Explain why you are interested in pursuing your graduate studies in the LLACE

Outline any past research experience you may have

State your professional or career goals (i.e., why do you want to pursue a M.S. or Ph.D.?) 

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your major academic and research-related accomplishments (e.g., awards, fellowships, research grants, publications, presentations at professional meetings)

  Provide a summary of GPA/GRE scores

  Great faculty. The Division of Biology at Kansas State University hosts a diverse group of scientists with a wide range of research interests.

  Guaranteed salary. The Division of Biology guarantees full financial support (including a summer salary) for all students that are accepted into the graduate program. The level of support is the same for both foreign and domestic students.  If you are accepted for admission into the program, you will receive financial support as long as you are making reasonable progress towards a degree.  The graduate student stipend is currently $20,184/year and includes a waiver of out-of-state tuition fees.

  Affordable living in a nice setting. Kansas State University is an attractive campus located in the city of Manhattan, a pleasant community of ca. 45,000 people with good services and recreational opportunities.  Situated in the scenic Flint Hills region of eastern Kansas, Manhattan is within easy driving distance from Kansas City (2 hours), Lawrence (1.25 hours) and Topeka (45 min).  Check out the official websites of the City of Manhattan and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce for additional information.

Grassland ecology and regional conservation importance. One of the major strengths of the Division of Biology at Kansas State University is our research program in grassland ecology. Research scientists within the Division have considerable expertise in working with grassland ecosystems, both in North America and abroad. The recent book Grassland Dynamics: Long-Term Ecological Research in Tallgrass Prairie gives a nice overview of research conducted out at the nearby Konza Prairie Biological Station.  Studies of grassland ecosystems are particularly timely because declines in population numbers of grassland birds, the invasion of grasslands by exotic species, and the sheer loss and fragmentation of grassland habitat are all serious conservation issues.  Tallgrass prairie is the most altered ecosystem in North America, with only 2% of historical prairie remaining, most of it in the Flint Hills region of Kansas.  

Availability of research sites. The Konza Prairie Biological Station is a 3,400-ha tallgrass prairie reserve that is a short 20-min drive south of Manhattan. It is part of a network of Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) sites funded by the National Science Foundation. Two other nearby sites that could be used for research include the Fort Riley Military Reservation (40,500 ha), and the newly created Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (4,500 ha).  At the southern end of the Flint Hills is located the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (~15,600 ha) in Oklahoma (about 4 hours away).  Together, these grassland sites create a conservation network throughout the Flint Hills region, which contains the largest tracts of tallgrass prairie left in North America.  

Active conservation groups. There are a number of active conservation groups locally and within the state including the Kansas Ornithological Society, Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, and the KSU Chapter of the Wildlife Society. All offer regular seminar series, field trips and social activities. For keen birders, the avifauna of Kansas is an interesting mix of western and eastern species (Kansas Bird Checklist).

  Kansas is at the geographical center of the United States!   Come to Kansas State University and be at the center of it all!