Thank you for your interest in our research program.

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is a great place for graduate students to begin their academic careers. The department supports 40-50 graduate students each year. Because of the diversity of faculty research program within the department as well as across campus, there are rich opportunities for interaction with students in other disciplines.

Research by graduate students in my laboratory focuses on the physiological ecology of ectothermic vertebrates and how anthropogenic disturbances alter the ability of these organisms to interact appropriately with their environment. We work extensively with amphibians, reptiles, and fish (see our Research page). I encourage my graduate students to adopt an experimental approach while working with these organisms, which can be achieved both in the laboratory and the field. Most questions pursued by graduate students relate to response variables that have demonstrated or theoretical implications for Darwinian fitness. Endpoints measured include changes in energy allocation, reproductive success, and measures of performance.

If you are interested in learning more about graduate student opportunities in my laboratory, I encourage you to email me (hopkinsw@vt.edu) to discuss my program further. I do not accept students for graduate study without an interview, and I would rarely be willing to accept a Ph.D. student that does not already hold a M.S. degree.