Interdepartmental Studies in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology (ISSEB) provides a mechanism for students to take advantage of LSU's remarkable strength in evolutionary biology. It coordinates the resources, expertise, and courses of more than 40 faculty members in four colleges and nine departments across the LSU campus: Agronomy; Biological Sciences (see particularly SEE, Systematics, Ecology & Evolution), Curriculum & Instruction; Entomology; Forestry, Wildlife, & Fisheries; Geography & Anthropology; Geology & Geophysics; and Plant Pathology. Students have the opportunity to earn an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in one of these departments, while concentrating in systematics and evolutionary biology. In the process, they have the opportunity to acquire training in contemporary research methods--including molecular techniques and computer analysis--and subjects--including biogeography, population genetics, genomics, and history of science.
To participate in ISSEB, students first must gain admittance to a graduate program in one of the participating departments. Applicants to these programs must meet the requirements of the Graduate School and of respective departments. An important first step in applying to a department is to select and contact a faculty member with whom to study. Information on faculty members is most easily obtained via their web pages: ISSEB Faculty
Financial Assistance
Teaching, research, and curatorial
assistantships are awarded competitively based on the qualifications
of applicants. Incoming Ph.D. students may apply for LSU Graduate
Fellowships or Board of Regents Graduate Fellowships, which are
awarded through the Graduate School. These research fellowships
generally pay a larger stipend and carry no teaching responsibilities.
More information is available from the Graduate School: Graduate
Financial Assisance
LSU's facilities of special interest to students in systematics and evolutionary biology include:
Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources (CCEER)
Biogeography and Quatenary Paleoecology Laboratory
Center for Excellence in Palynology
Center for Excellence in Science Teaching
Louisiana State Museum of Natural History, which includes links to all associated collections, including: the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, LSU Herbarium (including excellent collections of vascular plants, lichens, and mycological specimens), Log Library & Core Repository, and the eight collections of the LSU Museum of Natural Science (Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Fishes, Genetic Resources, Mammals, Vertebrate Paleontology, Fossil Protists & Invertebrates, and Ethnology & Archaeology.
Other research facilities are listed on the LSU Research Centers, Institutes, Labs & Programs web page
Field Sites
Field sites include in Louisiana the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron, LA and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), in Cocodrie, LA. LSU has a strong tradition, however, of field work in foreign countries, particularly in tropical regions.
Molecular Facilities
Standard biochemical facilities for protein and nucleic acid isolation and characterization are available in laboratories in theLife Sciences Building, the Museum of Natural Science, and Choppin Hall. Facilities are available for automated oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis, PCR amplification of nucleic acids, and automated protein and DNA sequencing.
Supporting Organizations
Organization of Tropical Studies. LSU belongs to OTS and its students may apply to participate in OTS field courses.