Lifelong passion for the natural world leads to Ph.D. and fellowship at Smithsonian
Miami grad cites undergrad research opportunities at Miami for career inspiration
Published
Lifelong passion for the natural world leads to Ph.D. and fellowship at Smithsonian
Published
As a youngster growing up in Yonkers, near New York City, Andrew Cannizzaro loved to visit the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden with his parents. He drew on his passion for science and animals to shape his education and career path.
In December, Cannizzaro completed his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Miami University. He plans to pursue a career as a systematist, a scientist who studies living organisms, their diversity, and evolutionary history. He is especially interested in freshwater amphipods, tiny creatures that are an important marker for habitat health and biodiversity.
Cannizzaro launched his undergraduate education in the Department of Biological Sciences on Miami’s Hamilton and Middletown campuses, graduating in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. He credits his decision to pursue a Ph.D. largely to undergraduate research opportunities he took part in while studying for his bachelor’s degree.
“I didn’t know undergraduate research was even a thing until I got to Miami,” Cannizzaro said. “It became one of the most fulfilling experiences I had while at Miami. There is a very strong research culture, and it 100 percent helped me decide to pursue a Ph.D.”
Another career-molding experience was a graduate fellowship at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian.
“One of my career goals would be to work with a museum. So, the job at the Smithsonian gave me valuable insights into the ins and outs of working in a museum setting.”
Among his other accomplishments, Cannizzaro worked on projects researching systematics and biogeography, which, among other things, led to the discovery of several new species of amphipods. He has also published 28 papers and has been the first author on 20 of them.
While studying for his Ph.D, Cannizzaro also mentored 11 undergrads, an experience he says was one of his most memorable at Miami.
“Mentoring other students was a very rewarding experience,” he said. “The Biology Department does a really good job of promoting student research culture and mentoring them along the way. Miami stands out for this.”
In December, Cannizzaro completed his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Miami University. He plans to pursue a career as a systematist, a scientist who studies living organisms, their diversity, and evolutionary history. He is especially interested in freshwater amphipods, tiny creatures that are an important marker for habitat health and biodiversity.
Cannizzaro launched his undergraduate education in the Department of Biological Sciences on Miami’s Hamilton and Middletown campuses, graduating in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. He credits his decision to pursue a Ph.D. largely to undergraduate research opportunities he took part in while studying for his bachelor’s degree.
“I didn’t know undergraduate research was even a thing until I got to Miami,” Cannizzaro said. “It became one of the most fulfilling experiences I had while at Miami. There is a very strong research culture, and it 100 percent helped me decide to pursue a Ph.D.”
Another career-molding experience was a graduate fellowship at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian.
“One of my career goals would be to work with a museum. So, the job at the Smithsonian gave me valuable insights into the ins and outs of working in a museum setting.”
Among his other accomplishments, Cannizzaro worked on projects researching systematics and biogeography, which, among other things, led to the discovery of several new species of amphipods. He has also published 28 papers and has been the first author on 20 of them.
While studying for his Ph.D, Cannizzaro also mentored 11 undergrads, an experience he says was one of his most memorable at Miami.
“Mentoring other students was a very rewarding experience,” he said. “The Biology Department does a really good job of promoting student research culture and mentoring them along the way. Miami stands out for this.”
