Envision EEB weekend returns to KBS

The W.K. Kellogg Biological Station was again an integral part of a program designed to introduce graduate students to the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program.

Envision EEB

Envision EEB: Graduate Preview Weekend showed undergraduate students from historically excluded groups what life in MSU’s EEB program can hold for them. The 13 students from across the United States had a weekend of resources, professional development, and collegiality in the fourth annual event.

“This program really helps shine a light on the hidden curriculum of applying for and attending graduate school,” said plant biology assistant professor Lauren Sullivan, who co-chaired the event with integrative biology doctoral candidate Ben Kline and Ph.D. candidate Carol Rosenbaum. “We invite students who vary in the degree to which they have worked in research labs and feel prepared for applying to graduate school, but all walk away saying they learned a lot from the weekend. 

“I am really excited that this program can help students get the information they need to make the best decision for their futures.”

The undergraduate students engaged with more than 70 EEB graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty for social events and tours in East Lansing and at Kellogg Biological Station. Another 15 students developed workshops and participated in student panels, sharing knowledge and experience about applying to graduate school and being a graduate student in the EEB program.

“Envision EEB continues to be an amazing effort that dives deeply into EEB’s strengths and tremendous effort of its members,” EEB Director Elise Zipkin said. “The preview week puts the considerable strengths of MSU on the center stage and makes us stronger as we build a tight community of early career scholars. Everyone benefits from the relationships made at this event.”

In addition to co-chairs Kline, Rosenbaum, and Sullivan, the event was organized by EEB members Jim Moran, Nadya Mamoozadeh, Annabelle McCarthy, Alejandra Martínez Blancas, DeShae Dillard, Alex Lewanski, and Rajanikanth Chowdanayaka. The MSU Graduate School and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion supported the weekend.

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