Cornell University provides many outstanding opportunities for graduate or postdoctoral study and research in evolutionary genomics. We have excellent groups working on many model and non-model animal, plant, and microbial systems, and with programs that include (and integrate) experimental, analytical, functional, statistical, and computational approaches to the study of genomic and organismal diversity and to the inference of function and functional diversification. Importantly, there is a tremendous spirit of interaction and collaboration within and among groups that facilitates ability of students and postdocs to learn and apply the full scope of tools, skills, and perspectives important to evolutionary genomics today.
There are several programs, called fields, that are actively seeking applications for new graduate students. At Cornell, only these interdepartmental fields grant advanced degrees. Because departments do not grant degrees, cross departmental collaboration is exceptionally easy and natural here. Many of the graduate fields will appear to overlap, so the best way to find out which is right for you is to study the websites. Here is a quick run down:
Graduate Field of Genetics Genomics and Development
If you are particularly interested in genetic mechanisms of evolution, or have a strong affinity for model genetic organisms and their role in evolutionary genomics, or have a strong interest in functional genomics or evolutionary developmental genetics, this field is the one for you. Some of the Genetics and Development faculty that have a strong interest in evolutionary genetics include Chip Aquadro, Daniel Barbash, Ed Buckler, Carlos Bustamante, Andy Clark, Rick Harrison, Brian Lazzaro, Jason Mezey, June Nasrallah, Adam Siepel, and Mariana Wolfner. Deadline for graduate applications December 15.
Graduate Field of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
This field spans evolutionary ecology, ecological genetics, speciation, and population genetics. If your primary interests include ecological components of the determinants of evolutionary change, or the role of the environment in organismal fitness, this program is for you. Out of the set of 51 faculty in this graduate field, the following have a primary interest in evolutionary genetics: Chip Aquadro, Andy Clark, Rick Durrett, Rick Harrison and Irby Lovette. Deadline for graduate applications: December 1.
Graduate Field of Computational Biology
This is a newly formed graduate field that spans a wide range of applications of serious computational modeling to problems in bioinformatics, biomechanics, population dynamics, protein structure, epidemiology, gene regulatory networks, quantitative genetics and complex traits, evolutionary genomics or statistical genomics. Some of the faculty with an interest in evolutionary genomics include Carlos Bustamante, Andy Clark, Ron Elber, Uri Keich, Jason Mezey, and Adam Siepel. Deadline for graduate applications: Jan 5.
Other relevant graduate fields
In addition there are several other somewhat more specialized programs that include very strong coverage of evolutionary biology, including Entomology, Plant Biology, Biometry, and Applied Math. You can also learn more about academic programs and facilities at Cornell from the individual departmental websites, including Molecular Biology and Genetics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Plant Breeding and Genetics and the Institute for Genomic Diversity to name just a few.
Faculty:
Chip Aquadro Drosophila population genetics/genomics
Daniel Barbash Genetics of interspecific hybrid sterility and inviability
Ed Buckler Genetic dissection of maize QTL; bioinformatics
Carlos Bustamante Statistical inference in population genetics
Andy Clark Human and Drosophila population genetics/genomics
Bryan Danforth Phylogeny and evolution of primitive bees
Jeff Doyle Molecular systematics
Rick Durrett Stochastic processes in evolutionary genetics
Ron Elber Computational protein structure
Rick Harrison Genetics of speciation
Uri Keich Computational genomics
Steve Kresovich Genetic origins of crop domestication
Brian Lazzaro Drosophila innate immunity population genetics
Irby Lovette Warbler phylogenetics and gene flow
Susan McCouch Rice genomics and genetics of domestication
Jason Mezey Drosophila complex trait genetics
June Nasrallah Molecular biology of plant self incompatibility
Adam Siepel Computational evolutionary genomics
Steve Tanksley Plant complex trait genetics
Mariana Wolfner Drosophila reproductive genetics