NOTE: This has been updated to the 2022 ranking. See the link for the new order.
Here’s US News & World Report’s new list of America’s top ten graduate schools in ecology/evolutionary biology (there are two sets of ties). Chicago has slipped a bit from previous years—we used to be #1 in this category—but I’m glad to see that UC Davis, where I did my postdoc, is way up on the list (I would rank it higher). For ranking in all sciences, go here.
Ranked in 2010
1. University of California, Berkeley
2. Harvard University
3. University of California, Davis
4. University of Chicago
5. Stanford University
6.-8. Cornell University; University of Texas, Austin; Yale University
9.-10. Princeton University; University of Arizona
Go _________, where my son is 3rd year PhD program for _______.
Thanks for the information!
I had been looking at some schools where you can study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as an undergraduate. Is it better to study it is an undergrad, or to study general biology and then get a graduate degree on this?
Hard to give advice on this. If you’re seriously interested in ecology and evolution, by all means go to a school that has good undergrad courses in it, but make sure that it’s good in general biology as well. Evolutionists in particular require a broad background in biology. Places that are good in both are, for example, Cornell and Harvard.
I’ll second that, max. Chicago’s E&E dept. might not be the best place for a broad background in biology (though strong related departments, e.g., anatomy, are available). Looking back, I am glad to have had a diversity of experiences as foundation, prior to E&E graduate work at Chicago. But for that, specifically, I wouldn’t ever trade it for Berkeley, Harvard OR Davis…
If you are an undergrad interested in ecology/evolution, look at the course catalog of some of your prospective schools. See if they offer a diverse grasp of lots of specific “-ologies” (entomology, ichthyology, ornithology, herpetology, mammalogy) along with solid upper division ecology and evolution courses. Add a comparative anatomy and physiology course, some molecular/cell work, LOTS of genetics if you’re thinking Chicago, and you’re golden. See? Simple.
Graduate training quality is almost entirely determined by the lab you’re in, not the institution. There are a lot of good labs at Harvard, but there are good labs in many places. I don’t think the program or courses are anything special at Harvard, having made direct comparisons. Going there is good for your career for sure, for your intellectual development as a scientist…that depends.
It was my impression that max was asking about what kind of training to get as an undergraduate: broad or specialized. Yes, you’re right about picking a lab versus an institution, but that would apply for grad school only.
Thanks to all of you 🙂
Yeah, my main concern is about the specialization. The reason that I’ve had some trouble deciding is because well, I’m certain that that EEB is what I’d like to study, and then I’d like to be even more specialized in animals, and then perhaps even more specialized in a specific branch, maybe salamanders, scorpions, or perhaps a particular type of ecosystem, caves, I’m still not sure about that part… But at the same time, I feel like if I had all the time of the world I’d like to specialize on plants, fungi, molecular biology, biophysics, everything! So, in a sense, I already know what I want to study, and I feel like if I study this in college and also study by my own the other subjects, I’ll do fine by starting with EEB and specializing on it, this way, I don’t have to spend the 4 years on general biology which wouldn’t let me specialize as much I think.
But, then again, I don’t know if not studying biology beforehand will hugely limit my possible areas of specialization or research fields.
Thus far, I’ve been thinking on applying to the University of Michigan, I’ve looked at the possible subjects and I’d most certainly take all of them if I could! So, I guess it’s broad enough, but what if it isn’t!
Thanks again!
“So, I guess it’s broad enough, but what if it isn’t!”
I don’t think there’s a perfect department or a perfect program out there, nor will you perfectly take advantage of all the courses/labs/opportunities at the one you choose.
I’m getting close to a decade out of grad school and am currently re-inventing myself, despite what I thought was a solid set of experiences in school.
Good luck, and don’t overthink it. U. of Michigan is probably just fine.
Given that the US schools are in your opinion the best (or did a sub-editor entitle the post ;). Where are the next best around the planet….. What’s that, there’s more than just the US?
Whoops; sorry for the inadvertent chauvinism. I’ve retitled my post to say that it’s US schools!
Sweet, Davis is up one from last year. I am .00001% more employable!
Same here! :]
Univ of Wash is 5th in genomics and bioinformatics. Some friends of mine will be pleased to hear this.
Jerry, I’m thinking about pursuing in phd studying ants. What are some good programs for ants? So far I’m going to apply to:
Penn State(David Hughes lab)
Harvard(Naomi Pierce’s lab)
NYU(Danny Reinberg’s lab)
I’m not sure any university has an across-the-board Ph.D. program in ants. Send an email to my friend Phil Ward at the Dept. of Entomology, UC Davis (he is a crack evolutionist and ant biologist) and ask his opinion of places to study–tell him I sent you. Also, Mueller at UT Austin has a good reputation and does good work on ants.
If your interests are more ecological, Nick Gotelli (U. Vermont), or Mike Kaspari (U. of Oklahoma).
Nice suggestions, thanks
I can’t give you any advice on the academics, but I will say Austin is one of the most fun cities in America. If you come here, you’re going to meet good people and have a good time, don’t let our reputation scare you away.
It’s really hard for me to decide which grad school is good for Ecology.
I am accepted to ..
Indiana University-Bloomington(SPEA)
Wisconsin Madison-Forest&Wildlife Ecology
SUNY Stony Brook-Ecology&Evolution Department.
Where would you choose?
Please help me out…
It depends what you want to do. What are your interests? Also, did you meet any of the professors? The relationship between you and the PI is important too. This is all advice I’ve been told.
Actually I’ve applied to the school that have my fields of interest. I just wanted to know if every conditions were at equal,
which school people would prefer…
Interesting information. I’m currently at UMD, but applying to a number of other universities this summer, mostly overseas (only exception: Chicago). How would you rate the University of Edinburgh for ecology and evolution? The director of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology over there is Brian Charlesworth, whom I think you know.
– Thanks
UCB! My old alumn 🙂 I guess they make up for their Creationist Law Teacher >.<
I see that this link is a bit old, but I hope it is not to late to post a comment.
First off, I loved your book, Mr. Coyne! I happened across this link while researching schools, and I was quite thrilled when I realized you were the author of Why Evolution is True!
Now to my question:
I would love to go to a school like UC Davis or U Chicago, but schools of such rank are a bit out of my price range. Are you aware of any schools that have excellent undergraduate biology programs (especially evolutionary biology) but are perhaps not as well known?
Thank you so much for your input!
Which universities offer assistantship(GTA/GRA) for PhD degree in plant ecology/plant-insect interactions/ conservation biology? How can I know them and contact them?