/College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Ecology & Evolution

Research Facilities & Field Stations

Empowering the next generation of ecological and evolutionary discovery from the lab to the field.

Laboratory Facilities

Genomic, Metagenomic, & Computational Pipelines

Our laboratories feature modern infrastructure supporting advanced molecular genetics, quantitative PCR (qPCR), cloning, and high-throughput sequencing. These genomic and paleogenomics pipelines are backed by high-performance computational biology workstations optimized for phylogenetic analysis, complex population genetics datasets, geographic information systems (GIS), and predictive biodiversity modeling.

 

Student in the lab holding a vial

Organismal Research & Growth Facilities

The department has access to a 14,000 sq. ft. greenhouse attached directly to the Life Sciences Bldg, alongside specialized growth chambers and dedicated rearing spaces for Drosophila and diverse aquatic and terrestrial research organisms. Specialized suites support functional morphology, vertebrate paleontology, biomechanics, insect neuroethology, and physiological ecology.

various plants in the greenhouse

Local & Campus Preserves

The R. Lawrence Swanson Marine Laboratory

Located just a few miles from campus at the Flax Pond Salt Marsh Preserve, this 800-acre protected tidal wetland serves as a premier natural laboratory for studying coastal ecosystems, climate change, sea-level rise, and marine biodiversity. Learn more about Flax Pond.

Swan Pond Biological Station

Operated directly by the department and located about 40 minutes from campus, this facility encompasses a ~2,500-acre preserve of mixed woodlands, ponds, bogs, and river habitats. It includes an on-site residence and laboratory, hosting our specialized departmental summer field courses.

David Weld Preserve

Located 20 minutes from campus, this ~90-acre protected site features a rich mix of woodland, marsh, and ocean beach. Owned by The Nature Conservancy, the department maintains a research contract to run active ecological field tracking here.

Ashley Schiff Park Preserve & Regional Sites

Right on the main Stony Brook campus, the 26-acre Ashley Schiff woodland preserve provides an immediate "living classroom" for local forest ecology and community tracking. Faculty and students also conduct frequent collaborative research at nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory (20 minutes away)

Global Networks & Collaborative Resources

Marine & Regional Resources

Extensive marine research infrastructure is maintained by the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), situated just a brief walk south of the Life Sciences Laboratory on campus. SoMAS operates a versatile coastal research fleet ranging from small outboards to the 80-foot oceanographic vessel, the R.V. Onrust. Additionally, our students and faculty frequently utilize the world-class collections and taxonomic resources at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG).

Global Field Networks

Stony Brook University proudly belongs to the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). Our graduate students frequently participate in renowned tropical ecology field training in Costa Rica and conduct extensive research at the La Selva Biological Station. Students also utilize premier national field stations like the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado and the Friday Harbor Laboratories in Washington. In recent years, our departmental fieldwork has spanned ecosystems across North America, Africa, South America, Europe, and the Pacific.