Prospective Students

MS and PhD positions are available in the lab of Dr. Kevin McCluney at Bowling Green State University.

For Fall 2024, the lab is full, but we are open to applications for Fall 2025, from students interested in any research area related to our lab, including 1) animal urban ecology, 2) animal physiological ecology, 3) animal water balance and food webs, 4) the role of plants and animals in wetland/riverine nutrient cycling, or 5) aquatic-terrestrial linkages, especially the impacts of pharmaceuticals and contaminants of emerging concern. For examples of some of our recent research, check out the publications listed on Dr. McCluney’s google scholar profile page. At this time, we are particularly interested in PhD students.

We encourage applications from students from diverse backgrounds. Please see our lab’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policy.

Strong applicants will receive tuition waivers and stipends for 2-3 (for MS) or 4-6 (for PhD) years, through a combination of research and teaching assistantships.

Note, students should have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for an MS and 3.2 for a PhD (out of 4), with coursework in biology, chemistry, and math or statistics, and have other documentation of potential for success. International students from certain countries should have a minimum of 7.5 overall IELTS score or 105 on the TOEFL and at least 27 on the speaking portion (note: for a list of exempted countries, see https://www.bgsu.edu/admissions/graduate/graduate-application-instructions.html).

To Apply:

1. Interested students should first answer the questions in the linked google form and wait to be contacted by Dr. Kevin McCluney via email. If you encounter difficulties in submitting your answers via this form, please email kmcclun@bgsu.edu.
2. Dr. McCluney will reach out to top applicants for further information
3. Top applicants will then be encouraged to submit a formal application to our program. Applications for entrance in August should be submitted by February 1st for best consideration for funding, but applications after this date may still be competitive.
4.  For more information about the application process, see: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/biological-sciences/graduate-programs/prospective-students.html

BGSU is a high research public university, with ~20,000 students, located in NW Ohio, 30 min south of Toledo and ~1 hr from Ann Arbor and Detroit. The Department of Biological Sciences is one of the largest and most productive on campus, with approximately 25 faculty and 70 graduate students. Dr. McCluney and some lab members are also affiliated with the Center for Great Lakes and Watershed Studies, a group of ~10 research-intensive faculty and ~20 graduate students focused on water-related issues.