Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Introduction

Faculty Affiliation

Arts and Science

Degree Programs

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

MSc and PhD

Collaborative Specializations

The following collaborative specializations are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:

Overview

We in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) are a curious, inspired, and welcoming community of world-class scholars and advocates. We research, teach, and consult on all aspects of earth's organismal diversity, from genomes to ecosystems, and all plant, animal, and microbial species. Individual and collaborative research by members of the EEB department covers the range of the complementary disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology, employing all technical approaches ranging across field work, lab work, molecular biology, bioinformatics, eco-informatics, computer simulation, statistics, and mathematical theory. Our research often involves study and synthesis across multiple levels of biological organization. Faculty research interests include population/community ecology, ecosystem/landscape ecology, evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, genetics, evolutionary genetics, genomics, molecular evolution, bioinformatics, behaviour, behaviour genetics, theoretical biology, plant biology, animal biology, taxonomy/systematics, developmental biology, anatomy, and physiology.

The main goal of our graduate programs is to train thoughtful, versatile scientists who (i) perform innovative, publication-quality research, (ii) think critically, (iii) have mastered skills specific to their fields, (iv) excel at conveying their ideas and results in both written and spoken formats, and (v) go on to productive careers in their areas of interest and expertise. We are training the next generation of scientists who will face pressing societal issues that must be solved by highly trained ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Graduate students are engaged in all aspects of research and departmental community. Community activities include reading and discussion groups, seminars, and social events. Other activities include workshops on writing papers, giving presentations, R and Python, and finding jobs — both academic and those outside of universities.

The EEB graduate program is home to over 60 faculty members specializing in ecology and evolution. Professors supervising graduate students are located on all three campuses of the University (St. George, Mississauga, Scarborough) as well as at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The EEB department enjoys strong links with the Data Science Institute, the Centre for Global Change, the School of Cities, the School of the Environment, and the ROM. The Koffler Scientific Reserve, a nearby field station owned by the University, is dedicated to ecological and evolutionary research. The department also has partnerships with government agencies including the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry that helps provide access to infrastructure, including field and lab facilities in Algonquin Provincial Park, funding, and long-term data sets.

Contact and Address

Web: www.eeb.utoronto.ca
Email: gradadmin.eeb@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-7172
Fax: (416) 978-5878

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto
Earth Sciences Centre
Room 3046, 25 Willcocks Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2
Canada

Graduate Faculty

Graduate faculty membership information will be coming soon.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology MSc

The main goal of the MSc program is to provide students with the opportunity to design, conduct, and write up a substantial independent research project. Students' projects cover the full range of topics listed in the Overview (above) and may include field work, lab work, molecular biology, bioinformatics, eco-informatics, computer simulations, statistics, and/or mathematical theory. MSc students must demonstrate competence in independent research and will conduct research with the goal of authoring or co-authoring a scientific publication. MSc graduates from our program go on to a wide range of careers including jobs in government agencies, data science, teaching, consulting, and higher education.

Master of Science

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university, with an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in the last year of the bachelor's degree and a minimum B average in the previous year.

  • Applicants will not be admitted until they have secured an agreement with a graduate faculty member to sponsor and supervise the student's research.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete 0.5 graduate full-course equivalent (FCE) chosen from courses offered by the EEB department or, with the permission of the supervisor(s) and supervisory committee, offered by other U of T departments. Students should consult supervisory faculty about the most appropriate courses.

  • Students must complete a thesis under the direction of the student's supervisor, assisted by an advisory committee, and defended at an oral examination.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-F)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology PhD

The main goal of the PhD program is to provide students with the opportunity to design, conduct, and write about a collection of substantial, inter-related, independent research projects. Students' projects cover the full range of topics listed in the Overview (above) and may include field work, lab work, molecular biology, bioinformatics, eco-informatics, statistics, mathematical theory, computer simulations, or some combination of these approaches.

  • PhD students are expected to complete an original independent research program that makes substantial and innovative contributions to their field of research. It is expected that PhD candidates will publish multiple primary scientific articles based on their research.

  • A thesis is completed under the direction of the student's supervisor(s), assisted by a supervisory (advisory) committee, and defended at an oral examination.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of three routes: 1) following completion of a recognized MSc degree in ecology and evolutionary biology; 2) transfer from the University of Toronto's EEB MSc program; or 3) direct entry, typically following completion of a BSc degree.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Applicants will not be admitted until they have secured an agreement with a graduate faculty member to sponsor and supervise the student's research and the applicant has been offered a graduate position by EEB.

  • Applicants to this pathway of the EEB PhD program may be accepted after completion of a four-year BSc degree in biology and a research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology. Applicants must have a grade average equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A– during the MSc and an average of at least B+ in the final two years of the bachelor's program.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs). These courses or course modules are chosen from those offered by the EEB department, or with the permission of the supervisor(s) and supervisory committee, offered by other U of T departments.

  • During an appraisal exam, students are examined on both their mastery of concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology and a submitted research proposal. Students are examined 14 to 20 months into the program.

  • Students must deliver two public seminars in the department based on their thesis research.

  • Students must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

  • Applicants may be accepted first into EEB's MSc program from an appropriate bachelor's degree program and, conditional upon evidence of research excellence as judged by the thesis supervisory committee through the EEB transfer exam process and an interview, may transfer into the PhD program.

  • Transfers will not be permitted until the student has secured an agreement with a graduate faculty member to sponsor and supervise the student's research.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 2.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs). These courses or course modules are chosen from those offered by the EEB department or, with the permission of the supervisor(s) and supervisory committee, offered by other U of T departments.

  • Students transferring into the PhD program from the MSc may apply 0.5 graduate FCE towards the PhD course requirement.

  • Doctoral students must successfully complete an appraisal exam, separate from the transfer exam used for admission into the doctoral program through the transfer pathway. During an appraisal exam, students are examined on both their mastery of concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology and a submitted research proposal. Students are examined 14 to 26 months into the program from the initial MSc program start date.

  • Students must deliver two public seminars in the department based on their thesis research.

  • Students must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Applicants will not be admitted until they have secured an agreement with a graduate faculty member to sponsor and supervise the student's research and the applicant has been offered a graduate position by EEB.

  • Applicants may be accepted for direct entry into the PhD with a BSc degree with an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto A– or better across the final two years of bachelor's coursework and in any postgraduate work, including courses in ecology and evolutionary biology, and evidence of research potential. Applicants may be considered through this entrance pathway if they do not have a recognized research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology, or if they completed a BSc in a discipline other than biology.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Exceptional students admitted to the PhD program without an MSc degree must successfully complete a total of 2.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs). These courses or course modules are chosen from those offered by the EEB department, or with the permission of the supervisor(s) and supervisory committee, offered by other U of T departments.

  • During an appraisal exam, students are examined on both their mastery of concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology and a submitted research proposal. Students are examined 14 to 26 months into the program.

  • Students must deliver two public seminars in the department based on their thesis research.

  • Students must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology MSc, PhD Courses

Not all courses are offered every year. Please visit the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology website for a current list of course offerings including special topics courses.

Courses Offered at the Graduate Level Only

EEB1210H, EEB1230H, EEB1250H, EEB1310H, EEB1315H, EEB1320H, EEB1350H, EEB1361H, EEB1420H, EEB1421H, EEB1423H, EEB1430H, EEB1440H, EEB1450H, EEB1451H, EEB1452H, EEB1453H, EEB1454H, EEB1455H, EEB1456H

Graduate Courses With Significant Undergraduate Content

These courses will normally constitute only a minor component of the required credits.

EEB1430H, EEB1440H, EEB1443H, EEB1458H, EEB1459H, EEB1460H, EEB1462H