Graduate Research Program
Faculty in the Science Communications Lab are committed to training graduate students in the areas of agriculture and natural resources communications, science communications, strategic communications, risk and crisis communications, and international communications.
The Master of Science degree is a research and practice-oriented degree that emphasizes theory and practice. Students leave our program prepared for jobs in academia and in the fields of communications, public relations, advertising and marketing, agriculture sciences, teaching, and Extension.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree provides a wide range of educational and research experiences. Doctoral students in the Lab are trained as social and behavioral scholars and practitioners who can address complex, contentious issues in the domains of food, agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences. Students will graduate with a strong foundation in theoretical and conceptual frameworks, advanced research methods, and writing and research skills necessary for careers in the public and private sector.
Graduate students can interact with the Science Communications Lab through paid and unpaid graduate research positions, which are described below in the Research Assistantships section.
Application Process
Indicate Interest in ALEC
To indicate your interest in obtaining a graduate degree from the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications, email Clarice Fulton, ALEC program coordinator.
Identify a Major Professor
The admissions process requires you to find an ALEC faculty member who commits to be your major professor before you can be admitted. Before applying to the ALEC graduate program with an interest in communications, review the Science Communications Lab website to determine if our work aligns with your interests.
Indicate Interest in the Lab
If our work aligns with your interest, complete the SciComm Graduate Program Interest survey to let us know you are interested in working with the Lab. Once you complete the interest survey, and if your interests align with our work, a faculty member from the Lab will reach out to you about scheduling a meeting to learn more about what you would bring to the Lab.
Apply to the ALEC Graduate Program
After you indicate your interest in the Lab, work with Clarice Fulton to complete the application for admissions to the ALEC graduate program. Once the application is complete the admissions committee receives your application, faculty in the Science Communications Lab will receive notification of your application.
Review by the Lab Faculty
While your application is being reviewed by the Department’s graduate admissions committee, faculty in the Science Communications Lab will review your application as well as the skills, experiences, and interests you provided in the Lab interest survey to determine if there is an opening in the Lab for someone with your expertise. The Lab faculty will provide feedback about acceptance into the Lab to the ALEC graduate coordinator and admissions committee.
Admissions Decision
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Research Assistantships
The Science Communications Lab offers paid and unpaid graduate research positions. Unpaid positions are available upon request and are offered as students indicate interest in specific Lab projects. Paid positions are tied directly to a funded research project and are posted below as they become available.
For more information about paid and unpaid research position, email Dr. Dara Wald.