Apply To Our Program
The University of Wyoming's Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE) is an interdisciplinary doctoral program that requires applicants to secure admission to a home department aligned with their advisor's affiliation. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and obtain sponsorship from a PiEE faculty member or co-sponsorship with a PiEE affiliate. Those without a master's degree should demonstrate exceptional promise through research experience or publications. Current UW doctoral students may apply to transfer into PiEE, subject to the same admission criteria and approval by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
Admission InformationGet to Know PiEE
Faculty & Staff
The Program in Ecology and Evolution is supported by a wide-ranging group of faculty and affiliates from across campus, all united by a commitment to ecological and evolutionary research and graduate education. Students are mentored by PiEE faculty and benefit from a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that spans multiple departments and areas of expertise. Check out the brilliant faculty members who make up our program!
Our PeopleEnrolled Student Resources
PiEE emphasizes academic excellence, collaborative research and professional development for our students. If you're a current PiEE student, view our student expectations, available resources, travel funding, paperwork processes, teaching assistantships and campus facilities that support student success.
Our Students
Students in the Program in Ecology and Evolution explore a wide range of ecological topics, spanning from molecular and microbial levels to plant and vertebrate systematics and up to landscape-scale ecology. Take a look at all the amazing students who make up our program!
Curriculum
Students must complete 72 credit hours, including at least 42 course credits. All students are required to take ECOL 5100 their first year. Students must also complete at least 6 credit hours focused on tool-skill development, with coursework tailored in consultation with their Advisory Committee. Transfer credits from a master’s program and any exceptions to these requirements require approval from the appropriate committees.
Additional Ecology Courses
The Program in Ecology and Evolution encourages students to enroll in courses across departments and colleges, depending on their area of specialization and advisory committee's recommendations.
ByLaws
The Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE) is a collaborative, doctoral-level program that offers advanced, interdisciplinary training in ecology and evolution. Governed democratically, the program’s faculty oversee key areas such as administration, curriculum and personnel, with any changes to its structure requiring a two-thirds faculty vote.
About Our Program
The Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE) is an interdepartmental doctoral program housed at the University of Wyoming in the high plains of Laramie. PiEE is the largest PhD program at the University of Wyoming, and provides advanced, integrated training in the science of ecology.
The Program's central mission is to produce broadly trained scientists who will lead the field of ecology and evolution in the coming decades. As part of their education, PiEE students develop skills in relevant technologies, gain exposure to a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, and prepare to look ahead as new scientific opportunities and societal needs emerge. The Program instills a strong commitment to advancing ecological knowledge and applying it effectively to problems of societal concern.
The Program is grounded in the natural history of organisms in their environment, but incorporates tools and perspectives from across the biological, physical, mathematical, computational and earth sciences. Students develop conceptual, historical, and philosophical perspectives spanning the entire range of sub-disciplines in ecology and evolution, while receiving advanced training in the sub-discipline of their individual interest. PiEE fosters long-term career development by exploring the linkages of ecology and evolution with other disciplines, and by scanning the ecological and evolutionary biology horizon or emerging questions, concepts, and approaches that will shape the field in years to come.
History of the Program in Ecology & Evolution
The Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE) (f/k/a Program in Ecology) was created in 2005 by a group of five faculty members from three different departments at the University of Wyoming. It originally began as a Ecology Project under a National Science Foundation grant administered by the Wyoming EPSCor Program. In 2010 and 2011, PiEE has become a financially and administratively self-sufficient program, and is now housed in the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center on the University of Wyoming campus.
The original cadre of Ph.D. students in 2005 consisted of three students in Botany and Zoology/Physiology. Since then, PiEE has grown to include a number of 50+ students, 70+ alumni, 40+ faculty members, affiliates and emeritus faculty. The program continues to expand and progress, largely due to a superbly engaged student body that seeks excellence in themselves and the program.
PIEE Student Symposium 2026
February 6, 2026 | University of Wyoming | Barry Center Auditorium
Join the Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE) community for an annual celebration of student research in ecology and evolution at the 15h Annual Student Symposium. Hosted by PhD students in the program, this free, public event features student presentations, interdisciplinary discussions, silent auction and a keynote speaker, Dr. Erin Welsh. Everyone is welcome—from students and faculty to friends, family and the wider community.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Erin Welsh, a dynamic scientist and science storyteller behind the popular podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, where she explores diseases and medical topics from biological, historical, and epidemiological perspectives as our 2026 keynote speaker.
🕛 Keynote Address: February 6, 2026, 11:30a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Barry Center Auditorium
PiEE Symposium Schedule:
- 8:00-9:00 am Prospective Student Coffee Hour and Snacks
- 9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome
- 9:15-9:55 am Peer-Review Q&A Panel, “AI in PiEE: What is useful, what isn’t, and where do we go from here?”
- 10:00- 11:15 am – Print-Making Workshop and Student Presentations
- 11:25am – 12:30pm – Keynote Speaker Introduction & Keynote Address
- 12:30-2:00pm – Lunch
- 1:30pm Artist Talk – Prints on Display in the Berry Center
- 1:45pm - 5:00pm – Student Presentations
- 5:15pm Closing Comments
- 5:30-8:00 pm - Poster Session, Silent Auction Results, Dinner/Social
PiEE Student Poster Session, 5:30-6:30pm – Berry Center Atrium
- Light lunch, snacks, and beverages provided throughout the day
- Open to the public – students, faculty, staff, and community members encouraged to attend!
PiEE Silent Auction:
- On display in the Berry Center, room 227 starting at noon
- All proceeds support future PiEE events and student research
- Open to the public – bring your friends and family!
- Silent Auction Results announced 7:00pm
