Pennsylvania State University
208 Mueller Laboratory
University Park, PA 16802-5301
Tel.
814-865-9991
(for fax, use 3125
in place of last 4 digits)
E-mail: sbh1-at-psu-dot-edu
Information for prospective students:
If you have an interest in the research that we do and would like to join the
lab, please send an email to Prof. Hedges with
the information below.
PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS:
1. Briefly state your research interests and reason for wanting to join
the lab.
2. Your current degrees (or expected degrees) and institutions.
3. Your GRE scores and percentiles, including subject (if available).
4. Your GPA (major and cumulative).
5. Degree sought at Penn State (M.Sc. or PhD).
6. Your career objective after graduate school.
*NOTE: This informal application to join my laboratory as a graduate
student and the formal application to graduate school at Penn State are
separate. Most students formally apply through the
biology graduate program,
although you may also apply through
genetics, ecology,
or IBIOS-BG
(bioinformatics and genomics), depending on your research interests. Those interested in my
astrobiology research program, and
obtaining a
dual-title PhD in Astrobiology, may apply through any of these programs. There are no formal rotations, but
rotations among two or more labs during the first year can be designed for
interested students. It is best to make contact early (in the fall)
and apply early (by December, or early January) to take
advantage of internal sources of support (scholarships, fellowships,
recruitment awards) offered through various programs at Penn State.
Successful applicants are invited to visit Penn State for an interview in
the spring semester (usually February) for a recruitment weekend. Separate
visits at any time also can be arranged.
PROSPECTIVE
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS:
1. Your major and class standing as of today (year and which
semester/quarter, etc.)
2. Biology and chemistry courses you are taking or have completed.
3. Your SAT scores and current cumulative GPA.
4. Whether or not you are in the Schreyer Honors College.
5. Your career objective after graduation.
*NOTE: Schreyer Scholars are preferred, and maintenance of a
satisfactory GPA (3.5 or greater) is expected. No special skills are
required, but the ability to interact well with other people is a must.
Also, a quickness to learn new techniques, propensity for computers, "good
hands" in the laboratory, ability to focus on a task without distraction,
neat handwriting, and enthusiasm for the subject are expected. Most students
take 3 credits of Biology 296 or 496 each semester, which corresponds to
nine hours in lab per week.
