For almost two months this semester, our department hosted and interviewed several exceptional scientists for two faculty positions in Quantitative Ecology and Evolution. Graduate students attended seminars, chalk talks, pizza lunches and individual meetings with each candidate and provided feedback to help with the difficult hiring decisions our faculty have to make. We’re looking forward to greeting the new scientists and mentors who join our department!
Author: kdh73
April: Kate Eisen
As a third year PhD student, I am studying how community context affects the ecology and evolution of species interactions. Currently, I am addressing this very broad question in communities where flowering plants share animal pollinators. To me, flowers are the most exciting and incredible parts of these plants because their often flashy traits like color, spotting, and scent, have evolved to attract pollinators who facilitate reproduction. Thus far, I have conducted a greenhouse common garden experiment, an observational study of natural communities, and an experimental manipulation of these communities to address how pollinator sharing affects the evolution of floral traits in Clarkia (Onagraceae) in Kern County, California.
I think that connecting with people outside of the academic community is one of the most important things that I do as a scientist. Currently, I’m volunteering as a scientist mentor for PlantingScience, an online platform that provides teachers with different plant science curricula and pairs student teams with scientists who provide feedback and encouragement while the students conduct inquiry-based projects. Outside of science, I enjoy rock climbing, yoga, travel, and baking.
March: Tram Nguyen
I am broadly interested in conservation genomics and evolutionary biology. I am working on a landscape genomics study to assess the genetic structure and diversity of Florida scrub-jay populations across the state. I also hope to better understand how region of the genome change or evolve through time in populations that are rapidly declining.
As a woman in science and a first-generation college student, I am passionate about increasing diversity within the sciences. I have worked closely with organizations, such as Be WISE, to help empower and inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I want to continue being a part of these efforts to promote inclusion and diversity in academia throughout my career. When I’m not buried in research, I love going to the beach, painting, petting dogs and rolling around on my skateboard 🙂
Recruitment Weekend
Thanks to the 21 applicants who attended our annual graduate student recruitment weekend from January 27-29. We hope you enjoyed your stay and left with all the information you needed about our department; if you still have questions, don’t hesitate to contact your faculty sponsor, the admissions committee, or any of the graduate students you met. Please check out the Prospective students page for even more information, as well as our departmental website. We hope to see you next year!
Holiday Party
The annual EEB Holiday Party was a great success, with a belly-busting potluck buffet and elaborate dessert competition entries. As a new tradition, a group of faculty gave five-minute talks to slides created by graduate students; topics included the aerodynamics of sea urchins, phenotypic plasticity in Pokemon, foraging behavior of deadly reptiles, and the range limits of burger joints. The evening was topped off by a delightful and unusually well-produced first year video. Thanks to all who came!
41st Annual EEB Symposium
On Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 5-6), our graduate students and faculty will present their research at the December Symposium! Check out the schedule here to browse the talk titles.
Save these dates!
The dates for two big departmental events have just been announced, so mark your calendars: the Holiday Party will be on Saturday December 3 from 6-10 PM, and the EEB Symposium will be December 5-6.
To RSVP to the Holiday Party, click here. Don’t forget to buy your tickets and bring a dish! Sign-up for the potluck here.
If you’d like to speak in the Symposium, abstracts are due Friday November 18.
Insectapalooza
Our neighbors in Entomology hosted their annual outreach event Insectapalooza on October 22! Thousands of parents and kids came to explore insect biology and Cornell research, and many EEB grad students attended and volunteered. For photos and more details, check out their website and coverage by the Ithaca Journal.
Pub Board Update
Renee has just updated the Pub Board! Check out the latest publications by graduate students in our department at the entrance to Corson-Mudd Hall.
First Year Dinner
To welcome our new cohort of graduate students, we held our annual first-year dinner! Thanks to Ellie Goud for hosting, to the first year dinner committee for preparing delicious soups, and to all others who brought incredible dishes.