Welcome to Arkansas State University!

You and I Decode

Understanding Invasion and Disease Ecology and Evolution through Computational Data Education

UandI-DEECoDE

Screen Shot 2022-10-14 at 10.44.06 AM.png

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The Department of Biological Sciences recently received the university's first Research Traineeship grant from the National Science Foundation. This NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program will give trainees hands-on learning experiences by applying concepts from invasion biology, disease ecology, and data science that will ultimately help reduce the damage caused by nonnative species, minimize the impact of diseases, and make accurate predictions of novel interactions among species.

The program, Understanding Invasion and Disease Ecology and Evolution through Computational Education, UandI-DEECoDE,  will immerse trainees in a program that emphasizes communication, teamwork, ethics, mentorship, cross-cultural competency, and leadership throughout their graduate studies. Graduate studies will incorporate specific interdisciplinary and project-based coursework, professional development institutes, data science bootcamps, mentorship networks, research pods, and the opportunity to conduct science abroad.

This program offers 16 Ph.D. students a four-year traineeship with funding from the NRT grant, mentors' grants, and university program funds. Additionally, there are other funded and non-funded opportunities for other Ph.D. students, master's students, and undergraduate students. Only Ph.D. students wishing to be a four-year funded trainee need apply.

FUNDED OPPORTUNITY:

16 Ph.D. students with stipends and access to research, travel, and conference funds. This stipend can be used to cover graduate school fees and living expenses. Continuing support for salary and tuition will come from university program funds or other external grants from your academic mentors.

NON-FUNDED OPPORTUNITY:

54 additional M.S. and Ph.D. students with competitive access to travel funds, along with the ability to participate in workshops and present research.

UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITY:

16 undergraduate students will also be eligible for research positions within the participating faculty labs.

HOW TO APPLY:

Send your CV, academic transcripts, and application document to the UandI-DEECoDE program coordinator, Greg Umhoefer (gumhoefer@astate.edu). The application document can be downloaded from the link in the Information resources in the lefthand column.

Applications for the 2023-2024 school year must be submitted no later than January 15, 2023. If accepted into the program, you will then be required to complete the traditional graduate school application.

Environmental Sciences, Ph.D. admission requirements
Molecular Biosciences, Ph.D. admission requirements

Current Ph.D. students at A-State are not required to apply to the graduate school.

Picture2.jpg