Information for Prospective Graduate Students

Note to Prospective Students for Fall 2013: I am only accepting applicants to the PSM track of our graduate program for Fall 2013. I will only consider thesis track students for Fall 2013 who are self funded and have a written proposal for a potential thesis project that can be reasonably accomodated within our research group.

The deadline for applying to the graduate program in Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy at CSUMB is February 15 of each year. As a rule I will not accept a student into my lab who I have not met beforehand. If you are considering applying for graduate studies in my lab, please plan on contacting me by email or phone and, if possible, taking a visit to campus sometime during the Fall semester. This will help you in deciding if my lab and our program at CSUMB are a suitable fit for your educational needs and goals.

Because research in my lab focuses on the analysis of spatial pattern and process in marine systems, students in my lab regularly use GIS and statistics in their research. Students conducting research in the lab will be expected to become proficient in each of these two areas. For students interested in working in my lab, I recommend they have a strong quantitative background (e.g. statistics), experience working with computers, coursework in ecology and some research experience.

My students and I primarily study the ecology of marine invertebrates. However, in the past, I have conducted research on the foraging ecology of shorebirds and studies looking at the landscape genetics of black surperch in Monterey Bay. In general, we are more interested in studying interesting research topics as opposed to a particular organism or system. Please visit the projects section of my lab page for examples of previous and current projects.

Research funding is always in flux, some projects currently have funding for graduate work while others don't. Please contact me for information on funded graduate research opportunities currently available in my lab or elsewhere in the department.

The Monterey Bay area is a wonderful place to live and work. We have great restaurants, numerous outdoor activities and of course the aquarium.

I am always happy to speak with students interested in conducting graduate studies at CSUMB and I look forward to speaking with you.

Good luck in your search!!!