Student Life

Daniel Kim/© AMNH
With around 40 graduate students in residence, the Richard Gilder Graduate School has a student body small enough to generate a strong collegiate identity and spirit, yet large enough to provide a diverse student community, which draws from the Museum's own Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program and collaborating institutions including Columbia University, Cornell University, City University of New York, and New York University.
View the Richard Gilder Graduate School FAQ for additional information and resources.
The Richard Gilder Graduate School (RGGS) is located in a historic building of the American Museum of Natural History. Although the building dates back to 1897, numerous renovations have transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility, with modern labs and classrooms.
Linked to the Museum laboratories by the "Golden Corridor,” the Richard Gilder Graduate School facility includes classrooms, study spaces, and labs right next to the Museum's collection and research areas.


New York City Life
New York City is one of the world's great cities, providing a nearly limitless array of cultural and entertainment activities. An unmatched variety of restaurants, museums, bars, theaters, parks and galleries provides a rich cultural backdrop for a city of 8 million people from more than 200 different nationalities. Despite the large size and diversity, all parts of the city are closely connected, thanks to an easy and efficient public transportation system. The American Museum of Natural History is located in the borough of Manhattan, next to Central Park, in the neighborhood of the Upper West Side.
From the El Museo del Barrio to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, from leafy Riverdale in the Bronx to neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York City offers something to fulfill any and all interests.
The New York City metropolitan area is an exciting place to live. Like Museum staff and postdoctoral scientists, and most of Richard Gilder Graduate School graduate students choose to live in an area that appeals to their preferences in cost, location, ambience, and commuting convenience.
In contrast to many universities, the Richard Gilder Graduate School typically provides 12 months of stipend support for students enrolled in the Ph.D. Program in Comparative Biology. The stipend level reflects parity with or exceeds similar institutions and is intended to accommodate New York City housing costs, taking into account the fact that the Museum does not own dormitories.
In addition, we have entered into a special partnership with International House to ensure that housing is available for all students entering the Museum’s Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program, for their first and second years.This partnership provides students access to a dormitory-style room, suite room, or studio or 1-bedroom apartment in the International House’s historic buildings at W. 120th Street near Riverside Drive. For all students and research fellows affiliated with our programs, the Richard Gilder Graduate School, through the Administrative Director’s Office, can provide housing referral services, listing searches, and placement assistance (including short-term). Many of our partner universities also offer housing options or advice for our students entering into those collaborative Ph.D. programs. The Graduate School can furnish documentation about current enrollment and fellowship payments to our students for lease purposes.
International House
More than just an apartment, International House is an international post-graduate residential community with in-house cultural programming, support services, leadership training, organized excursions, distinguished speakers’ series, career networking opportunities, international dining fare, musical performances, and language exchange groups. Your neighbors come from more than 100 countries; work and train at 72 organizations; study at 33 institutions; and can teach you French, African Dance, or Tai Chi. I. House has hosted over 70,000 graduate students and trainees since it was established more than 80 years ago.
Students Seminars and Conferences
During their first year, RGGS Comparative Biology Ph.D. students are required to attend each program in the Series and will meet prior to each program for a discussion of the pertinent literature, which they will be expected to have read prior to the lecture, for a total of two hours each week. First year students earn one credit per semester for a total of two credits. After the first year, students’ participation is not required for credit, but is strongly encouraged.
Seminars will be held in-person in the RGGS Lecture Hall, and virtually on Mondays, 11 am–noon unless otherwise noted.
February 3, 2025
Jan Freedman Royal Commission, AIUIa
February 10, 2025
Kevin Bilyk Montclair State U
February 17, 2025
HOLIDAY No Seminar
February 24, 2025
Pascal Title, Stony Brook U
March 3, 2025
Phil Barden, NJIT
March 10, 2025
Taran Grant USP, Brazil
March 17, 2025
Jane Waters Providence College
March 24, 2025
Audrey Lin AMNH Postdoc
March 31, 2025
Leonardo Campagna, Cornell U
April 7, 2025
Rodrigo Medellin, UNAM
April 14, 2025
Tara Pelletier Radford U
April 21, 2025
Gerry Carter Princeton
April 28, 2025
Jessica Glass Fairbanks U
May 5, 2025
Yara Haridy, U Chicago
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History holds seminars on most Thursdays through the fall, winter, and spring.
New Dates Coming Soon
Researchers from around the region are invited to the annual meeting of the Northeast Regional Vertebrate Evolution Symposium (NERVES). They encourage undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, technicians, and faculty to give presentations.
New Dates Coming Soon
October 15-17, 2025
As a part of the only international series of conservation conferences featuring students and early-career professionals, SCCS-NY provides opportunities for emerging scientists to professionally network, gain experience, and present and get feedback on their work. Interactions with peers as well as leaders in science, policy, and management will encourage collaborations, inspire further research, and create lasting professional connections.
At SCCS-NY, you'll be able to:
- Present your work in talk, speed talk, or poster presentation format
- Receive personalized feedback from mentors
- Network with conservation professionals and peers
- Build your skills at workshops
What can you expect at SCCS-NY?
- Plenaries by leading conservation practitioners
- In-person and virtual mentoring sessions
- In-person and virtual workshops
- Go behind the scenes at the Museum and explore its collections
- Awards for best presentations
- Special evening programming & receptions at the Museum
Who Should Attend SCCS-NY?
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or early-career professional (from anywhere in the world!) pursuing or considering the field of conservation, we encourage you to attend! Whatever your focus—biology, social sciences, medicine, economics, architecture, law—if it has relevance to conservation, we want to include your perspective.
Subscribe to our email list for updates about programs, application deadlines, and more!