Fall Preview: Explore a Michigan PhD (Virtually), September 24 and 25, 2020

The Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD program at the University of Michigan invites juniors, senior, recently graduated, or Master’s students, to participate in a virtual preview of our graduate program. We are eager to recruit students for this event who will contribute to our department's mission of promoting diversity and inclusion in the Earth and environmental sciences.

This event is an opportunity to explore graduate education, participate in admissions workshops, and meet world-renowned faculty and current graduate students. During your visit you'll learn about:

• state of the art research happening at U-M
• the admissions process
• what graduate school is like and how it all works
• interdisciplinary opportunities for students with Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, or Mathematics degrees

This event is open to US citizens or non-citizens alike. If you come from a background that is traditionally under-represented in the Earth and environmental sciences and/or if you actively work towards promoting issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields, you are especially encouraged to apply. 

Application Link

Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 5:00PM EDT

Submit your abstracts for GSA Connects Online 2020

Dear colleagues,


As sad as we are not to go to Montreal for GSA this year, the Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division is still excited about GSA 2020 Connects Online, October 26th-30th 2020! We are planning virtual activities, workshops, and meetups so that our community can stay connected, even though we are far apart; stay tuned for contests, free swag opportunities, and more!

Despite the new format, the GBGM will still be hosting our flagship sessions. Building on the success of our "New Voices in Geobiology sessions over the last three years, this year we have expanded the day-long GeobioFest into two sessions with slightly different topics.

If you are new to the field of geobiology (FYI, "new" does not necessarily mean "young"), we encourage you to submit an abstract to our topical session: “New Voices in Geobiology (T204)”. 

If you are a familiar face in Geobiology circles but have some cool new data/techniques to share, we encourage you to submit an abstract to our topical session: “New Advances in Geobiology (T203)”.

As in previous years, the goal of these sessions is to bring together new research and new researchers focusing on the interplay between geologic and biologic processes with a special emphasis on new field sites, novel materials/methods, and the development/refinement of proxies. We particularly encourage early career faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to submit abstracts to our "New Voices" session. we hope to bring together scientists specializing in geobiology, biology, (geo)microbiology, paleobiology/paleontology, inorganic and organic geochemistry, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and sedimentology to generate new, interdisciplinary ideas and collaborations at the intersection of these fields.


The GSA abstract website is now open for submissions (as of July 1st) and the abstract deadline is midnight August 4th, 2020. To help you prepare, GSA has provided a one-page tip sheet that lists five simple steps to writing the perfect abstract. GSA also offers several other events including the Pardee Symposia, Special Lectures, Short Courses, and (Virtual) Field Trips. We especially want to draw your attention to the other topical sessions sponsored by the Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division.

Feel free to contact any of our division representatives if you have any further questions, and please forward this on to colleagues or students who may be interested in this session.

We wish we could see you in person, but we hope to see you virtually this GSA!

Stay healthy, support each other, and never stop being awesome!
The GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division Executive Committee