"One of the best things about the BEES section is the collaborative and collegial spirit that exists among the faculty and students. The professors are very approachable and helpful to students, treating them with respect and encouragement. Opportunities for professional development abound in the School, including grant competitions for research and travel money, teaching, and presenting at the yearly Phi Sigma Research Symposium. These activities lay the groundwork for later success in getting external grant money, publishing papers, and presenting at national and international meetings. With a BEES seminar series and a weekly departmental seminar spanning the research interests of the entire School, students can stay abreast of new ideas and have the opportunity to present their own research as well. I honestly felt like the BEES Section was my second family, and I can't overemphasize my gratitude to the faculty and my fellow students for my experience there."

Dr. Tracie Ivy, Ph.D. Graduate

"The ISU School of Biological Sciences offers both graduate and undergraduate students a wide variety of exciting research opportunities. As an undergraduate, I conducted research with faculty on projects ranging from cricket sexual behavior to gas chromatography. During my senior year, I began work in the immunology laboratory, and liked the atmosphere and my major professor so much that I decided to stay on for my Ph.D. Graduates from our laboratory have moved on to exciting post-doctoral and research positions both in academics and industry.

Bloomington/Normal combines medium-sized city convenience with quiet small town charm. Local country roads, parks and lakes provide ample opportunity for me to enjoy favorite outdoor activities, including cycling, cross- country skiing, sailing and hiking. The university and community also host a wide variety of cultural events and concerts."

Dr. Dan Schroen, Ph.D. Graduate

"I became interested in ISU's School of Biological Sciences after participating in a summer undergraduate research project. In addition to being impressed by the particular research opportunities available, I was attracted to the university because of the personal attention the faculty provided, the positive collaboration among laboratories, the frequent opportunities to become aware of the research of others through a wide range of seminars, and the general helpful and friendly attitude within the School.

Behavioral ecologists are currently incorporating powerful molecular techniques into their research. Using these tools, recent studies in many avian species indicate that young birds are not always genetically related to one or both of the parents attending the nest. My research, under the direction of Drs. Thompson and Capparella, examined this question of parentage in house wrens using DNA fingerprinting to reveal genetic mismatches between care-giving adults and young in their nests. I tested the hypothesis that levels of multiple parentage in the nest are affected by the social mating system (monogamy or polygyny) practiced by the care-giving adults."

Dr. Sheryl Swartz Soukup, Ph.D. Graduate

"The School of Biological Sciences at Illinois State has a rigorous doctoral program with exceptional quality faculty and students. Many of my former graduate student colleagues are either teaching and/or conducting research at respected universities, or they are employed at research positions for private industry. I believe one of the program's greatest strengths is the opportunity for students to interact with faculty from a wide range of biological disciplines. Another strength of the program was the opportunity to give actual lectures in courses, which gave me an advantage in getting a position at a small liberal arts university."

Dr. R. Given Harper, Ph.D. Graduate

"My establishment of a career at Kennesaw State College, Georgia, is primarily due to the many opportunities provided by the School of Biological Sciences at Illinois State. I feel that my success was due to the training and opportunities in the areas of teaching, research, curriculum, and service. I was able to acquire extensive teaching experience as a TA and leadership opportunities through supervising other TAs and coordinating multi-section laboratories. Research opportunities are extensive at Illinois State, ranging from plant and animal ecology to cell and molecular biology. Funding opportunities are also available. Through the Beta Lamda Chapter of Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, students may apply for grants to fund their research. In addition, the Rilette Scholarship program provides travel awards to students who present their research findings at professional conferences. One of the School's major strengths is that it includes all of the biological sciences. Although I specialized in ecology, I was kept abreast of recent advances in all the major subdisciplines of biology such as genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology. This provided me with a much broader-based knowledge of biology than most other doctoral students receive, and such broad knowledge is attractive to small teaching institutions such as Kennesaw State."

Dr. Laura Johnson Hechtel, Ph.D. Graduate

"Most faculty at liberal arts colleges find that a substantial part of their work load are courses for non-majors. In addition, faculty often teach a variety of courses to their majors. This requires a breadth and depth of knowledge in biology that, in this day of specialization, is often found missing in many Ph.D. graduates. My success at Augustana College, Illinois, is due in large part to the training I received at Illinois State. I specialized in molecular genetics, but I am also proficient in a broad range of biological disciplines through course work and research. The biology faculty were very supportive of my desire to strengthen my instructional skills, and I was given the opportunities to acquire a variety of teaching experiences as a TA."

Dr. Lori Munneke Scott, Ph.D. Graduate