By joining the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as an EEB student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.
For more information about EEB, visit the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology website.
Apply to an Ecology & Evolutionary Biology SLC
Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will open June 2, 2025 and close June 22, 2025.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the EEB SLC you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following EEB programs:
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (specialist, major)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (major)
- Environmental Biology (major)
- Quantitative Biology (major)
- Biology (specialist, major), with the majority of courses being EEB-related
SLC Course Overview
Students in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology SLC will meet bi-weekly for core sessions beginning the week of September 8, 2025, with informal hangouts offered in the alternate weeks.
Time: Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Your SLC Team
Department: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB)
Title: Undergraduate Assistant and Outreach Coordinator
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Seven at EEB and U of T
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Specialist in EEB at UofT
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: I enjoy meeting with and talking to students, and SLC is a great platform for us to welcome students into the EEB program and community! I am more than happy to share my experience and knowledge of EEB as a former student and current staff.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Now is a great time to explore available resources and opportunities for you!
Hobby or interest: Baking and playing cozy video games!
Program: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Major, Environmental Science Major, Science, Technology, and Society Minor
Year: Three
College: Victoria College
Hometown: Iroquois Falls, ON
An interesting fact: I’m a black belt in judo and was on the Canadian Junior National Team!
What do I enjoy most about my studies: I really enjoy studying the environmental impact of humans, current conservation methods and how they work, and anything to do with birds, mammals, or fish. I also love how hands-on EEB is through labs and field courses, it's such an amazing opportunity to apply lecture concepts in the field while also gaining practical skills and experience.
Hobby or interest: Outside of the classroom, you can usually find me exploring Toronto, thrifting, hiking, at the gym, listening to Noah Kahan (All My Love is my favourite song ever), or hanging out with friends.
Program: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Specialist, Archaeology Minor
Year: Four
College: Innis College
Hometown: North Bay, Ontario
An interesting fact: I once did cormorant surveys on Lake Nipissing with the Ministry of Natural Resources, which meant getting pooped on and attacked by seagulls while trying to count nests. Later that day, our boat got stuck on a rocky island in bad weather, so we had to unload all our gear, push the boat off in chest deep water, and lug heavy equipment through the lake to get back onboard. The ride back was cold and silent.
What do I enjoy most about my studies: I love learning about species interactions and the evolution of reproductive barriers.
Hobby or interest: I like board games, camping, and baking without a recipe!
Alumni Testimonials
“I think the most important thing I learned with the program was to think strategically about my undergrad (i.e. courses, work-study, volunteering) and how I want them to help me in the future. I’ve applied this learning for choosing what I want to pursue in the summer as well as research opportunities.” – SLC EEB Mentee
“Being in the EEB SLC was a fantastic opportunity to meet other EEB students. It was so helpful being able to hear about and better understand course selection, research opportunities, internships and many other EEB-related opportunities. Getting recommendations from our mentors, as well as, meeting and hearing from other current and graduated EEB students was both useful and reassuring that I’m on the right path.” – SLC EEB Mentee
“I am so grateful for all the advice and peer support I gained from the EEB SLC program. The mentors made my second year much more approachable through open conversation about their experiences and also fun activities. Due to the mentors’ and my fellow mentees’ support, I gained the confidence to apply and achieve a summer research position! I also learned so much more about the vast web of opportunities and courses the EEB program provides. For anyone considering joining, there is so much to gain from this community!“ – SLC EEB Mentee