About OEB

OEB provides interdepartmental training for MS and PhD students in ecology, animal behavior, organismal biology and evolutionary biology. Graduate students, post-docs, and faculty study biological processes ranging from the molecular to the ecosystem level, often bridging the gap between basic and applied research. Our faculty and students conduct research in four broad areas:

Animal Behavior: Behavioral ecology, communication, learning
Ecology: Community ecology, population ecology, landscape ecology, conservation biology
Evolutionary Biology: Evolution, phylogenetics, population genetics, molecular evolution
Organismal Biology: Physiology, morphology, paleontology

News & Announcements

IDGP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

The Interdepartmental Graduate Programs in Life Sciences (IDGPs) believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is critical to all that we do.  We recognize that systemic racism exists in our society and we pledge to educate ourselves so that we can change our ingrained habits and beliefs. We are committed to make our programs accessible to all and to increase the success of all our members. We dedicate our time, effort and financial resources to these activities. We work with Institutional leaders, faculty, staff and students to achieve these goals. We are providing this pdf link so that you are able to view a working document of our activities. 

We are proud of our amazing students and post docs who have worked tirelessly for the betterment of our community. Our students have fostered a tight-knit, progressive community and their recent efforts have resulted in this petition for systematic change.  We stand with them in recognizing that change is required in order to make progress toward a more equitable, just, diverse and inclusive environment. 

The University has established an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and their website provides links to many resources. We encourage you to make use of these tools, including links to videos, books and podcasts as well as programing, as we embark together on our journey to improve our community for all our members.  

We are pleased to announce the following OEB PhD dissertation defense

Mariamar Gutierrez Ramirez

Mariamar Gutierrez Ramirez
Thursday, December 9, 2021
12:30 PM
Morrill , Room 222
Dissertation Title: Drivers and direct impacts of lean mass dynamics on the stopover ecology and migratory pace of Nearctic-Neotropical songbirds in spring

We are pleased to announce the following OEB PhD dissertation defense

Eve Beaury

Eve Beaury
Friday, December 10, 2021
11:00 AM
French Hall, Room 209
Dissertation Title: The spatial distribution of invasive plant presence, abundance, and impact.

Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series Presented by Dr. Kristen M. DeAngelis 

Dr. Kristen DeAngelis

Dr. DeAngelis has been selected to present the Distinguished Faculty Lecture "Healthy Soils: Our Hope for a Warming World" on December 8, 2021 at 4:00 PM

Established in 1974, the annual Distinguished Faculty Lecture is dedicated to acknowledging the work of our most esteemed and accomplished faculty members. The lecture series not only honors individual faculty members and their achievements, but also celebrates the values of academic excellence that we share as a community. Each honoree is presented with the Chancellor’s Medal, the highest recognition bestowed upon faculty by the campus. Read more

We are pleased to announce the following OEB PhD dissertation defense

Lian Guo

Lian Guo
Thursday, December 2, 2021
10:30 AM
French Hall, Room 209
Dissertation Title: Thermal Ecophysiology of Juvenile Anadromous River Herring