graduate students.
For more information about the EEB PhD program at UTK, please visit:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feeb.utk.edu%2Fgraduate-students&data=05%7C02%7Ceric.schultz%40uconn.edu%7C1e2482a356494b7cd65f08de1dc9ba88%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638980949428086765%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3pA0JbrAYdPdw0I1HYrVZZ2vNKUuhFsqtZ5Ay7VqYk0%3D&reserved=0
Prior to applying, interested students should email me at mikeg@utk.edu
with the following: (1) academic CV, (2) unofficial transcript(s),
(3) contact information for 2-3 references, and (4) a brief statement
describing your research interests, relevant research experience, and
motivation for joining our Ph.D. program.
Application deadline for the Ph.D. program closes Dec 1.