Graduate+Program+Opportunities

Biology Education Graduate Programs recruiting graduate students.

2/17/2018 Dr. Daniel is currently recruiting graduate students interested in biology education research to join her lab in the **Department of Biology at Texas State Universit**y starting as early as Fall 2019. Currently, she has funding to support students interested in pursuing a MS focused on one of the following projects: Exploring consistency between biometric measures and self-reported usage during visual interpretation tasks Image selection strategies within professional science communication Interdisciplinary transfer skills connected to representational competence Other potential projects are possible as well as consideration of Ph.D. candidates interesting in Biology Education Research. For more information, please contact Dr. Kristy Daniel ( __ kristydaniel@txstate.edu __ ) or visit [] for more information on our department.

10/20/2017 The **Corwin Lab in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at the University of Colorado** is recruiting students who would like to obtain a PhD in Biology with a focus on Biology Education. Our lab currently focuses on questions in three areas: 1) how undergraduate students respond to scientific failures and struggles in laboratory settings, 2) how engaging in the processes of design thinking (i.e., iteratively building and refining a project, product, or plan) increases students potential for creative problem solving in biology, and 3) how different instructional innovations increase undergraduate students' understanding of the relationship between structure, function, and evolutionary processes. In addition to these areas, our lab is particularly interested in studying contexts that are known for serving underrepresented students in STEM and reflect the future demographics of our country and our discipline, such as Community Colleges. Students with interests in these or related areas are strongly encouraged to apply. Graduate students are expected to engage in both biology and education courses and to interact regularly with the Discipline Based Education Research Group on campus which includes researchers in Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Education and other disciplines. They will also have the opportunity to join a vibrant, supportive community of Biology Education Researchers by working together with Jenny Knight’s group in MCD Biology, with whom we regularly interact to support each others' research endeavors. Applications for Fall 2018 are due December 1st. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Lisa Corwin ( lisa.corwin@colorado.edu ) before applying to discuss their interests and career goals. More information about graduate studies in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology can be found at [] and the application can be found here []

10/19/2017 The Aikens lab ( [] at the University of New Hampshire is recruiting students interested in obtaining an MS or a PhD in Biology with a research focus in biology education. Current research in the lab is primarily focused on addressing questions related to (1) the development of undergraduate biology students’ self-efficacy and values for quantitative skills and (2) the factors that influence faculty’s teaching of quantitative skills in biology courses. Graduate students are expected to take both biology and education courses while developing a research project that complements ongoing work in the lab. Interested students should apply to the Integrative and Organismal Biology option within the Department of Biological Sciences. Teaching assistantships are available to support graduate students. Applications for Fall 2018 are due December 15 th. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Melissa Aikens ( melissa.aikens@unh.edu ) before applying to discuss research interests and the program. More information about graduate studies in the Department of Biological Sciences can be found at [], and the application can be accessed here: []
 * University of New Hampshire: MS and PhD Opportunities in Biology Education Research**

07/14/2016 Research and innovation primarily focused at the introductory level will provide a wide range of research-projects for students interested in earning graduate degrees in Integrative Biology focused on Biology Education. Teaching Assistantships for disciplinary courses are regularly available and two research assistantship position will open in Summer or Fall 2017. Successful applicants will work with an interdisciplinary team of new and established faculty from the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Integrative Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution and the Schools of Educational Studies and Teaching and Curriculum Leadership with interests in examining factors and practices that contribute to student persistence and learning. The majority of our current effort is devoted to embedding research into the courses that make up the introductory experience (Introductory Biology, Animal Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Freshman Research in Biochemistry). Other research includes examining how active learning instruction contributes to increased performance through motivation and engagement, factors affecting transfer of concepts across disciplines, and how instructors gain proficiency in inquiry-based instructional methods. Students in the program should expect to gain expertise in using quantitative and qualitative techniques, and both disciplinary and educational theory. Interested students should contact donald.french@okstate.edu
 * Oklahoma State University: Opportunities to earn M.S. or Ph.D. focused on Biology Education **

07/06/2016 The Biology Education Research Lab at Arizona State University is recruiting M.S. and Ph.D. students to join a vibrant team dedicated to improving undergraduate biology education. Led by Sara Brownell, our interests in the lab are broad and we thrive on exploring diverse research areas in biology education. Ongoing projects in the lab have thus far focused on course-based undergraduate research experiences as well as undergraduate research experiences more broadly, interventions for at-risk biology students, social and cultural factors that influence students’ experience in biology classes, how student identities including gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA status, and transfer status influence student experiences in the classroom, and issues related to student attitudes towards evolution. Students can earn a degree in Biology or Biology and Society from the School of Life Sciences while conducting research in biology education in a topic that is of interest to them. Support in the form of research assistantships and/or teaching assistants is available for interested graduate students. For more information, please go to the lab website (sebbers.wix.com/biology-ed-lab) or contact Sara (sara.brownell@asu.edu) for more information. Application deadlines are December 1st.
 * Arizona State University: Graduate training in Biology Education Research **

02/20/2016
 * Portland State University: ** A graduate (MS or PhD) opportunity in Biology Education Research is available for a Fall 2016 start. We are seeking a motivated graduate student to work on an interdisciplinary research project that will develop, implement, and assess novel student-centered learning environments. A competitive applicant will have interest in conducting both qualitative and quantitative discipline-based education research (DBER) and have a strong background in biology or biochemistry research, either through an undergraduate research experience or a Masters-level project. This project will include the graduate student collaborating with a team of researchers and instructors on a HHMI-supported effort to develop interdisciplinary course-based undergraduate research experiences at PSU. The student will receive teaching assistantships and tuition remission. Research assistantships will depend upon funding. Interested individuals should send a CV and a brief statement of research interests, experience, and career goals to [|Dr. Erin Shortlidge] (eshortlidge@pdx.edu), as well as any questions regarding the position. Applicants will need to submit a formal application for admittance into the [|**Biology Graduate Department**] through the [|**Office of Graduate Studies**]. The Biology webpage states a February application deadline, but we will make exceptions for the right applicant. Applications will be reviewed starting March 1, 2016.

University of Colorado-Boulder. I am looking for graduate students interested in getting a PhD in MCDB with a research area of Biology Education. Our applications are due December 1. Please pass on to talented undergraduates you might have! Here are the details on the MCDB graduate program: [] /
 * 11/1/15**
 * Dr.Jenny Knight**

Dr. Kristy Daniel Texas State University KristyDaniel@txstate.edu
 * 11/2/2015**
 * Department of Biological Sciences-**
 * I have funding for 1-2 graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) that are interested in biology education research. I'm housed in an Aquatic Resources program, but research is not limited to that subject area! My current students are exploring a tree-thinking project, social media as an educational tool for science teachers, and impacts of a summer science camp.**

University of Tennessee I am seeking graduate students (Masters or Ph.D.) who would like to earn a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, but with a research area of Biology Education. Students would be a part of an active lab comprised of two current graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher who are focused on introductory biology instructor teaching practices, student engagement, and GTA professional development for teaching. Students must complete the degree requirements for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, but their research would solely be in the area of Biology Education. The University of Tennessee has revised its introductory biology sequence to align with Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education, and has a faculty supportive of modern educational practices. For more information, visit my web site at: [] And/or the departmental Graduate Studies page at: [] Applications are due January 1.
 * 10/30/2015 **
 * Dr. Elizabeth Schussler **

11/7/13 Masters and Ph.D. level graduate training in Biology Education is available at Arizona State University under the direction of Dr. Sara Brownell. In addition to designing his/her own project in biology education, students will take basic science courses to establish his/her expertise in biology, in addition to courses in education, statistics, cognitive sciences, etc. to establish his/her expertise as an education researcher. Students are supported primarily on teaching assistantships, although there are fellowship opportunities and the possibility of research assistantships. For more information or a list of possible research projects, please contact Sara Brownell ( sara.brownell@asu.edu ) or visit her faculty page: [].
 * School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University **
 * Biology Education Graduate Training**

Interested students should apply to the Biology program ( [] ) and they can concentrate in Biology and Society if they prefer ( [] ). Application deadlines are December 15 th, 2013 for a start date of Fall Semester 2014.

Doctoral level education in Biology Education Research is available at University of Northern Colorado through the School of Biological Sciences Ph.D. program in Biology Education. This program combines coursework in biology, education, and educational research methodologies with dissertation research in biology education and a capstone biology teaching experience. Biology education dissertation projects are determined by student interest and are focused on college level biology education. Teaching assistantships are possible for interested students. Program specific information is available at []. For more information please contact Sue Ellen DeChenne (SueEllen.DeChenne@unco.edu, website: []) or Richard Jurin (Richard.Jurin@unco.edu, website: []).
 * Department of Biological Sciences at University of Northern Colorado**
 * 11/1/13**

10/22/12- Research opportunity in biology education at the undergraduate level. The Momsen lab (https://sites.google.com/site/jmomsen/) in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University is accepting applications for a highly motivated PhD graduate student to begin Fall 2013. Current research threads include (1) the role of representations in learning biology and (2) the development of systems thinking skills in biology students. Opportunities exist to collaborate across science and math disciplines. Interested applicants should send a CV to Jennifer Momsen (jennifer.momsen@ndsu.edu). Students are supported primarily through teaching assistantships, although fellowship opportunities are available. Additional details about the department and graduate program can be found on the NDSU Biological Sciences website (http://www.ndsu.edu/biology/).
 * Department of Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University**
 * --Jennifer Momsen, PhD**
 * Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences**
 * North Dakota State University**