About the Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program
Mission Statement
The Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program at Rutgers University aims to foster a diverse environment rich in critical thinking and open communication. We are committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists to solve 21st century problems and be stewards to our planet.
About the Program
Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers has a long and distinguished history. The E&E graduate program includes approximately 80 faculty and 50 graduate students. The program faculty is comprised of roughly 25 professors who are members the undergraduate Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, the remaining members of the graduate program hail from other departments and campuses. The graduate program is interdisciplinary in nature and offers graduate education and training in microbial, plant, animal, and human ecology under the direction of outstanding faculty located at three campuses (New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden); two marine stations (in Tuckerton and Bivalve); and the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York.
Members of the faculty actively pursue research in conservation biology, ecosystem ecology, evolutionary biology, marine biology, microbial ecology, population and community ecology, population genetics, and restoration ecology.
Students may study toward either M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. An M.S. is not required to enter the Ph.D. program. The graduate program falls under the auspices the School of Graduate Studies from which the final degrees are conferred.
The Fall 2026 deadline for application submission to be considered for an internal fellowship is December 1, 2025. Learn more about the application process.
In the News
The Impact of the Federal Funding Freeze on Our Students and Alumni
Julia Van Etten, a recent graduate from our program and a biologist at Rutgers University, has been awarded a postdoctoral research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her research focuses on how DNA sharing among microbes influences their evolution. This grant not only supports her research but also her professional development. However, in January, the NSF froze payments to all existing grants, which means that Julia and many other scientists with similar grants have been unable to access the funds they need for essential expenses such as food and rent, as well as for their research. Read more about the funding freeze and its impact on Julia and others with NSF awards.
Welcome to the Fall 2025 - Entering Class
- Shamwari Anseeuw (Bhattacharya Lab)
- Andre Ascura (Munroe Lab)
- Nicholas Comparato (Aronson Lab)
- Danielle Dyson (SP 26) (Grothues Lab)
- Maisha Marzan (Bonachela Lab)
- Jorge Robles (Struwe Lab)
Congratulatory Highlights Fall 2025
- Shaniya Utamidata, a master’s student in Dr. Erin Vogel's group, has been accepted as a Planet Forward Correspondent. Planet Forward is a nationally recognized environmental storytelling initiative by George Washington University. This competitive and prestigious program provides young professionals with the opportunity to publish stories about sustainability and receive mentorship from experts in the field. This role will help Shaniya enhance her science communication skills and share her research with a broader audience. You can visit Planet Forward's platform and view Shaniya's profile. Please join me in congratulating Shaniya on this impressive achievement as a Planet Forward Correspondent!
Graduate Program Seminars
E&E Graduate Program Seminars every Thursday during the fall and spring semesters at 4:00 p.m. This seminar series presents speakers invited from inside and outside Rutgers University to speak on the most current research being conducted in the fields of ecology and evolution. Check out the Program Seminars page for more info.
Graduate Student Seminars
Graduate student seminars are presented every Friday durng the fall and spring semesters at 4:00pm. These seminars are informal gatherings where graduate students present their current research and other topics of interest to their peers. Information on the 2023-24 seminars can be found on the Student Seminars page.