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Marck Menke
Course of Study: Currently, I'm working with Tom Croat at MOBOT
on a florula of the Araceae for the Shell-Mera region of Ecuador.
Previous work has included finding a suitable gene for a population
study of Welwitschia and a phylogenetic study of a group of Borages,
the Temperate Woody Hydrophylls.
What first interested you in this field of study?:
I was interested in
learning how a tropical floristics and alpha taxonomy are actually
performed in practice.
What made you choose Washington University?
The great resources and
reputation of the school and its faculty. Its association with the
Missouri Botanical Garden was of prime importance to me. Besides, I
wanted to try living outside of California.
Advice for prospective graduate students:
Communication is always important. Share your ideas and
discuss them with as many colleagues as possible.
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Michele Johnson
Course of Study: I work in the Losos Lab, studying the
behavioral ecology of Caribbean anoles. I'm interested in the relationship
between the lizards' structural habitats and their territorial behavior.
What made you choose Washington University?
When I was deciding among graduate schools, I chose among three schools, all
of which have strong academic reputations and outstanding faculty. I chose
Wash U because the other graduate students here are very happy to be at
studying biology at Wash U. They are wonderful colleagues who challenge
each other to improve without being competitive.
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Matt Gifford
Course of Study:
I have recently started my thesis work in the Larson lab on the phylogenetics and
comparative phylogeography of Greater
Antillean and Bahamian Ameiva and Leiocephalus lizards.
The major foci of this work will be to elucidate population level relationships among the multiple species
complexes and to investigate some emergent properties of community ecology from a phylogenetic perspective.
My previous work includes a phylogeographic analysis of the Ameiva chrysolaema species complex from Hispaniola,
and the phylogenetics and biogeography of members of the Anolis carolinensis series from Cuba, The Bahamas, and
a few sites in Florida (in collaboration with Rich Glor).
What first interested you in this field of study?
I became interested in learning how molecular markers can be used to address questions of population history,
biogeography, and more recently community ecology.
What made you choose Washington University?
First it was the reputation of the program. After interviewing, the main attraction was the other
graduate students. Everyone was extremely happy to be here and had the freedom to choose research
projects that were of interest to them.
Advice for prospective graduate students:
During interviews spend as much time as possible with the current grad students.
This is where you will get your best feel for your program of interest.
Contact Matt at 
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Jane Kenney
Course of Study: I'm interested in the evolution of complex traits. My project
investigates pleiotropic effects on (mouse) skeletal morphology.
What made you choose Washington University?
My decision came down to three
great programs. Wash U had
the coursework that most closely matched my interests, the advantage of the
resources of the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, and students
really excited about their work.
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Brad Oberle
Course of Study:
I plan to study plant evolution, especially plasticity, diversity and
invasion.
What first interested you in this field of study?:
Building on generations of family history in farming and gardening, I became
an avid
wildflower hunter in middle school. Since then have wanted to understand how
species
and communities develop on various landscapes.
What made you choose Washington University?
I am a native St. Louisan who appreciates this great city as well as the
outstanding
faculty at wash-u. The strength of the faculty, in combination with the
incredible
resources available to graduate students through the Missouri Botanical
Garden,
convinced me that my training here as a botanist would match any other
available.
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Jennifer Neuwald
Course of Study:
I'm interested in studying population genetics of organisms whose
distribution covers multiple ecosystems. I'm addressing these questions in
Alan Templeton's lab. Currently, I'm working on the Eastern Collared
Lizards found in relictual glades in the Missouri Ozarks. My past research
has also involved habitat fragmentation and its impact on the population
genetics of the Amargosa vole, an endangered rodent endemic to marshes in
Death Valley. Other ongoing research includes phylogeography of the
California vole.
What first interested you in this field of study?
Hmmmm.... you know, my interests have really evolved (yeah, pun intended;)
from when I started as an undergrad. I think the opportunity to reveal the
history of life is what really drives me. PopGen grabbed me because it's
evolution in action... of course, that also makes it harder to unravel...
What made you choose Washington University?
With the questions I was interested in, the EEPB program and it's faculty
seemed to offer the perfect opporitunity to achieve my goals. However, the
clincher was my visit here. The interaction among the grad students really
impressed me. The attitude was very welcoming and encouraging.
Advice to prospective graduate students:
When you come to visit, spend time with the grad students! You can really
get a feel for the attitude of a place - these are the people you're going
to be spending a lot of time with. In fact, often I find myself going to
other students for advice, ideas, etc. - So get to know us!
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James Beck
Course of Study:
I work in the Schaal lab, doing population genetic work on the plant model
organism Arabidopsis thaliana. I'm interested in the effect human activity
has had on the geographic array of genomes within this species.
What made you choose Washington University?
I found the focused, short set of coursework attractive. In many labs a
student can begin doing independent research practically from day one. The
EEPB program also has access to unrivaled botanical expertise and logistical
support through its affiliation with the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Advice to prospective graduate students:
Meet with all prospective PIs and seriously consider the match between your
expectations and their mentoring style.
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