Name

Michael Cotrone

School

University of Alabama

Degree Program

First year PhD student in Biological Sciences

Previous Degrees

Master of Arts in Biology from Long Island University, 2011; Bachelor of Arts in Education from Long Island University, 2007

Dissertation Title

The Effects of Resource Payoff Value in Contests between Female Convict Cichlids

Research Interests

Behavioral traits; genetics

Advisor

Ryan Earley

Advisor’s Research Focus

Integrated animal behavior

Hobbies

Surfing

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I selected the biology program at University of Alabama for my doctoral degree because I was interested in the research that was being conducted by my advisor, Ryan Earley. It took me some time to decide to pursue my advanced degrees because I got my bachelors degree in education so that I could become a high school biology teacher. But I was influenced by 1 of my professors to get my masters degree instead of getting a full-time teaching job right away and I found myself very interested in research.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

I prepared for graduate school by making the most of my undergraduate research opportunities. People in the sciences are very connected, and my participation in research as an undergrad opened doors for me. If you want to pursue a PhD, I would recommend that you start your research as an undergraduate, because it is a great resume booster.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

For my personal statement, I submitted 2 documents. The first paper detailed my research interests, and the second paper explained my motivations for going to graduate school. Specifically, I wrote about what I hoped to get from the experience and what I planned to do after I graduated.

If you are struggling with writing your personal statement, I advise you to make your writing appear honest and bold. If you are not honest, you will be found out. You also need to make your writing sample stand out, especially if you are applying to competitive schools. The people on the admissions committees read hundreds of personal statements, so if yours is lackluster, it will be overlooked.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I chose to approach faculty members that I had worked with closely during my bachelors and masters programs for letters of recommendation. Good letters of recommendation are written by professors who really know you, so I developed strong relationships with the faculty whose work I admired. For instance, my masters thesis advisor wrote me a strong recommendation letter, as did a handful of other professors. The connections I made with them show that the undergraduate research experience is important because those relationships will prove themselves to be valuable over and over again.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in biological sciences?

I would tell prospective graduate students to actively participate in lab research whenever you have the chance in order to see if you like the kind of work that a graduate degree in biology entails. Every graduate student performs research, so if you enjoy your undergraduate research, a biological sciences graduate program might be a good option for you.

My second tip pertains to the research that you should do before you start your doctorate program. Most PhD programs list the prerequisite courses that students are expected to have taken on the school’s website, so you should pay attention to those lists when planning your masters degree class schedule. Typically, basic and organic chemistry classes are strongly recommended for the biological sciences track. I would also recommend taking statistics and an introductory calculus class. But keep in mind that each program has slightly different requirements, so it would be smart to research several different programs.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My program usually takes 5 years. This is my first year in the PhD program, so soon I will create a research plan that maps out the next 4 years of study. Right now I am completing coursework, but our curriculum is heavily research-oriented, so I am expected to participate in the lab too. I am also expected to attend departmental seminars and present my research results at scientific conferences at least once a year.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

For my dissertation, I will be researching how selective environmental pressures affect aggressive behavior in the convict chiclid, which is a fish native to South America. The convict chiclid is different from other fish because it is bi-parental, which means it cares for its young in tandem with its mate for 6 to 8 weeks. That is unusual in the aquatic world, where most fish just spawn at random and leave the survival of their young up to chance. But these fish wait until the eggs hatch and protect their young from predators in order to ensure the passage of their genes.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

I haven’t started writing my dissertation since I am not very far into my program, but my advisor has informed me of the guidelines for the first stages of the project. By the middle of the academic year, I need to have written my research proposal, which will essentially be a road map for the next 4 or 5 years that I am at University of Alabama.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through a teaching assistantship that covers my tuition and living expenses in exchange for teaching. Right now I teach 3 different classes in the physiology laboratories, which takes up a great deal of my time.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in biological sciences?

I would consider the time commitment for my program to be equivalent to a full-time job. It takes at least 40 hours each week in addition to the time I spend teaching.

Even though I have just started my program, I can see why so many graduate students are continually stressed. After a certain amount of unrelenting pressure, you hit a wall where you cannot be productive anymore. At that point, instead of beating yourself up, it is better to take a few deep breaths and go see a concert or have a couple of drinks with your lab mates so that you can come back refreshed and ready to focus the next day.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

The amount of work that graduate school requires makes it hard to have any sort of personal life. It is hard to balance personal time with my research and teaching responsibilities. I would caution students who are about to embark on a PhD program that if you are not totally in love with what you plan to study, you will not succeed.

And even though you should be passionate about your studies, every once in a while you have to get out of scholarship mode and give yourself free time to go to the gym or go camping on the weekend. If you don’t, you will go insane.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am not sure where I will be in 5 years, but since I enjoy teaching a lot, my goal is to work as a university-level researcher who teaches classes as well. But I am aware that there are many paths I could take. For example, I could also conduct research for an NGO or work for the government.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in biological sciences?

I would advise people who want to get a PhD in biology, or anything else, to learn some time management and organizational skills as soon as possible. I have never been a particularly organized person, but this program has forced me to become one. Now I keep a day to day calendar to help me prioritize my work. I keep lists and I make notes of deadlines, even though I never had to do that during my undergraduate or masters programs. If you are a procrastinator, you should try to weed that out of your system. There is no room for putting off your work in a doctorate program.