Info for Prospective Graduate Students

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Information for Prospective Graduate Students    

I advise graduate students with interests in the  human dimensions of natural resource management, with a focus on environmental education and communication, as well as the design and evaluation of tropical conservation programs. I encourage my students to pursue their own ideas and interests, and expect them to work collaboratively.  

My graduate students work on diverse projects, such as: a survey of public involvement in watershed management in Florida, an evaluation of boater education programs to protect Florida manatees, the role of partnerships between parks and non-governmental organizations in Brazil, hunter education programs in Venezuela, community-based conservation initiatives in Uganda, and methods for monitoring and evaluation of conservation programs in Zambia and Kenya. 

Students are supported on research and teaching assistantships and fellowships, as well funding from outside sources. I also am interested in sponsoring students who wish to participate in the NSF-IGERT Program on Working Forests in the Tropics (link).  I encourage prospective U.S. students to apply for external funding such as NSF and EPA Predoctoral Fellowships, and foreign students to apply for support from their home institutions, government agencies, or international organizations (e.g., Fulbright, OAS, USAID).  

Students interested in working with our group should:

• have clear goals for their graduate studies and beyond. If you are not sure how graduate programs work, you will find good advice on the web page of Dr. Peter Frederick (Research Professor in WEC).

• be interested in the human dimensions of wildlife conservation, and in using quantitative and qualitative tools to develop and evaluate programs or test hypotheses that advance conservation.   

• seek a variety of academic and professional experiences. The University of Florida has a tremendous diversity of people and research programs that enrich the graduate student experience.  My students participate in activities such as seminars, discussion groups, and lab meetings in the WEC department and in departments across campus, including journalism, education, psychology, zoology, Latin American and African Studies, and so on. Minor and certificate programs in Environmental Education and Communications and Tropical Conservation and Development are useful for many of my students. My students give talks at scientific meetings, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in public outreach and student instruction.

• pursue grants, fellowships, and other financial support for their graduate research.  My graduate students have been successful in garnering research funds from a variety of conservation foundations and government agencies.

• have a positive outlook, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for making a difference in the world! 

If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies with me as your advisor, please send me a CV, GRE scores and GPA, and a brief statement of your research interests and career goals.  Please see the WEC Graduate Program (WEC Graduate Programs Web Site) for WEC admissions requirements and application procedures for the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Although we have a rolling application deadline, most UF funding is allocated by February for the following fall semester.

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Program for Studies in Tropical Conservation

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education and Communications