If I had to sum myself up briefly, I'd say I'm a nice guy who's honest, intelligent, and kind.
However, since that sounds like EVERY other guy on here (lol), let me give you more details...
I am currently a graduate student working on my PhD in Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That means I work long and hard. It also means that I really like to learn, but not just about Biology or the sciences- Art History really interests me. I have pretty much no artistic talent, but I think that makes me appreciate the art even more! I enjoy reading and even some fictional writing when I have the time (which is not often, unfortunately).
I like to learn in general. I definitely like to explore new subjects; I may not get to do it as much as I'd like, but I'll give pretty much any subject a try. I have a strong, well-rounded education, so at the very least I can hold my own in most conversations. I feel I am intelligent and I take great pride in that. So, I'm looking for someone who also is intelligent, but she doesn't have to be a science wiz or anything like that!
I also enjoy exercising. I like going to the gym, but I also enjoy playing sports just for fun. I also enjoy gardening. Now, while I enjoy being active, I also really enjoy some "down time" like watching TV or a movie or listening to music. I'm definitely NOT one of those people who has to be doing something every minute of every day.
I'm also a very independent person. That's not to say I'm not social or anything along those lines. I tend to be a little shy (not overly so, just a little) at first, but I still enjoy socializing. I'm not a "social butterfly" nor am I the life of a party, but you will find me at the occasional party or out having a drink at a bar/night club. While I do drink socially, I am fairly health conscious, so you won't find me pounding down shots or stumbling home from the bar totally wasted (but I think that's a good thing)!
I also really like animals. I'm definitely an "animal lover". I've had a variety of different pets growing up and several different animal-related jobs. And my research is on fish, so I can't seem to get away! lol! Honestly, that doesn't bother me at all!
So, that's a little bit about me. I was honest and open- I'm not a player just looking to get some girl into bed. That's NOT me at ALL! I'm looking for someone to spend time with. Someone I have things in common with, can do activities with, and enjoy life a little with. I'm truthful and honest and I'm looking for someone like that.
Probably my ONLY stipulation with me is that I'm NOT ready to get involved with someone who ALREADY HAS KIDS! I'm sorry, but I don't feel I'm ready for that. Other than that, I'm pretty open to anybody contacting me!
SO, please feel free to contact me. I'm perfectly fine with women making the first move and initiating contact... If I sound even remotely like what you're looking for (which I hope is the case), please feel free to contact me.

I have a Masters degree in Biology and I am now currently working on my PhD at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). I am a teaching assistant and I conduct research on fish behavior.

I have a very good education and am a quick study, so I'm good at learning about new ideas and subjects and holding a decent conversation on a lot of different topics.

I don't know how to answer this question. Technically speaking, the first thing they're going to notice about me is something physical. But since I'm not in their shoes, how am I supposed to know?
Now, if the question doesn't literally mean "THE first", then I would guess it would be my intelligence. I'm not some kind of genius or anything like that, so don't think like that, but what I mean is when I meet someone new, I usually ask questions and those questions usually either illustrate I know what they're talking about or I ask questions to try to understand things better.

Movies: Memento, Iron Man, Spider-man, Stardust, Hot Shots, Star Wars, Airplane, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Long Kiss Goodnight
Music: No Doubt, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Ani DiFranco, Pink, Liz Phair, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Nelly Furtado, the Cranberries, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Poe, Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, Lady GaGa
Books: Watership Down, Sexual Selection, The Moral Animal
Food: pizza, Chinese, Italian, but I'm usually willing to try anything
TV: House, Monk, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bones, The Daily Show, Charmed, NCIS

They probably weren't talking literally, so here's my non-literal list (in no particular order):
1. Family
2. Pets
3. Friends
4. Music
5. Mind/Intelligence
6. ?? (I can't think of anything else)

If they DID mean literally speaking, here's my list:
1. Air
2. Water
3. Food
4. Warmth
5. Sleep
6. Social Interaction
(I think this is in the order of most importance according to the current research. And, yes, I know I'm a bit of nerd sometimes. lol!)

I spend a lot of time just wondering. I'm a pretty curious person and I've encouraged that in myself, because that is a characteristic I think everyone should have.
However, much of my thinking is done about, obviously, my research. And science, in general. I spend a lot of time reading and thinking- it's part of my job, but it's also a very strong interest of mine. I also have plenty of random thoughts- topics in sociology and psychology are interesting to me, so I often think "what would happen if I did this" or "I wonder why that person did that".

It depends a little bit on how my week went. Sometimes I'm at happy hour with my friends and co-workers (i.e. other graduate students) for a couple of hours and then I head home. Other times, though, I finish up some work in the lab and then go home. I enjoy relaxing by spending time with my cat and unwinding from the week- by watching TV or a movie or just listening to music or browsing on the internet.

There's nothing I'm really ashamed of or anything like that, but I can't think of anything specific right now. If you're really curious, just ask contact me and ask!

You're interested in getting to know more about me. We might be a "match" or we might not, but if ANYTHING I've written is even remotely interesting, it certainly couldn't hurt to contact me. Again, my only real stipulation is that I'm not interested in meeting someone who already has kids. Sorry- it's nothing against you, it's just that I, personally, don't feel I'm ready for that.
Oh, and one other thing that I think is worth mentioning... I feel like when I wrote this, I came off as some super smart, science-obsessed person that never gets out of the lab. This ISN'T true. I enjoy science and learning and I'm proud of my intelligence and my education, but that ISN'T the "be all and end all" of who I am.