PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
GRADUATE INFORMATION
DEPARTMENT
OF BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY GRADUATE INFORMATION
KIMBALL / BRAUN LAB
My
lab is co-run with Edward Braun; some students work with one of us and
some with both of us depending on their interests and
projects. I have
also co-advised students with other faculty in the department,
depending on their interests and the specifics of their project.
Research in our lab
includes genomics, computational evolutionary biology, molecular
evolution, phylogenetics, population genetics, and behavior.
While much of the research in the lab is on birds, the lab is
not exclusively a bird lab (Ed has projects in algal phylogenetics, a
graduate student working on turtles, etc.). I feel that the students that fit
best into my lab are those that enjoy being in a diverse group where
they can interact with students doing many different things.
Some students are more comfortable in a lab that is more
focused on the specific questions they want to ask (e.g., phylogenetics
or behavior, where they get to really immerse themselves in a
particular question), and if this describes you, then you may not be
the best fit for my lab.
If you are interested in research in my lab, I recommend you first look
at my Research and Lab Group pages (if you have not already) to get an idea of
what projects are going on in the lab (graduate projects are on the lab
group page). This does not cover all of the projects we are
working on, but it covers some of the main ones. It should
give you an idea of what we are doing in the lab to help you determine
whether this would be a good fit for you. In addition, look
at my publications to see what I have done, the approaches I have used,
etc.
After this, if you are still
interested, please email me. Include your research
experiences, a c.v., and feel free to attach publications if
you feel they related to what you want to do in my lab. I
would also like some specifics on what you are interested in
doing for a PhD project (and why you feel my lab would be a good place
for you). While I do not expect you to have a fully developed
project, an idea of the type of questions you would like to ask is
helpful (e.g., I am interested in understanding the evolution of mating
systems by mapping various traits on a phylogeny). This helps
me get an idea of what you want to do and how you would fit into the
lab. If you are particularly interested in some specific
studies I have done, indicate that (it is more helpful if you say "I
was really interested in paper X" rather than saying "I am interested
in your research" which doesn't give me much insight into your
interests or what drives you in biology).
The graduate school has certain minimum requirements for GRE's and
GPA's; for international students, additional requirements often apply
as well. Check those out to make sure you have taken (or will
take) the appropriate tests. If you find that your scores are
below the minimum, exceptions can sometimes be made. Let me
know, and I will see what can be done.
A FEW OTHER
THOUGHTS
Graduate school is a lot of work for not a lot of pay. It
should not be entered into lightly. Students who enter
graduate school without a clear reason why (e.g., they aren't sure what
else to do after completing an undergraduate degree) do not always
succeed at the highest level. Think carefully about whether
this is the right step for you at this time. If you are not
100% certain, I recommend you take some time off before entering
graduate school. Personally I feel the best graduate students
are those that work for at least a year before entering graduate
school. This gives you time away from academics to
determine whether you are ready to dive in for what may be a good 6 or
more years (if you go for a PhD) of hard work. If you get a
job related to biology (particularly if you gain research experience),
you may also get more insights into how research is done and whether
this is the right path for you. Alternatively, if you are not
certain you are ready to commit to a PhD, getting an MS degree is a
great way to test the water and see if a PhD is right for you.
INTERESTED
IN
ANOTHER FACULTY IN OUR DEPARTMENT?
If you are interested in another faculty in the department, but also
making contact with additional potential faculty advisors (or eventual
committee members), feel free to contact me. Let me know who
else you are considering - I am not offended by prospective students
that indicate they are really interested with working with Dr. X, but
also want to talk to several faculty with related interests.
It is odd, however, to have a student email me when it is
clear that my lab is not the best fit for them (but they imply they are
only considering my lab in the department) - I am then uncertain
whether they are clueless (and so I should direct them to the
appropriate lab), or whether they are on top of things but feel
uncomfortable admitting I am not their first choice (which I think is
generally the case).