The Department of Ecology and Evolution and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution (GPEE) at Stony Brook were the first such units in the United States and have served as models for corresponding units at many other institutions. The Faculty of the GPEE at Stony Brook includes one member of the National Academy of Sciences, several past presidents of national and international societies in ecology, evolution, and systematics, and authors of influential books in these disciplines. Since its inception, the program has emphasized the integration of concepts from ecology and evolutionary biology. The faculty and the graduate students in GPEE are engaged in research on Long Island and around the world, including Alaska, the continental US, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and Antarctica. They study terrestrial, freshwater, and marine organisms comprising a wide range of taxa, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, primates, birds, mollusks, insects, vascular plants, fungi, and bacteria. Their research incorporates experimental, comparative, theoretical, and statistical approaches and utilize field, laboratory, and literature survey studies. Research in GPEE includes interspecific interactions, geographical variation and phylogeography, population genetics, experimental evolution, evolutionary genomics, molecular evolution, evolutionary developmental biology, phylogenetics, population dynamics, biological invasions, phenotypic plasticity, ecosystem ecology and paleontology. Many faculty members are active in the application of their research to problems in conservation.
In our small program, each student is matched with an advisor from our program faculty. The plan of study is individually tailored within the course offerings and other internship or research opportunities to match the student's personal goals. Core courses provide training in statistics and ecology or evolution. Students participate in at least two topical discussion seminars in ecology or evolution. Students interact with each other in a shared office and through weekly group meetings and participation in seminars. Students must complete 30 graduate credits and a capstone project for the degree, which is typically completed in three semesters. Some of our students also receive an advanced graduate certificate in Geospatial Science, Data & Computational Science, Environmental Management, or Science Training & Research to Inform DEcisions (STRIDE). Graduates of our M.A. program go on to work at government agencies, NGOs, consulting firms, education, and industry, or use their degree as further preparation before applying for doctoral programs.
