Logo y nombre de la institución

7 November 2016

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The University of Kansas

To Whom It May Concern:

I write this letter in strongest support for the application of (name) for admission as a Ph.D.
student in your program. I have known XYZ for 4 years as a student in his undergraduate carrier
and as associated researcher in the laboratory that I directed until October this year. I have been
more than suitably impressed with his insight, drive, and, creativity, and thereby I am happy to
recommend him to you most highly.

(NAME) undergraduate and master researches have been related with present topics of the
ecology and biogeography, and his dedication to the details makes the work a lasting
contribution. He has taken an important invasive amphibian species in Ecuador and he has
estimated its potential distribution on the province most exposed to the invasion of this frog in
this country. He also has worked on the potential impact of climate change on an endemic group
of toads from Cuba; those species present a complex history of evolution and different
conservation status. Currently he is working in publishing these works and this activity has
allowed him to contact with leaders in these fields.

(HE OR SHE) is cooperating with us as an associated researcher since April of this year, and he
impressed me quite a bit with his ***. He has continued with his previous projects and he has
been included in some of our research activities as part of the project Ecological bases for
restoration of degraded ecosystem biodiversity and functionality in the South region of Ecuador,
in face of potential global environmental changes. He is also cooperating with us in the
development of a new big project for the next three years. We expect that Marlon can be
included as part of our team in the Research Direction of the Universidad Nacional de Loja in
the next months.

In conclusion, I believe that Marlon would be an excellent Ph.D. student in your program. He is
working effectively with colleagues in three countries (Ecuador, Cuba and Peru). His English is
fine (can improve, but it will not be an impediment to this studies), and he reads extensively in
the scientific literature. He has my highest recommendation. Please do not hesitate to contact me
if you need any further information

Sincerely,

Nikolay Aguirre Mendoza

Research Director
Universidad Nacional de Loja
Avenida Pio Jaramillo Alvarado
(CIUDAD) EC110103, Ecuador
+Teléfono sin prefijo internacional
nikolay.aguirre@gmail.com