PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS
I am currently seeking a PhD student for Fall 2024.  I also urge interested MS students to consider applying for Fall 2024.

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My research is collaborative and multi-disciplinary, drawing on the fields of terrestrial ecology, conservation biology, invasion ecology, and plant-herbivore interactions. My projects and those of my students span the continuum between applied and basic research. I am collaborative by nature and encourage my graduate students to forge relationships with other faculty and partners both here and at other institutions. 

 

I am looking for students who are intellectually curious, self-motivated, and hardworking, with a strong academic record, excellent writing ability, and good quantitative skills.

 

Prospective students should have relevant biological experience, good academic records, and competitive GRE scores. 

 

When contacting me, please include a CV and copies of any relevant publications. (dparry@esf.edu)

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
There are opportunities for undergraduate research in the Parry lab, including work-study, paid research assistantships, and independent research projects for credit. Interested undergraduates should have enthusiasm for research, good work ethic, and personal communication skills.
 

LIFE IN MY LAB
​I take mentoring seriously and treat my graduate students as apprentices in the craft of science. I view graduate students as partners in a shared experience and strongly believe that respect and communication produces the best outcomes for both student and advisor. The most rewarding part of my job is helping students develop interesting scientific questions, and facilitating their creativity in answering these problems with methodological rigor. I try to foster independence while emphasizing critical thinking, professionalism, and the development of excellent scientific writing skills.

  In their first year, students define their research questions and write a formal proposal, which will be updated as research goals and methods are refined.  I strongly encourage and assist my students in writing proposals for external grants and in publishing their research in peer-reviewed journals.  SUNY-ESF has graduate travel awards and I try to get all of my graduate students to at least one national conference annually to present their work in addition to regional or local meetings, conferences, and workshops.
 

CONTACTING ME
If you are interested in joining my lab group, please contact me by email (dparry@esf.edu) and include:

• a description of your career goals, experience and skills you would bring to the program, and the kind of research questions you hope to pursue in graduate school. 

• a CV that summarizes your academic, work, and field research background, with particular reference to any experience you have with riparian and stream ecosystems;

• a transcript of prior courses taken, your GPA and GRE (TOEFL scores if necessary for international students)

• sample publications or writing samples (e.g., undergraduate or MS thesis), if available

 

Though GPA and GRE scores are not always the best indicators for success in graduate school, they are often considered strongly in funding decisions at the department level and generally applicant GPA's should be ~>3.5 and GRE's >70th percentile to be competitive. General information on applying for graduate study at SUNY-ESF can be found at https://www.esf.edu/graduate/

Contact: Dylan Parry

Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210 
Email: dparry@esf.edu
Phone: 315-470-6753