UC Davis Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Programs Ranked No. 1

According to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis is home to the best ecology and evolutionary biology graduate programs in the nation. UC Davis rose six places since the last time the report was issued, four years ago, to oust UC Berkeley and Harvard University from the top spots.

"The number one ranking nationwide of UC Davis in graduate training in ecology and evolution is a very important accomplishment for our campus," said Peter Wainwright, evolution and ecology professor and former chair of the Population Biology Graduate Group. Wainwright stepped down from the position this summer as he is on sabbatical this year.

Due to the strong reputation of UC Davis' ecology and evolutionary biology graduate programs, many faculty and students in these programs, though pleased, were not too surprised by the outcome of the report.

"The ranking is recognition for what we all kind of already knew," said Jay Rosenheim, current chair of the Population Biology Graduate Group and professor of entomology. "It reflects how UC Davis has built a strong reputation over many years. Over the past 10 or 20 years UC Davis has become a Mecca for faculty and students in ecology and evolutionary biology."

The magazine evaluates reports from deans, program directors, senior faculty and other academic experts to decide upon the graduate program rankings. At UC Davis, ecology and evolutionary biology is represented mainly by two graduate groups: ecology and population biology. However, entomology, geology, genetics and animal behavior are also linked to this category, according to Wainwright. While ecology and population biology are the main programs incorporated in this ranking, according to Rosenheim, these other programs contribute to the strength of the ecology and evolutionary biology programs.

"They all come together to strengthen these programs," he said. "I think this ranking is due to the strength of many different programs. The strength of this campus in general, especially for ecology and evolutionary biology, is that key graduate groups are interdepartmental," he said.

The Population Biology Graduate Program draws from 9 different departments and 3 different colleges. This provides an opportunity to integrate research and results in "superb" training for students, he added.

"I think the ranking reflects the extraordinary quality of research that exists at Davis in ecology and evolutionary biology, and the dedication that our faculty have toward designing creative and rigorous graduate programs that are attractive to the best students," Said Wainwright.