Wildlife Ecology

The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology offer graduate study leading to an MS or PhD in Wildlife Ecology. A broad range of ecosystems, modern laboratory facilities, and a diversified staff provide excellent opportunities for graduate study in wildlife ecology.

• Emphasis is placed on detailed studies of wildlife species and the habitats in which they live.
• Research may be conducted in such areas as terrestrial and aquatic ecology, fisheries, physiology, behavior, population dynamics, resource management, and the influence of environmental disturbances.
• The department is home to federal biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Maine Cooperative Fisheries and Wildlife Research Unit; these scientists have faculty appointments and advise graduate students.

Students are admitted to these graduate programs based on the strength of their academic records, GRE scores, experience, and recommendations.

Research based MS and PhD programs:

• Students are only admitted when teaching or research assistantships are available and are rarely accepted based on application to the Graduate School without prior communication with faculty.
• Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact and coordinate with prospective major professors to assess the potential for support before applying.
• Available assistantships are posted on the Department web page; note that these advertised assistantships often have unique deadlines and starting dates, different from the University pattern of January application for September starts.
• Assistantships include stipends and payment of tuition; additional funding is available for research expenses for most projects. For this reason, these positions are very competitive.