UNM Biology Academic Atmosphere
UNM Biology includes a broad diversity of research labs exploring questions spanning evolution, ecosystem ecology, collections-based studies at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, paleobiology, organismal biology, comparative immunology, fungal biology, microbial ecology, and cell biology. The department has deliberately “fostered the concept of a single, large, interactive department covering the spectrum of modern biology, one that blurs traditional boundaries and favors collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches” – Department Overview. The integration of such diverse research areas makes it exciting to think about connections between the ecosystem and microbial scales.
UNM campus, with its mix of green areas and Pueblo Revival architecture, has a distinctive Southwestern feel. The UNM Biology building is situated near Old Route 66 – now Central Avenue, which has fantastic mid-century architecture and many restaurants and coffee shops.
Resources Available at UNM
Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology (CETI) - https://ceti.unm.edu/
Museum of Southwestern Biology - http://msb.unm.edu/
Molecular Biology Core - https://ceti.unm.edu/core-facilities/molecular-biology.html
Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC) - https://carc.unm.edu/
Center for Stable Isotopes - https://csi.unm.edu/
Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Station (SEV LTER) - https://unmsevilletafieldstation.wordpress.com/
PAÍS Interdisciplinary Science Cooperative - http://isco-op.unm.edu/
ASERT Postdoctoral Program - https://hsc.unm.edu/research/brep/postdoctoral/asert/
Opportunities for collaboration at nearby research institutes:
Sandia Labs - https://www.sandia.gov/
Los Alamos National Labs - https://www.lanl.gov/
New Mexico State University - https://www.nmsu.edu
UNM Biology includes a broad diversity of research labs exploring questions spanning evolution, ecosystem ecology, collections-based studies at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, paleobiology, organismal biology, comparative immunology, fungal biology, microbial ecology, and cell biology. The department has deliberately “fostered the concept of a single, large, interactive department covering the spectrum of modern biology, one that blurs traditional boundaries and favors collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches” – Department Overview. The integration of such diverse research areas makes it exciting to think about connections between the ecosystem and microbial scales.
UNM campus, with its mix of green areas and Pueblo Revival architecture, has a distinctive Southwestern feel. The UNM Biology building is situated near Old Route 66 – now Central Avenue, which has fantastic mid-century architecture and many restaurants and coffee shops.
Resources Available at UNM
Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology (CETI) - https://ceti.unm.edu/
Museum of Southwestern Biology - http://msb.unm.edu/
Molecular Biology Core - https://ceti.unm.edu/core-facilities/molecular-biology.html
Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC) - https://carc.unm.edu/
Center for Stable Isotopes - https://csi.unm.edu/
Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Station (SEV LTER) - https://unmsevilletafieldstation.wordpress.com/
PAÍS Interdisciplinary Science Cooperative - http://isco-op.unm.edu/
ASERT Postdoctoral Program - https://hsc.unm.edu/research/brep/postdoctoral/asert/
Opportunities for collaboration at nearby research institutes:
Sandia Labs - https://www.sandia.gov/
Los Alamos National Labs - https://www.lanl.gov/
New Mexico State University - https://www.nmsu.edu
Formal Application Process for UNM BIO
The annual Biology Application Process is fully outlined at the website listed below. Applications must be submitted online by January 3rd.
UNM does not require GRE scores (but they can be optionally be submitted). Shortly the required documents include:
1. Letter of Intent
2. Transcripts
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation
4. CV (resume)
Link to Application Information
If admitted, students are guaranteed support (2yr MS or 5yr PhD) as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for undergraduate courses, a Research Assistant (RA) in the laboratory, or a Graduate Assistant (GA) working at the Museum of Southwestern Biology.
Important links that describe the Graduate Program:
Biology Graduate Program - https://biology.unm.edu/graduate/graduate-program-welcome.shtml
Biology Application Process - https://biology.unm.edu/graduate/graduate-process.shtml
The annual Biology Application Process is fully outlined at the website listed below. Applications must be submitted online by January 3rd.
UNM does not require GRE scores (but they can be optionally be submitted). Shortly the required documents include:
1. Letter of Intent
2. Transcripts
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation
4. CV (resume)
Link to Application Information
If admitted, students are guaranteed support (2yr MS or 5yr PhD) as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for undergraduate courses, a Research Assistant (RA) in the laboratory, or a Graduate Assistant (GA) working at the Museum of Southwestern Biology.
Important links that describe the Graduate Program:
Biology Graduate Program - https://biology.unm.edu/graduate/graduate-program-welcome.shtml
Biology Application Process - https://biology.unm.edu/graduate/graduate-process.shtml
Graduate Students at UNM are provided support including:
1) Stipend is provided
2) a basic health insurance coverage plan
3) tuition for up to 12 credits of Biology-related courses per semester
UNM Tuition Calculator - https://myapps.unm.edu/tuition-calculator/
Factoring in the cost of living differences, ABQ is cheaper to live in than many other places with R1 Universities.
1) Stipend is provided
2) a basic health insurance coverage plan
3) tuition for up to 12 credits of Biology-related courses per semester
UNM Tuition Calculator - https://myapps.unm.edu/tuition-calculator/
Factoring in the cost of living differences, ABQ is cheaper to live in than many other places with R1 Universities.
Percent Higher Cost of Living at Different Universities
California UC Riverside; 14% higher UC Berkeley; 30% higher UCSD; 24% higher UC Davis; 14% higher Arizona Arizona State; 5% higher U Arizona; similar cost Colorado UC Boulder; 18% higher |
Utah U Utah; 8% higher Texas U Texas Austin; 9% higher Outside the Southwest U Oregon; 3% higher U Washington; 11% higher U Michigan; 10% higher Cornell; 14% higher Calculated at: smartasset.com |
Graduate School Considerations
Graduate school is an immense investment in time and energy that can be incredibly rewarding but invariably comes with difficulties and stress. As an advisor, my major priority is facilitating your success and particularly encouraging independent thinking and motivation.
Effort that you put into you graduate studies and project is very important to your success, regardless of whether the experiment works or fails, the literature search goes nowhere, or how long it takes to learn an analysis program/coding language. The more you put in, the more you will get out. Learning from these experiences will forge a well-rounded scientist capable of leading groups and also collaborating with others.
A few very helpful websites that describe the graduate school experience and expectations. I wish resources like these were around when I started grad school.
Hurteau Lab (UNM BIO) - http://www.hurteaulab.org/student-positions.html
Tye Lab (Salk Inst.) - http://tyelab.org/philosophy/#expectations-of-all-lab-members
Smith Lab (CU Boulder) - https://www.colorado.edu/smithlab/all-about-expectations
Eco-Evo Evo-Eco - http://ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-succeed-in-graduate-school.html
Graduate school is an immense investment in time and energy that can be incredibly rewarding but invariably comes with difficulties and stress. As an advisor, my major priority is facilitating your success and particularly encouraging independent thinking and motivation.
Effort that you put into you graduate studies and project is very important to your success, regardless of whether the experiment works or fails, the literature search goes nowhere, or how long it takes to learn an analysis program/coding language. The more you put in, the more you will get out. Learning from these experiences will forge a well-rounded scientist capable of leading groups and also collaborating with others.
A few very helpful websites that describe the graduate school experience and expectations. I wish resources like these were around when I started grad school.
Hurteau Lab (UNM BIO) - http://www.hurteaulab.org/student-positions.html
Tye Lab (Salk Inst.) - http://tyelab.org/philosophy/#expectations-of-all-lab-members
Smith Lab (CU Boulder) - https://www.colorado.edu/smithlab/all-about-expectations
Eco-Evo Evo-Eco - http://ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-succeed-in-graduate-school.html