2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [Archived]
Biology
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GRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED:
Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy—with Specialization in Ecology, Microbial, and Cellular Biology
Department of Biology
Science Building, room 283
Phone: 812-237-2405
Fax: 812-237-2526
Provisional Chairperson: Dr. Arthur Halpern
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors
Amlaner, Charles J., Jr., Ph.D., Oxford University
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Comparative Animal Physiology, Sleep Patterns in Animals, Biotelemetry, Radio Tracking
Bakken, George S., Ph.D., Rice University
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Physiological Ecology: Energetics, Biometeorology, Thermoregulation, and Evolution
Duong, Talhung, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Director, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Neurogenerative Diseases, Neural Transplantation**
Geib, Roy W., Ph.D., Texas Health Science Center at Dallas
Director and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Virology and Immunology: Molecular Biology of Host-Controlled Resistance to Oncogenic Viruses**
Ghosh, Swapan K., Ph.D., University of Calcutta
Professor of Biology and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute
Specializations: Immunology: Immunoregulation of Growth and Differentiation of Blood Cells and Anti-Tumor Immunotherapy; Autoimmunity and Immunotoxicology*
Hughes, James P., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Endocrinology: Mechanism of Hormone Action
King, Michael W., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University
School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Molecular and Developmental Biology: Early Nervous System Development, Tissue Regeneration, and Adhesive Molecules in Cancer**
Lima, Steven L., Ph.D., University of Rochester
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology of Predator-Prey Interaction, Avian Community Ecology, Conservation Biology
Stuart, Gary W., Ph.D., University of Washington
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Molecular and Developmental Genetics: The Molecular Mechanisms of Vertebrate Development, Phylogenomics, Bioinformatics, Landscape Genetics
Whitaker, John O., Jr., Ph.D., Cornell University
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Vertebrate Ecology: Bat Biology, Small Mammal
Food, Parasites, and Habits
Associate Professors
Angilletta, Michael T., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Herpetology, Behavioral and Physiological Ecology, Life Histories
Dannelly, H. Kathleen, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Microbiology: Bacteriology Immune Response to Bacterial Infection, and Microbial Ecology
Hews, Diana K., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Endocrinology: Behavior, Reproduction, and Evolution
Johnson, Mary T., Ph.D., Indiana State University
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Associate Professor of Biology
Specialization: Immunology**
Moga, Margaret, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago
Associate Professor of Anatomy, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Associate Professor of Biology
Specialization: Neurobiology: Neural Basis of Circadian Rhythms**
Mulkey, Timothy, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Plant Physiology: Hormones and Calcium in the Control of Plant Growth, Development, and Tropic Responses
Scott, Peter E., Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Ecology: Plant-Animal Interactions, Pollination, Ornithology, and Conservation
Tuttle, Elaina W., Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Population and Behavioral Ecology, Molecular Ecology, Evolution, Spatial Ecology, Landscape Genetics
Fitch, Richard W., Ph.D., University of Louisville
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Specializations: Bio-organic/Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy***
Gonser, Rusty, Ph.D., University of New York at Albany
Assistant Professor of Biology
Specializations: Conservation Ecology, Genetics, Behavioral Ecology, Evolution, Spatial Ecology, Landscape Genetics
Mitchell, William, Ph.D., University of Arizona
Assistant Professor of Biology
Specializations: Community and Evolutionary Ecology, Biodiversity
Waite (Nindl), Gabi. Ph.D., University of Hohenheim, Germany
Assistant Professor of Physiology, Indiana University School of
Medicine, Terre Haute, and Assistant Professor of Biology Specialization: Physiology**
*Joint appointment with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute
**Joint appointment with the Department of Biology
***Adjunct faculty status in the Department of Biology
GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The department administers master’s and doctoral degree programs that allow students to specialize in ecology, microbiology, or physiology. These programs are designed for students entering academic, industrial, allied health, governmental, and non-governmental organization careers.
Whereas at the undergraduate level students are introduced to a broad general program in biology, at the graduate level the program is specialized to fit the needs and professional aspirations of the individual student. Areas of research expertise of the department graduate faculty include behavior, behavioral physiology, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, conservation biology, ecology, evolution, microbiology, physiology, physiological ecology, plant biology, and systematics. Within these areas, specific research projects are based on the research expertise of the faculty.
The specific objectives of the graduate program are:
1. To provide the student with experience in conducting research. The completion of a thesis or dissertation containing original research suitable for publication in the national/international scientific journals is considered to be the single most important requirement leading to the master of science-with thesis or the doctoral degree.
2. To provide the student with specialized or in-depth training in their chosen area.
3. To provide the student with experience in teaching at the college level, experience in grant writing, and experience in research presentations.
Students, by mutual consent, select a major professor from the graduate faculty to serve as a thesis or dissertation advisor. The student and major professor jointly select the student’s committee, subject to approval by the department and the School of Graduate Studies. Course work for a student’s degree program is determined largely by the chosen research/dissertation topic and consultation between the student, major advisor, and thesis/dissertation committee. Course work for the doctorate is also determined in part by qualifying examinations designed to test a student’s background knowledge in their programmatic area; the scope of these examinations is determined by the student’s major advisor and dissertation committee.
Recently renovated and well-equipped research laboratories support research in microbiology, physiology, and laboratory aspects of ecological studies. The department is home to the Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation, and the Center for Biodiversity Studies. The departmental houses a research museum that is part of the Indiana State Museum system. Two nearby field stations, three other University-run natural areas, and many state, federal, and private natural areas are available for research and teaching in ecology.
Financial support for both master of science (thesis option only) and doctoral students is available on a competitive basis through the department in the form of graduate teaching.
MASTER’S PROGRAMS
1. Submit a complete Indiana State University application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies which includes an official transcript from each school at which college work has been completed.
2. Submit a Curriculum Vitae form, available from the department.
3. Submit scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (See Admissions section of this Catalog).
4. Submit names of three persons from whom letters of recommendation have been requested. Letter writers should be clearly qualified to comment on the applicant’s academic performance and scientific knowledge.
5. Be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
6. Have an overall undergraduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
7. Have a minimum graduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale if entering with advanced standing.
8. Provide satisfactory academic references.
9. Applicants are required to contact one or more potential advisors to identify at least one who will agree to be the applicant’s graduate advisor should the applicant be admitted to the program.
10. All students are strongly encouraged to visit the department and meet in person with their prospective advisor(s) during the application process.
Admissions are competitive and based on the overall quality of the application. Although notable strength in one area may compensate for below-standard performance in another, the following departmental guidelines indicate approximate minimum standards.
a. Applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in biology, mathematics through calculus or statistics, one year of physics, and chemistry through organic. Applicants may be granted admission conditional on the removal of coursework deficiencies by taking the appropriate courses or by directed study. However, applicants with extensive deficiencies may not be eligible for a Teaching Assistantship until the deficiencies have been removed.
b.The average of the three scores on the Graduate Record Examination should be near or above the fiftieth percentile on each examination. For individual tests, the 50 percent score is roughly 600 for the quantitative section, 500 for the verbal section of the GRE, and 4.0 (or fiftieth percentile) for the analytical writing section.
c. International students should have a score of 620 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (a score of 260 or higher on the computer-based examination, or 105 on the iBTversion). If English was the language of instruction for the prior degree, scores of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 70 (iBT) or better may be acceptable.
d. International students applying for a teaching assistantship must have a score of at least 23 on the spoken English section of the iBT TOEFL, or provide equivalent evidence of spoken English proficiency. A personal or telephone interview may be required to assess academic and English language preparation.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM
The department offers study and research leading to a doctor of philosophy degree with specialization in ecology, microbiology, or physiology. The completion of the degree qualifies the individual for university teaching, research, or professional work in the respective discipline. Each candidates’ individual program is based on his/her knowledge and ability upon entering the program and his/her objective. After completion of course work, all students must pass a written and oral qualifying examination followed by submission of an acceptable dissertation based on original research.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Submit a complete Indiana State University application for admission, which includes an official transcript from each school at which college work has been completed, to the School of Graduate Studies
2. Submit a Department Curriculum Vitae form, available at http://www.indstate.edu/ecology/grad/gradappforms.html
3. Submit scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (See Admissions section of this Catalog).
4. Submit names of three to five persons from whom letters of recommendation have been requested. At least three of these letter writers should be clearly qualified to judge the applicant’s ability to carry out a successful research program.
5. Be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
6. Have an overall undergraduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
7. Have a minimum graduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale if entering with advanced standing.
8. Provide satisfactory academic references.
9. Applicants are required to contact one or more potential advisors to identify one who will agree to be the applicant’s graduate advisor should the applicant be admitted to the program.
10. All students are strongly encouraged to visit the department and meet in person with their prospective advisor(s) during the application process.
Admissions are competitive and based on the overall quality of the application. Although notable strength in one area may compensate for below-standard performance in another, the following departmental guidelines indicate approximate minimum standards.
1. Applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in biology, mathematics through calculus or statistics, one year of physics, and chemistry through organic. Applicants may be granted admission conditional on the removal of course work deficiencies by taking the appropriate courses or by directed study. However, applicants with extensive deficiencies may not be eligible for a teaching assistantship until the deficiencies have been removed.
2. The average of the three scores on the Graduate Record Examination should be near or above fiftieth percentile on each examination. For individual tests, the 50 percent score is roughly 600 for the quantitative section, 500 for the verbal section of the GRE, and 4.0 (or fiftieth percentile) for the analytical writing section.
3. International students should have a score of 620 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (a score of 260 or higher on the computer-based examination, or 105 on the iBTversion). If English was the language of instruction for the prior degree, scores of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 70 (iBT) or better may be acceptable.
4. International students applying for a teaching assistantship must have a score of at least 23 on the spoken English section of the iBT TOEFL, or provide equivalent evidence of spoken English proficiency. A personal or telephone interview may be required to assess academic and English language preparation.
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