OEB is an interdepartmental graduate program at UMass, with more than 75 Faculty from the Departments of Biology, Environmental Conservation, Microbiology, Psychology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Kinesiology, Mathematics & Statistics, Anthropology, Geosciences, and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass, as well Faculty from Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Harvard Forest, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, the Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife, the USGS, and the USDA.

OEB is a friendly community, committed to increasing representation and retaining a diverse body of students. In the words of some students, the best things about OEB are:

• The people
  • “Everyone is so enthusiastic and motivated”
  • “People are friendly and willing to help one another”
  • “The people are friendly, passionate, and warm”
• The community
  • “The OEB community is incredibly collaborative and friendly. I love how folks wear their science-nerdiness on their sleeves. It’s a small group, so everyone knows each other. It’s awesome how inclusive the community is, does such fantastic science and scicomm, and is so encouraging and supportive. It’s a fun group of researchers, and who can resist scientists with a sense of humor?!”
  • “OEB is extremely passionate about the program and this fosters a more inclusive community than most graduate programs”
  • “The sense of community and willingness of great people to work together on a wide variety of things.”
  • “Both the faculty and the students are very kind and helpful. Participating in events like the Friday seminar, bbq's and non-holiday parties builds a sense of community. By helping each other through studying for orals, preparing talks (GSSS), core courses, stats, etc. we raise the quality and profile of OEB in the larger scientific community. The broad spectrum of OEB students and faculty prepare students for conversing with people from different fields (such as one might encounter on a job interview in a Biology Dept.).”

The OEB graduate program falls under the umbrella of the Interdepartmental Graduate Programs, a group which includes grad students from OEB, Plant Biology (PB), Neuroscience and Behavior (NSB), and Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). Like OEB, students in these other grad programs work with faculty from many departments, such as Biology, Microbiology, Psychology, and others. OEB and the other programs were restructured under the IDGP starting in 2016.

UMass Amherst is a large public research university. Some of the best things about UMass Amherst are:

• “Our union. They fight for us and we are much better off than a lot of graduate students”
• “There are so many great facilities and resources right on campus. Because the school is so large, you end up meeting and making connections with many scientists who are researching different and interesting things.”
• "The free bus system”
• “Lots of opportunities to learn new things”
• “OPD – Office of Professional Development is an amazing resource for graduate students”
• “Great location, great food, focus on sustainability, active campus life. I have a soft spot for the UMass Student CSA organic farmshare!!”
• “Large university with a lot of resources; easy access to people and resources in the other five colleges.”
• “There are lots of opportunities, both personal and professional. From exercise options, to clubs, to collaborations across campus, there are lots of things to get involved with.”

The Pioneer Valley is a collection of towns and small cities interspersed with farmland and wilderness in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley. Some of the best things about the Pioneer Valley are:

• “The nature! Lots of opportunities to be in nature”
• “The bike path”
• “Outdoor activities”
• “Nice mix of beautiful rural setting and vibrant cultural community.”
• “A nice blend of things to do: natural areas/outdoor activities, bars/restaurants, coffeeshops, breweries, live music, farm CSAs, etc.”
• “Great food: farmer's markets, restaurants, farm stands, local organic vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Great hikes/outdoor activities: many wonderful trails easily accessible and some a short drive away. Swim, canoe, rock climb, bike, etc. Museums: Smith's, MassMoCA, Melville others. Safety - I often don't lock my car in Northampton (don't steal my iPod after reading this, thanks). Short drives to big cities: NYC, Boston, New Haven has some cool things (art museum, food, Ikea). Good, make that great, coffee.”
• “Spring: Maple syrup milkshakes at a sugar shack. Summer: Tubing on the Deerfield River. Fall: Hiking in the fall colors, delicious apples. Winter: Cross-country skiing in Vermont (it's not far away).”
• “The diversity of available activities. My apartment is less than a ten minute drive from campus and there are hiking trails out my back door, local coffee shops down the street, and lots of great restaurants nearby.”