biology phd usa

PhD in Biology

The PhD program in Biology is a research-intensive program that also has a strong focus on teaching, designed to produce top scientists and educators with a broad base of knowledge to tackle the most important biological problems of today. This is accomplished through research training, graduate-level courses, seminars, and teaching experience. Entering students are assigned an advisory committee of three faculty members who work with the student to plan a suitable program based on the student's experience and interests.

PhD students in Biology receive full tuition support for six years, a competitive stipend, health coverage, and receive extensive training in pedagogy, outreach, and communication that prepares them for careers in academia, biotechnology, education, and policy. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two semesters. Most students complete the requirement for teaching experience in the first year by assisting in the introductory undergraduate biology courses for two semesters.

During the first year, students become familiar with research opportunities in the department by doing short research rotations with various faculty members. This experience in expected to lead to the selection of a research focus for the PhD thesis, and it also sets the stage for cross-disciplinary approaches to the thesis topic that is pursued.

First- and second-year students usually take some graduate courses that are selected in consultation with the advisory committee, in addition to one required course: either Biology 243: Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology; Biology 244: Topics in Evolutionary Ecology; or Biology 246: Topics in Physiology and Animal Behavior.

The department faculty are educators as well as researchers, and the graduate students benefit from this expertise. Graduate students serving as teaching assistants have the opportunity to take a course on teaching and pedagogy to improve their skills, or to become involved with upper level courses in their area of expertise. In addition, we offer a one-month summer program for PhD students interested in contributing to course design and honing their teaching skills via GIFT, the Graduate Institute For Teaching .

Research Concentrations

Browse the six concentration areas below for recommended programs of study and relevant courses:

• Biology Education Research
• Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
• Global Change Biology
• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Physiology, Neurobiology and Animal Behavior

Graduate credit for a course requires a grade of B- (B minus) or better. A list of biology department undergraduate and graduate courses can be found by selecting the Courses button from the top bar.

Throughout the year, graduate students benefit from a variety of seminars on current research that are presented by faculty, fellow graduate students, and invited speakers.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology

The PhD in Biology is a research degree requiring graduate-level coursework, completion of a dissertation, and two semesters of participation in teaching (usually as a teaching fellow in laboratory or discussion sections of lecture courses led by Biology faculty). For most students, obtaining this degree typically involves five or more years of full-time study.

A summary of Biology PhD student expectations by year can be found here . Full details can be found in the Graduate Program Guide .

The Biology Department guarantees support for five years for all PhD students, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program.

How to Apply    Frequently Asked Questions

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate academic mastery in one of three areas of Biology: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

2. Attain research expertise , including grant writing experience, and complete original research that advances a specific field of study within one of three broad subject areas represented in the department: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

3. Attain teaching experience and expertise in one of three broad areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

4. Attain the skills and qualifications needed for employment in an academic, government, or private sector position related to the life sciences.

Coursework Requirements

Students must complete 64 credits with a minimum grade point average of 3.0; at least 32 of these credits must be accrued from lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course credits.  See the  Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) Transfer of Credits policy  for more details. 

• 2 semesters of Progress in Research Seminars (2 credits each):

Cell & Molecular Biology:  BI 583 & BI 584 (CM section)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology:  BI 579 & BI 580

Neurobiology:   BI 583 & BI 584 (NEURO section)

• 1 semester grant-writing course (2 credits):

Cell & Molecular Biology:  BI 581

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology: BI 671

Neurobiology: BI 581

• 1 semester pedagogy course (1 credit): All Biology PhD students take  BI 697
• 1 quantitative course (3–4 credits): from a list of recommended courses .
• Additional courses vary by specific track below:

Cell & Molecular Biology

1. GRS BI 791/GRS BI 792 Graduate Rotation Credits (2 credits each/4 credits total)

2. GRS BI 753 Advanced Molecular Biology  (4 credits)

3. GRS MB 721 Graduate Biochemistry  (4 credits)

4. GRS BI 735 Advanced Cell Biology  (4 credits)

5. Two electives (8 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

6. Research credits  (remaining credits)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology

1. Six electives  (24 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

2. Research credits  (remaining credits)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology PhD candidate coursework is highly variable. Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research. Students are required to take a minimum of 32 credits of coursework. The remainder of the credits should be research.

Neurobiology

2. GRS BI 755 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience  (4 credits)

3. GRS BI 741 Neural Systems: Functional Circuit Analysis  (4 credits)

4. Four electives  (16 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

5. Research credits  (remaining credits)

Teaching Requirement

The department requires a minimum of two semesters of teaching as part of the Doctor of Philosophy program. During the first semester of teaching, students are required to enroll in our first-year seminar course, GRS BI 697 A Bridge to Knowledge . The course provides guidance and training on pedagogy and other aspects of graduate school.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination must be completed no later than six semesters after matriculation. In most graduate curricula in the department, this consists of a research proposal—often in the form of a grant application—which the student submits to their committee and subsequently defends in an oral presentation. In the  Cell & Molecular Biology and Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology curricula , this is preceded by a comprehensive written examination testing the student’s general background from coursework.

Dissertation & Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Biology Department Chair. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the  GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree . The results of the dissertation must be presented at a department colloquium.

Graduation Timeline

Forms and additional information about PhD graduation can be found on the GRS website .

9 – 12 months before proposed graduation date

• Dissertation Prospectus & approval form due to Graduate Program Specialist for departmental review and submission to GRS

Semester prior to your intended graduation cycle

• Intent to Graduate Form completed online

About 2 months before dissertation defense

• Meet with Graduate Program Specialist, Director of Graduate Studies, and Faculty Advisor to review requirements for defense
• Arrange for Special Service Appointments if committee members are not BU faculty
• Send first draft of dissertation to readers

Once defense date is confirmed with committee

• Reserve room(s) for public seminar and defense

At least three weeks prior to dissertation defense

• Schedule of Final Oral Exam with Abstract Approval due to GRS
• Properly formatted draft of dissertation submitted as PDF to [email protected]

At least two weeks prior to dissertation defense

• Send dissertation to all committee members

At least one week prior to dissertation defense

• Send program information to Graduate Program Specialist

See the Graduate Program Guide for final dates to submit dissertation to ETD

• Submit final dissertation to ETD (online submission)
• Complete electronic signature page and forward confirmation to Graduate Program Specialist along with a copy of your submitted dissertation

MS Degree (En Route to PhD)

Option one: A PhD student who has advanced to candidacy (as demonstrated by passing the PhD qualifying exam), and has completed 32 credits of graduate-level coursework (not including research) may apply to the Graduate School for an MS degree in Biology. This must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies within the Biology Department. The student’s major professor will receive notification of this application process.

Option two: A PhD student who has taken, but has not advanced to candidacy based on the PhD qualifying examination, may still receive an MS degree. This student may receive a Coursework MS degree provided they have completed 32 credits of coursework (not including research credits). Alternatively, this student may receive a Scholarly Paper or Research Thesis MS degree if the written portion of the qualifying examination is adapted to ensure it is of sufficiently high quality for a MS degree, and approved by a majority of the qualifying exam committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Interdisciplinary Study Options

Biology PhD students have the option to participate in the Boston University Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (BU URBAN), the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program Understanding the Brain: Neurophotonics (NSF NRT UtB: Neurophotonics), and the Biogeoscience Advanced Graduate Certificate Program . These programs require separate applications in addition to the standard Biology PhD application; those interested in BU URBAN are encouraged pre-apply .

Time Limits

Officially, the PhD must be completed within seven years after the first registration for doctoral study. PhD degrees are conferred in either May, August, or January, as specified on the GRS website . In addition, the PhD candidacy expires after the fifth anniversary of passing the Qualifying Examination. Petitions to extend this deadline are possible at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School, and can be obtained from the Office of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

The Biology Department guarantees support for five years for all PhD students, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program. PhD students are encouraged to apply for fellowships and grants at funding agencies. All domestic students should apply for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships in the Fall semester of their first or second year. 

Travel Grants may be available to assist students in their travel to professional scientific meetings; students presenting papers or posters on their research will receive first consideration.

Common Types of Funding:

Dean’s Fellowships: These are non-service fellowships allocated to first-year PhD students that do not have immediate teaching requirements.

Teaching Fellowships: These provide a stipend plus full tuition and fees for up to four full courses per semester plus a 2-credit teaching course. Teaching responsibilities usually require approximately 20 hours per week. Full or partial awards may be given.

Doctoral Research Fellowships: These awards are given to students who assist individual faculty with specific areas of research. These Research Fellowships provide a stipend and full tuition. The supervising faculty member determines the specific duties of the Research Fellow.

In addition to the above funding sources, several competitive Department awards and fellowships are available to graduate students in the Department of Biology.

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Graduate Admissions

Helpful guides for applying to the biology phd program, tips for applying to the cmob track, tips for applying to the eco/evo track.

The PhD program trains students for careers in research and teaching. In addition to a wide range of courses, the PhD program offers informal but intensive instruction in laboratories and seminars, characterized by close contact between students and their faculty advisors. Biology is one of fourteen home programs  in the  Biosciences,  which span the School of Medicine and the School of Humanities and Sciences.

How to Apply

For the 2023-2024 PhD application season, application processes will be run through existing Biology (School of Humanities & Sciences)  and the Oceans Department(Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability). 

Previously part of the Biology Department , Hopkins Marine Station is now part of the Oceans Department within the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS).  Several faculty took appointments in Oceans, while others chose to stay in Biology; still others have joint appointments.  Additionally, several faculty members in Ecology/Evolutionary Biology now have joint appointments within Biology and SDSS. Based on these changes, the following information will provide further guidance for the application process. 

• Faculty with 100% appointments in Biology, will only recruit through Biology.  The Biology application will be used.
• Ecology/Evolutionary Biology faculty with 50/50 appointments in both Biology and SDSS will recruit students through either Biology or Earth Systems Science .  If you are interested in working with Ecology/Evolutionary faculty with joint Biology/SDSS appointments, you should reach out to them directly regarding the appropriate application track to choose. 
• 100% Oceans faculty will only be recruiting students through the Earth Systems Science application.
• Oceans faculty appointed 50/50 in Biology and SDSS (Oceans Department), will recruit students through either Biology or Earth Systems Science .  If you are interested in working with Oceans faculty with joint Biology/SDSS appointments, you should reach out to the individual faculty members you hope to work with regarding the appropriate application and track to choose. 

Faculty Affiliated with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Oceans Department:

Fio Micheli 100% 

Jeremy Goldbogen 100%

Giulio De Leo 100%

Larry Crowder 100%

Steve Palumbi 50% Oceans/50%Biology

Barbara Block 50% Oceans/50% Biology

*Note Chris Lowe will remain 100% in Biology

Ecology/Evolution

Liz Hadly 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Rodolfo Dirzo 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Tad Fukami 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Kabir Peay 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Chris Field 50% SDSS/50% Biology

Gretchen Daily 50% SDSS/50% Biology

Application and Deadline

Stanford Biology PhD Program applications are made through Graduate Admissions . The application deadline for Autumn Quarter 2024 matriculation is December 5, 2023 at 11:59pm pst.  The application for the Autumn 2024 cohort will be available in September 2023.  Please review the Graduate Admissions website prior to starting your application. Applications are considered for admission in Autumn Quarter only. 

Application Status

To check your application status,  click here to Visit Your Status Page .  

Requirements

• U.S. Bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent
• Stanford Graduate application
• Non-refundable application fee of $125 (or fee waiver found here ) 
• Statement of Purpose
• Three Letters of Recommendation (a maximum of four letters will be accepted)
• Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you've attended for one year or more must be uploaded to the online application.  Graduate Admissions only requires admitted applicants who accept the offer of admission to submit official transcripts that shows their degree conferral. Please do not send or have sent any official transcripts to us at this time.
• TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language (required for non-native English speakers)
• A current Curriculum Vitae/Resume

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of  Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students  who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about  KHS admission .

Biology PhD Program General Information

Diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

The Department of Biology recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision. The Department of Biology welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.Please see the websites below for more resources.

• Diversity and Engagement in Biosciences PhD Programs
• Vice Provost for Graduate Education
• Biology Equity and Belonging
• Research Sites
• Faculty Profiles and Labs
• Inquiries about the PhD in Biology should be directed to  biologyadmissions [at] lists.stanford.edu (biologyadmissions[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu)

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School of Biological Sciences

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Ph.d. biology.

Our PhD program accepts students possessing Bachelors or Masters degrees who are planning a career in science. The purpose of our PhD program is to prepare highly qualified scientists who have excellent up-to-date training in the fields of biology or bioinformatics, who are actively involved in scientific research, are capable of making significant contributions to their scientific field, possess all the necessary skills for effective oral and written communication with colleagues, and can successfully compete in the job market for postdoctoral and research scientist level positions in academia and science-related industries.

We currently have approximately 100 PhD students in the Biology PhD program of the School of Biological Sciences. Of recent PhD graduates, 70% are currently employed as postdoctoral researchers in academia, 9% as government scientists , 9% as industry scientists , 4% as instructors , and 9% are enrolled in further professional training . The average number of journal publications is 3.9 per student and the average number of presentations at conferences around the world is 4.3 per student .

Areas of concentration:

• Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior   including population and evolutionary ecology; community ecology; aquatic chemical ecology; ecological genomics; sensory ecology; evolution of development, behavior, and sociality; biological oceanography; environmental microbiology; theoretical ecology.
• Molecular and Cell Biology   including eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell biology; molecular physiology; molecular biophysics and structural biology; animal, plant, and microbial molecular genetics; human genomics; molecular evolution.

Quick Facts

• Stipend and tuition waiver offered.
• Fellowships available.
• Duration of program depends on research progress. Ph.D. candidates typically defend their thesis at the end of the 5th or during the 6th year.
• 18 credit hours of coursework.

General Inquiries

• Chung Kim Academic Program Coordinator Email  | 404.385.4240 | EBB 2009

Ph.D. Program Overview:

• Stipend: $33,500 per year
• Year 1 Focus:  Coursework / Lab Rotations / Teach
• Year 2 Focus:  Coursework / Thesis Research / Qualifying Exams
• Year 3 Focus:  Thesis Research
• Year 4 Focus:  Thesis Research
• Year 5 Focus:  Thesis Research, Writing and Defense

The PhD in Biology is a research-based degree involving deep immersion in a topic within biology with mentoring from an advisor and thesis committee with expertise in the field of study. Coursework is typically completed within the first 2 years (18 credit hours). Students who have previously earned an M.S. degree or taken graduate courses elsewhere can negotiate up to 9 transfer credit hours upon entering our program. Selection of a thesis advisor is made in discussion with our faculty and/or via lab rotations during the first year, and the composition of the thesis committee is established by the student by the end of the first year.

PhD students in the School of Biological Sciences are each supported by a stipend and do not pay tuition, only modest   fees   each semester. Stipend support comes from teaching or research assistantships which complement research training towards the PhD. Whether PhD stipends are earned from research or teaching assistantships after the first year is decided in consultation with a student's thesis advisor and the graduate committee. Our base PhD stipend is $33,500. Several fellowships are available which can supplement the PhD stipend.

Further Funding

Please take some time to review our   funding opportunities and fellowships .

Choosing between the Masters and Ph.D. Program

Our graduate program is primarily focused on the PhD which prepares students for careers in scientific research and employment in academia, industry, or government. We encourage potential applicants to the PhD program to directly contact individual   faculty   members whose research may appeal to them to discuss research interests and future opportunities. Students who are not yet sure of their interest in scientific research or are interested in other kinds of professional development should consider the M.S. degree in   Biology   or  Bioinformatics . Admission decisions are made by our graduate committee (composed of Biology faculty) in consultation with all of the faculty in the School of Biological Sciences.

Georgia Tech provides application fee waivers to advance diversity, recognize outstanding undergraduate achievement, and engage prospective students in recruitment events where Georgia Tech is affiliated. Such fee waivers are currently available only to domestic applicants.

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Biology related research centers.

• Aquatic Chemical Ecology Center
• Center for Biologically Inspired Design
• Center for Integrative Genomics
• Center for NanoMAD
• Center for Ribosomal Evolution and Adaptation
• Center for the Study of Systems Biology
• Integrated Cancer Research Center

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Doctoral Programs

Departmental doctoral programs.

The School of Biological Sciences offers graduate training in a collaborative environment with several schools and graduate programs. This provides excellent research training and professional development for graduate students pursuing the doctorate. Training opportunities include broad areas of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences including Neuroscience, Immunology and Pathogenesis, Cancer Biology, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Systems and Computational Biology, Genomics, Structural Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology.

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers direct admission to the PhD program. However, the other BioSci departments offer admission through a gateway disciplinary program such as CMB or INP.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is home to 38 faculty and about 60 doctoral students. Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology uses a range of methodologies spanning field studies, experimental approaches, and computational approaches. Students and faculty have easy access to field sites that include marine, desert, and California chaparral communities. The faculty have diverse interests including evolutionary biology, population genetics, genomics, behavioral ecology, physiology, and global change biology. Faculty in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology have extensive collaborations with scientists in neuroscience, molecular biology, genomics and microbiomes, global climate biology, systems biology, mathematics, as well as with faculty at other institutions.

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers admission directly to a departmental graduate program with full financial support. Students initiate research with a faculty thesis advisor while they take required coursework and complete other degree requirements. Departmental programs offer an excellent opportunity for students that have decided to work in a specific area or with an individual faculty supervisor

University of California, Irvine Student Learning Outcomes for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, PhD

School of Biological Sciences PLOs

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology M.S./Ph.D.

PLO1: Core Knowledge

• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of central concepts in the biological sciences
• Understand the current concepts in ecology, evolutionary biology, and organismal physiology
• Demonstrate knowledge of a specialized discipline within ecology and evolutionary biology sufficiently to carry out substantive independent research

PLO2: Research Methods and Analysis

• Read and critically evaluate the scientific literature
• Formulate hypotheses based on current concepts in the field
• Design, conduct, and interpret their independent research projects
• Understand the range of tools appropriate for research in their sub-field
• Understand and follow research ethics

PLO3: Pedagogy:

• Communicate effectively to large and small groups in pedagogical settings including teaching, research seminars, and other formats
• Identify and effectively deploy suitable technologies for use in all aspects of instruction

PLO4: Scholarly Communication:

• Review and discuss relevant literature and their significance
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed publications and in a dissertation
• Communicate research results effectively through oral presentations at scientific seminars, conferences, and other venues
• Make clear and cogent oral presentations, including effective use of technology

PLO5: Professionalism

• Write compelling abstracts describing their research for consideration at research conferences
• Prepare oral presentations suitable for presentation at a research conference
• Make effective contributions to research teams and learning seminars
• Make effective contributions to department, university, community, and professional service
• Mentor junior researchers (e.g., undergraduates, beginning graduate students)

PLO6: Independent Research

• Develop their own research projects that meet high standards of theoretical and methodological rigor with lasting impact
• Produce scholarship that is comparable in scope and format to articles that appear in leading peer-reviewed journals in ecology, evolutionary biology, and organismal physiology
• Supervise junior researchers (e.g., high school students, undergraduates, beginning graduate students) effectively

Learning Outcomes by Department

Ecology and evolutionary biology, phd, neurobiology and behavior, phd.

Neurobiology and Behavior M.S./Ph.D.

• Understand the current concepts in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biomedical sciences
• Demonstrate specialized knowledge of cellular and molecular biology sufficient to carry out substantive independent research
• Produce scholarship that is comparable in scope and format to articles that appear in leading peer-reviewed journals in molecular and biomedical sciences

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, PhD

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry M.S./Ph.D.

• Master current concepts in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biomedical sciences
• Acquire specialized knowledge of cellular and molecular biology sufficient to carry out substantive independent research

PLO2: Research Methods and Analysis 

• Design, conduct, and interpret experiments to complete an original research project
• Understand the range of tools appropriate for research in the specific sub-field
• Appreciate and adhere to research ethics

PLO3: Pedagogy: 

• Communicate effectively to small and large groups in pedagogical settings such as teaching and research seminars

PLO4: Scholarly Communication: 

• Review and discuss relevant literature and its significance
• Complete an individual development plan (IDP) at the time of entering the MBB program (Fall quarter of the 2 nd year) and update it annually
• Submit fellowship proposals to private and governmental agencies to solicit independent funding for graduate research
• Anticipate and meet the needs for professional transitions in a timely fashion (prior to degree completion)
• Write compelling abstracts describing research for consideration at research conferences

PLO6: Independent Research 

• Effectively supervise junior researchers (e.g., high school students, undergraduates, beginning graduate students)

Interdepartmental Doctoral Gateway Programs

Gateway programs offer admission to the doctoral programs affiliated with the Schools of Biological Sciences, Medicine, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Information & Computer Science. Students enroll for the first academic year while they do lab rotations and take required coursework. Then, students select a thesis advisor and transfer to a department and complete remaining degree requirements. Gateway programs offer students excellent opportunities to perform laboratory rotations with any of a large number of faculty participants in that program, and in many areas of biological sciences.

Cellular Molecular BioSciences

The PhD program in Cellular & Molecular Biosciences (CMB) at UC Irvine provides ideal training to launch the careers of talented researchers in diverse fields of biological and biomedical sciences. With five different study focuses, the CMB PhD program gears future scientists to be ready for a diverse field.  The program offers a rigorous but flexible curriculum with an extensive choice of laboratories and allows students to tailor their training to individual interests and goals. Outstanding facilities, a collaborative culture, a commitment to diversity, and guaranteed on-campus housing all contribute to a productive graduate experience. Applicants receive full financial support that covers tuition, a generous stipend, and health insurance.

For more information, please visit the CMB website.

Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

Neuroscience is an inherently broad and multidisciplinary area of scientific pursuit and scholarship. It has intellectual links to fields as diverse as developmental and cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, psychology, computer science, and physics. The substantial breadth of Neuroscience is one of its strengths as a discipline, and one of the features that makes it an attractive and important area for graduate study. The Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (INP) provides a vehicle for meeting the diversity and challenges of graduate training in such a broad discipline. Neuroscience faculty from several departments and schools that represent many broad areas of research participate in the INP. Students may train with any participating faculty member and are exposed to a variety of approaches before deciding on a research area for focused dissertation work. After the initial year of academic coursework and laboratory rotations, students join the more specialized graduate program of their chosen thesis advisor.

Mathematical, Computational, and System Biology

The goal of UCI’s program in Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology (MCSB) is to provide students from a variety of academic backgrounds with doctoral training suitable for research careers in the nascent field of Systems Biology. The program emphasizes in-depth classroom study, interdisciplinary research rotations, and individualized advising. The MCSB Program is supported by funding from UCI’s Graduate Division, by a National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant to the UCI Center for Complex Biological Systems, and an NIH Training Grant.

The program begins with an initial “gateway” year, known as the Mathematical and Computational Biology (MCB) program, during which students receive basic training in principles of biology, as well as in mathematics, engineering and computer science. Students also participate in research rotations, workshops, and directed reading of the Systems Biology literature. Upon successful completion of the MCB year, students select a thesis advisor and complete the doctorate in departments throughout the biological, physical and information sciences and engineering. Students also have the option to complete a Doctorate in Mathematical Computational and Systems Biology directly from the MCSB program. The MCSB Gateway program provides complete financial support to admitted students during the first year, which includes an annual stipend, as well as full tuition and fee remission, including health benefits.

Related Doctoral Programs

• Links to related doctoral programs

Pharmacological Sciences Doctoral Program

Cognitive Sciences Doctoral Program

• Links to departmental doctoral programs

Developmental and Cell Biology

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Neurobiology and Behavior

Note: Only the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers direct admission to their PhD program. The 3 other BioSci departments offer training opportunities after entering an interdisciplinary gateway program such as CMB, INP or Mathematical Computational and System Biology.

Human Genetics and Genomics, PhD

School of medicine, ph.d. program.

The Johns Hopkins Human Genetics Training Program provides a training in all aspects of human genetics and genomics relevant to human biology, health and disease. 

Advances in human genetics and genomics continue at an astounding rate and increasingly they are being integrated into medical practice. The Human Genetics Program aims to educate highly motivated and capable students with the knowledge and experimental tools that will enable them to answer important questions at the interface between genetics and medicine. Ultimately, our trainees will be the leaders in delivering the promise of genetics to human health.

The overall objective of the Human Genetics program is to provide our students with a strong foundation in basic science by exposure to a rigorous graduate education in genetics, genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry and biostatistics as well as a core of medically-related courses selected to provide knowledge of human biology in health and disease. 

This program is also offered as training for medical students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program.  Students apply to the combined program at the time of application to the M.D. program. (See section entitled Medical Scientist Training Program).

Research Facilities

Research laboratories are well equipped to carry out sophisticated research in all areas of genetics. The proximity to renown clinical facilities of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, including the Department of Genetic Medicine, and Oncology Center provides faculty and students with access to a wealth of material for study. Computer and library facilities are excellent. Laboratories involved in the Human Genetics Program span Johns Hopkins University; consequently supporting facilities are extensive.

Financial Aid

The program is supported by a training grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. These fellowships, which are restricted to United States citizens and permanent United States residents, cover tuition, health care insurance and a stipend during year one.  Once a student has joined a thesis lab, all financial responsibilities belong to the mentor.   Students are encouraged, however, to apply for fellowships from outside sources (e.g., the National Science Foundation, Fulbright Scholars Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute) before entering the program.

Applicants for admission should show a strong academic foundation with coursework in biology, chemistry and quantitative analysis.   Applicants are encouraged to have exposure to lab research or to data science.  A bachelor's degree from a qualified college or university will be required for matriculation.  GREs are no longer required.

The Human Genetics site has up-to-date information on “ How to Apply .” For questions not addressed on these pages, please access the contact imformation listed on the program page: Human Genetics and Genomics Training Program | Johns Hopkins Department of Genetic Medicine (hopkinsmedicine.org) .

Program Requirements

The program includes the following required core courses: Advanced Topics in Human Genetics, Evolving Concept of the Gene, Molecular Biology and Genomics, Cell Structure and Dynamics, Computational Bootcamp,  Pathways and Regulation, Genomic Technologies, Rigor and Reproducibility in Research, and Systems, Genes and Mechanisms of Disease. Numerous elective courses are available and are listed under sponsoring departments.

Our trainees must take a minimum of four electives, one of which must provide computational/statistical training.

The HG program requires the “OPTIONS” Career Curriculum offered by the Professional Development and Career Office.  OPTIONS is designed to provide trainees with the skills for career building and the opportunity for career exploration as well as professional development training

Human Genetics trainees also take a two-week course in July at the Jackson Labs in Bar Harbor, Maine entitled "Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics: The McKusick Short Course" which covers the waterfront from basic principles to the latest developments in mammalian genetics. The faculty numbers about 50 and consists roughly in thirds of JAX faculty, Hopkins faculty and “guest” faculty comprising outstanding mammalian geneticists from other US universities and around the world.

The courses offered by the faculty of the program are listed below. All courses are open to graduate students from any university program as well as selected undergraduates with permission of the course director.

Trainees must complete three research rotations before deciding on their thesis lab.  They must also participate in the Responsible Conduct of Research sessions offered by the Biomedical Program; starting at year 3, students must attend at least two Research Integrity Colloquium lectures per year. 

Our trainees participate in weekly journal clubs, department seminars, monthly Science & Pizza presentations as well as workshops given twice a year on diversity, identity and culture.

At the end of the second year, trainees take their Doctoral Board Oral Examination.  Annual thesis committee meetings must be held following successful completion of this exam.

Average time for completion is 5.3 years.

Graduates from the Human Genetics program pursue careers in academia, medicine, industry, teaching, government, law, as well the private sector.  Our trainees are encouraged to explore the full spectrum of professional venues in which their training my provide a strong foundation. Driven by curiosity and a desire for excellence, our trainees stand out as leaders in the chosen arenas of professional life. They are supported in the development of their career plans by a program faculty and administration who are dedicated to their success, and by a myriad of support networks across the Johns Hopkins University, many of which are provided by the Professional Development Career Office of the School of Medicine.

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Cell and Molecular Biology: Cancer Biology, PhD

Related programs.

• Cell and Molecular Biology: Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism, PhD
• Cell and Molecular Biology: Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology, PhD
• Cell and Molecular Biology: Gene Therapy and Vaccines, PhD
• Cell and Molecular Biology: Genetics and Epigenetics, PhD
• Cell and Molecular Biology: Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology, PhD

Cell and Molecular Biology

The Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group (CAMB) is an interdisciplinary graduate program, providing rigorous training in modern cell and molecular biology, preparing students for leadership careers in biomedical research. Within this integrated program are six discipline areas:  Cancer Biology ;  Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism ;  Developmental, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology ;  Gene Therapy and Vaccines ;  Genetics and Epigenetics ; and  Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology . Program faculty include more than 300 scientists representing 35 departments from the Perelman School of Medicine, the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Wistar Institute and Fox Chase Cancer Center. The research efforts of these scientists are diverse in their focus, experimental system, methodology, and represent the leading edge of basic and translational biomedical science.

Students from colleges and universities around the nation and the world are enrolled in the program, selecting one discipline area based on their scientific interests, yet have access to the full breadth of curricular and research opportunities provided by this large and diverse program. Our students participate in core courses in cell and molecular biology, specialized coursework in one or more discipline areas, and original hypothesis-driven thesis research. Upon completion of the PhD, they pursue successful research careers at top academic institutions, in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and in other biomedicine-related career paths.

For more information:  http://www.med.upenn.edu/camb/

Cancer Biology

The Program in Cancer Biology provides students focused training in a number of areas of cancer biology ranging from basic mechanisms to translational applications. Program faculty conduct research in DNA repair, epigenetics, metabolic pathways, the tumor microenvironment, cancer cell autonomous processes, cancer genetics and cancer immunology. Students take core molecular and cell biology courses, biostatistics course and elective courses in cancer biology and undertake three laboratory rotations of their choosing. Students have the opportunity to take grant writing courses, present in research-in-progress seminars, engage in networking opportunities, mentor undergraduates and high school students in Philadelphia as well as participate in outreach opportunities.

For more information: https://www.med.upenn.edu/camb/cb.html

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

Or other statistics course with approval of the Graduate Group.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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• Department of Biology and Biochemistry

Graduate Programs

• Prospective Students

Ph.D. Programs

The Department of Biology & Biochemistry offers Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and in Biology. The Ph.D. program in Biology has two degree tracks: the Cell and Molecular Biology degree track, and the Ecology and Evolution degree track.

Biochemistry

Faculty and graduate student research focuses on biochemical processes at the subcellular and macro-molecular levels and encompasses a variety of fields and methodologies. Areas of study include macromolecular structure and function as elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance; X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic techniques; enzyme reaction mechanisms; genomics; computational methods in molecular biology; computational biochemistry/biophysics; computer-aided drug design; signal transduction; neurochemistry; ion channel structure and function; the role of RNA in molecular evolution; the structure and function of virulence factors; and biotechnology.

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Cell and Molecular Biology

The faculty and students in this program share common interests in understanding the molecular mechanisms which drive both fundamental cellular processes and the developmental processes of morphogenesis, cell differentiation and gene regulation. The strength of the program is the diversity of the biological systems under study, which stimulates extensive exchange and collaboration between the various groups. Faculty expertise spans the disciplines of cell and developmental biology, molecular biology, physiology, microbiology, neuroscience, immunology, and genetics.

Ecology and Evolution

This program blends knowledge and methodology from diverse biological disciplines to better understand ecological and evolutionary processes operating at multiple scales—from molecules to individuals to societies to communities. Current research programs include experimental evolution, evolution of development, evolutionary genetics, behavioral ecology, community ecology and evolutionary bioinformatics in systems ranging from bacteria to ants, from protists to grasses. Faculty conduct studies in natural habitats including the Colorado plateau, and coastal salt marshes, and in artificial systems such as petri dishes and theoretical models.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Biology & Biochemistry believes that high-quality graduate studies require a commitment to high-quality research. As a result, our graduate students receive financial support sufficient to provide a modest standard of living that enables them to make a full-time commitment to their graduate training. Some of the types of financial support available to students are listed below. Additional financial assistance may also be available from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the University of Houston Graduate School .

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

TAs are the main source of support for first-year students but are available in subsequent years for students not supported by grant funds. TAs will be provided a salary of $2,194.66/month (U.S. $26,335.92 per year). This level of support is sufficient for international students to obtain an F1 visa.

Research Assistantships (RAs)

RAs are the main source of support for students after their first year in the program. RA support is provided through grants to the lab the student joins to conduct graduate research. RA support is currently $2,194.66/month (U.S. $26,335.92 per year).

Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF)

Students supported as TAs or RAs are eligible for tuition fellowships to cover their mandatory tuition and fees. These fellowships provide the students with approximately $20,000/year to pay for mandatory tuition and fees. See more information on eligibility criteria .

Non-resident Tuition Waiver

Out-of-state students and international students employed as TAs or RAs receive a waiver of the additional tuition charged to non-residents.

Presidential Fellowship

All applications submitted for admission to the Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Program are reviewed by our Graduate Recruiting and Admissions Committee. This committee is comprised of a group of faculty from each division of the department. Once admitted to the program, accepted applicants are further evaluated for the Presidential Fellowship. The criteria for evaluation are as follows:

• Appropriate academic coursework in the major
• Outstanding grades in previous university coursework
• Demonstrated research ability or potential for research excellence.

If awarded, the student receives $2,000/per year for the first two years. This fellowship is in addition to the monthly stipend and Graduate Tuition Fellowship given to all students admitted to our graduate program. Students must meet minimum full-time enrollment (9 hours) and a cumulative 3.00 GPA to maintain the fellowship each semester it is held.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to outstanding students enrolled in our graduate program. The maximum award is $2,000/year. Recipients must be Texas residents and citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students apply annually on the UH Foundation website.

Medical Insurance

In addition to their stipend, graduate students employed as TAs or RAs receive $150/month for health insurance. For more information about the student health insurance plan endorsed by and designed especially for the University of Houston, please see Student Health Insurance .

Cost of Living

Houston has a relatively low cost of living compared to most major U.S. cities and many low-cost apartments and houses are available.

Admission Requirements

The minimum entrance criteria for doctoral graduate studies in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry are as follows:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree (B.S.) with a major in Biology, Biochemistry, or an equivalent discipline. You can apply to our programs before you complete your degree, provided you graduate before you enter the program. ( NOTE: A prior M.S. is not a requirement to apply to our Ph.D. programs.)
• Grade Point Average ≥ 3.0 / 4.0 (overall or for the last 60 hours of coursework completed).
• The GRE is no longer required by our Ph.D. programs . If you decide to submit GRE scores, UH's Institutional Code is 6870.
• Informative, coherent and well-written statement of purpose .
• Three strong letters of recommendation .
• English Language Proficiency Requirement. All applicants, regardless of citizenship status, must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria: a) Bachelor's degree (or higher) earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or at an institution at which English is the medium of instruction in the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Turks and Caicos, and English-speaking Canadian provinces. b) TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score required is 79 for the internet-based test. The minimum TOEFL score for the new revised paper-based exam is: Reading 20, Listening 20, and Writing 20. TOEFL scores must be received directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). UH's Institutional Code is 6870. c) IELTS. The minimum IELTS score required is an overall score of 6.5. The testing agency should mail the official results directly to UH. No electronic IELTS are accepted.  d) Duolingo. A minimum score of 105 is required.

Use the online application to submit all your documents electronically. Your references will be automatically contacted to submit their letters of recommendation. Please follow the instructions on the UH Graduate School Application page.

Tips for Applying

What we look for.

We seek to admit students who show a strong record of academic achievement and a high level of motivation and interest. Your record of academic achievement and ability is conveyed by your transcripts, GPA, and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, as well as your letters of recommendation. Your level of motivation and interest is conveyed by your personal statement and letters of recommendation. We will evaluate your application on the basis of your transcripts, test scores (GRE scores for everyone, TOEFL/IELTS scores for foreign students), your personal statement, and the letters of recommendation.

Transcripts and GPA

Successful applicants to our program generally have GPA's of 3.00 or higher. However, a student with a high GPA and a transcript with lots of non-rigorous courses may not be viewed as favorably as a student with a somewhat lower GPA who has taken courses that are essential preparation for graduate work (such as Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology, etc.). It is not essential to have all of these" foundation" courses before you start graduate school, but if you do not have most of them, you will not be well prepared for graduate school.

The GRE provides information regarding your overall academic ability. You are more likely to do well on the GRE if you prepare for the exam. Preparation guides and practice tests are available at most college bookstores.

Your school may provide assistance in preparing for the GRE; check with your career or academic counseling office.

TOEFL/IELTS

This exam is required for all applicants who have not obtained a prior university degree from an institution where English is the medium of instruction (see list of exempt countries and English Language Proficiency Requirements ). These scores must be officially reported to the University before we can admit you to the program or offer financial support.

Statement of Purpose

Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us why you want to join our graduate program and what your long-term goals and interests are. You do not have to know exactly what you want to do, or what scientific questions you want to pursue, but you should tell us what excites your interest or curiosity. Be specific. Your statement is also a chance to discuss any aspect of your application (such as academic history) that you feel warrants further explanation.

If there is a reason for your low GPA (a bad semester due to personal difficulties, for instance), you can provide a brief explanation in your personal statement. High GRE scores can make up for a low GPA, and a high GPA can balance out low GRE scores. In some cases, research experience and strong letters of recommendation can make up for low grades and low GRE scores.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need 3–4 letters of recommendation. Most or all should be from your professors, and the letters should come from people who know you personally as well as your academic performance. Make sure your letter writers know your academic record, reasons for wanting to go to graduate school, and long-term goals.

Contacting Faculty

You can contact individual faculty members in our department whose research is of interest to you, either before or after sending your application. Faculty interests and contact information are available on this Faculty Profiles webpage.

Find more information about the application process on the How to Apply page on the NSM website.

• Open for Applications: June 1
• Early Deadline: September 1  (apply by this deadline to guarantee full consideration)
• Late Deadline: November 1
• Open for Applications: October 1
• Early Deadline: January 1  (apply by this deadline to guarantee full consideration)
• Late Deadline: April 1

For More Information

Contact: Rosezelia Jackson 713-743-2633 [email protected]

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Center for Computational Biology

Computational Biology PhD

The main objective of the Computational Biology PhD is to train the next generation of scientists who are both passionate about exploring the interface of computation and biology, and committed to functioning at a high level in both computational and biological fields.

The program emphasizes multidisciplinary competency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transdisciplinary research, and offers an integrated and customizable curriculum that consists of two semesters of didactic course work tailored to each student’s background and interests, research rotations with faculty mentors spanning computational biology’s core disciplines, and dissertation research jointly supervised by computational and biological faculty mentors.

The Computational Biology Graduate Group facilitates student immersion into UC Berkeley’s vibrant computational biology research community. Currently, the Group includes over 46 faculty from across 14 departments of the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Resources, and the School of Public Health. Many of these faculty are available as potential dissertation research advisors for Computational Biology PhD students, with more available for participation on doctoral committees.

The First Year

The time to degree (normative time) of the Computational Biology PhD is five years. The first year of the program emphasizes gaining competency in computational biology, the biological sciences, and the computational sciences (broadly construed). Since student backgrounds will vary widely, each student will work with faculty and student advisory committees to develop a program of study tailored to their background and interests. Specifically, all first-year students must:

• Perform three rotations with Core faculty (one rotation with a non-Core faculty is acceptable with advance approval)
• Complete course work requirements (see below)
• Complete a course in the Responsible Conduct of Research
• Attend the computational biology seminar series
• Complete experimental training (see below)

Laboratory Rotations

Entering students are required to complete three laboratory rotations during their first year in the program to seek out a Dissertation Advisor under whose supervision dissertation research will be conducted. Students should rotate with at least one computational Core faculty member and one experimental Core faculty member. Click here to view rotation policy. 

Course Work & Additional Requirements

Students must complete the following coursework in the first three (up to four) semesters. Courses must be taken for a grade and a grade of B or higher is required for a course to count towards degree progress:

• Fall and Spring semester of CMPBIO 293, Doctoral Seminar in Computational Biology
• A Responsible Conduct of Research course, most likely through the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.
• STAT 201A & STAT 201B : Intro to Probability and Statistics at an Advanced Level. Note: Students who are offered admission and are not prepared to complete STAT 201A and 201B will be required to complete STAT 134 or PH 142 first.
• CS61A : The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. Note: students with the equivalent background can replace this requirement with a more advanced CS course of their choosing.
• 3 elective courses relevant to the field of Computational Biology , one of which must be at the graduate level (see below for details).
• Attend the computational biology invited speaker seminar series. A schedule is circulated to all students by email and is available on the Center website. Starting with the 2023 entering class, CCB PhD students must enroll in CMPBIO 275: Computational Biology Seminar , which provides credit for this seminar series.
• 1) completion of a laboratory course at Berkeley with a minimum grade of B,
• 2) completion of a rotation in an experimental lab (w/ an experimental project), with a positive evaluation from the PI,
• a biological sciences undergraduate major with at least two upper division laboratory-based courses,
• a semester or equivalent of supervised undergraduate experimental laboratory-based research at a university,
• or previous paid or volunteer/internship work in an industry-based experimental laboratory.

Students are expected to develop a course plan for their program requirements and to consult with the Head Graduate Advisor before the Spring semester of their first year for formal approval (signature required). The course plan will take into account the student’s undergraduate training areas and goals for PhD research areas.

Satisfactory completion of first year requirements will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester of the first year. If requirements are satisfied, students will formally choose a Dissertation advisor from among the core faculty with whom they rotated and begin dissertation research.

Waivers: Students may request waivers for the specific courses STAT 201A, STAT 201B, and CS61A. In all cases of waivers, the student must take alternative courses in related areas so as to have six additional courses, as described above. For waiving out of STAT 201A/B, students can demonstrate they have completed the equivalent by passing a proctored assessment exam on Campus. For waiving out CS61A, the Head Graduate Advisor will evaluate student’s previous coursework based on the previous course’s syllabus and other course materials to determine equivalency.

Electives: Of the three electives, students are required to choose one course in each of the two following cluster areas:

• Cluster A (Biological Science) : These courses are defined as those for which the learning goals are primarily related to biology. This includes courses covering topics in molecular biology, genetics, evolution, environmental science, experimental methods, and human health. This category may also cover courses whose focus is on learning how to use bioinformatic tools to understand experimental data.
• Cluster B (Computational Sciences): These courses are defined as those for which the learning goals involve computing, inference, or mathematical modeling, broadly defined. This includes courses on algorithms, computing languages or structures, mathematical or probabilistic concepts, and statistics. This category would include courses whose focus is on biological applications of such topics.

In the below link we give some relevant such courses, but students can take courses beyond this list; for courses not on this list, the Head Graduate Advisor will determine to which cluster a course can be credited. For classes that have significant overlap between these two clusters, the department which offers the course may influence the decision of the HGA as to whether the course should be assigned to cluster A or B.

See below for some suggested courses in these categories:

Suggested Coursework Options

Second Year & Beyond

At the beginning of the fall of the second year, students begin full-time dissertation research in earnest under the supervision of their Dissertation advisor. It is anticipated that it will take students three (up to four) semesters to complete the 6 course requirement. Students are required to continue to participate annually in the computational biology seminar series.

Qualifying Examination

Students are expected to take and pass an oral Qualifying Examination (QE) by the end of the spring semester (June 15th) of their second year of graduate study. Students must present a written dissertation proposal to the QE committee no fewer than four weeks prior to the oral QE. The write-up should follow the format of an NIH-style grant proposal (i.e., it should include an abstract, background and significance, specific aims to be addressed (~3), and a research plan for addressing the aims) and must thoroughly discuss plans for research to be conducted in the dissertation lab. Click here for more details on the guidelines and format for the QE. Click here to view the rules for the composition of the committee and the form for declaring your committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

After successfully completing the QE, students will Advance to Candidacy. At this time, students select the members of their dissertation committee and submit this committee for approval to the Graduate Division. Students should endeavor to include a member whose research represents a complementary yet distinct area from that of the dissertation advisor (ie, biological vs computational, experimental vs theoretical) and that will be integrated in the student’s dissertation research. Click here to view the rules for the composition of the committee and the form for declaring your committee.

Meetings with the Dissertation Committee

After Advancing to Candidacy, students are expected to meet with their Dissertation Committee at least once each year.

Teaching Requirements

Computational Biology PhD students are required to teach at least two semesters (starting with Fall 2019 class), but may teach more. The requirement can be modified if the student has funding that does not allow teaching. Starting with the Fall 2019 class: At least one of those courses should require that you teach a section. Berkeley Connect or CMPBIO 293 can count towards one of the required semesters.

The Dissertation

Dissertation projects will represent scholarly, independent and novel research that contributes new knowledge to Computational Biology by integrating knowledge and methodologies from both the biological and computational sciences. Students must submit their dissertation by the May Graduate Division filing deadline (see Graduate Division for date) of their fifth–and final–year.

Special Requirements

Students will be required to present their research either orally or via a poster at the annual retreat beginning in their second year.

• Financial Support

The Computational Biology Graduate Group provides a competitive stipend (the stipend for 2023-24 is $43,363) as well as full payment of fees and non-resident tuition (which includes health care). Students maintaining satisfactory academic progress are provided full funding for five to five and a half years. The program supports students in the first year, while the PI/mentor provides support from the second year on. A portion of this support is in the form of salary from teaching assistance as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) in allied departments, such as Molecular and Cell Biology, Integrative Biology, Plant and Microbial Biology, Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science. Teaching is part of the training of the program and most students will not teach more than two semesters, unless by choice.

Due to cost constraints, the program admits few international students; the average is two per year. Those admitted are also given full financial support (as noted above): stipend, fees and tuition.

Students are also strongly encouraged to apply for extramural fellowships for the proposal writing experience. There are a number of extramural fellowships that Berkeley students apply for that current applicants may find appealing. Please note that the NSF now only allows two submissions – once as an undergrad and once in grad school. The NSF funds students with potential, as opposed to specific research projects, so do not be concerned that you don’t know your grad school plans yet – just put together a good proposal! Although we make admissions offers before the fellowships results are released, all eligible students should take advantage of both opportunities to apply, as it’s a great opportunity and a great addition to a CV.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (app deadlines in Oct)
• Hertz Foundation Fellowship (app deadline Oct)
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (app deadline in mid-Fall)
• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (Krell Institute) (app deadline in Jan)

CCB no longer requires the GRE for admission (neither general, nor subject). The GRE will not be seen by the review committee, even if sent to Berkeley.

PLEASE NOTE: The application deadline is Wednesday, November 30 , 2023, 8:59 PST/11:59 EST

If you would like to learn more about our program, you can watch informational YouTube videos from the past two UC Berkeley Graduate Diversity Admissions Fairs: 2021 recording & 2020 recording .

We invite applications from students with distinguished academic records, strong foundations in the basic biological, physical and computational sciences, as well as significant computer programming and research experience. Admission for the Computational Biology PhD is for the fall semester only, and Computational Biology does not offer a Master’s degree.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have, but please be sure to read this entire page first, as many of your questions will be answered below or on the Tips tab.

IMPORTANT : Please note that it is not possible to select a specific PhD advisor until the end of the first year in the program, so contacting individual faculty about openings in their laboratories will not increase your chances of being accepted into the program. You will have an opportunity to discuss your interests with relevant faculty if you are invited to interview in February.

Undergraduate Preparation

Minimum requirements for admission to graduate study:

• A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Undergraduate preparation reflecting a balance of training in computational biology’s core disciplines (biology, computer science, statistics/mathematics), for example, a single interdisciplinary major, such as computational biology or bioinformatics; a major in a core discipline and a combination of interdisciplinary course work and research experiences; or a double major in core disciplines.
• Basic research experience and aptitude are key considerations for admission, so evidence of research experience and letters of recommendation from faculty mentors attesting to the applicant’s research experience are of particular interest.
• GRE – NOT required or used for review .
• TOEFL scores for international students (see below for details).

Application Requirements

ALL materials, including letters, are due November 30, 2023 (8:59 PST). More information is provided and required as part of the online application, so please create an account and review the application before emailing with questions (and please set up an account well before the deadline):

• A completed graduate application: The online application opens in early or mid-September and is located on the Graduate Division website . Paper applications are not accepted. Please create your account and review the application well ahead of the submit date , as it will take time to complete and requests information not listed here.
• A nonrefundable application fee: The fee must be paid using a major credit card and is not refundable. For US citizens and permanent residents, the fee is $135; US citizens and permanent residents may request a fee waiver as part of the online application. For all other students (international) the fee is $155 (no waivers, no exceptions). Graduate Admissions manages the fee, not the program, so please contact them with questions.
• Three letters of recommendation, minimum (up to five are accepted): Letters of recommendation must be submitted online as part of the Graduate Division’s application process. Letters are also due November 30, so please inform your recommenders of this deadline and give them sufficient advance notice. It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your letters of recommendation (sending prompts, as necessary) in the online system.
• Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all relevant transcripts, uploaded as part of the online application (see application for details). Scanned copies of official transcripts are strongly preferred, as transcripts must include applicant and institution name and degree goal and should be easy for the reviewers to read (print-outs from online personal schedules can be hard to read and transcripts without your name and the institution name cannot be used for review). Do not send via mail official transcripts to Grad Division or Computational Biology, they will be discarded.
• Essays: Follow links to view descriptions of what these essays should include ( Statement of Purpose [2-3 pages], Personal Statement [1-2 pages]). Also review Tips tab for formatting advice.
• (Highly recommended) Applicants should consider applying for extramural funding, such as NSF Fellowships. These are amazing opportunities and the application processes are great preparation for graduate studies. Please see Financial Support tab.
• Read and follow all of the “Application Tips” listed on the last tab. This ensures that everything goes smoothly and you make a good impression on the faculty reviewing your file.

The GRE general test is not required. GRE subject tests are not required. GRE scores will not be a determining factor for application review and admission, and will NOT be seen by the CCB admissions committee. While we do not encourage anyone to take the exam, in case you decide to apply to a different program at Berkeley that does require them: the UC Berkeley school code is 4833; department codes are unnecessary. As long as the scores are sent to UC Berkeley, they will be received by any program you apply to on campus.

TOEFL/IELTS

Adequate proficiency in English must be demonstrated by those applicants applying from countries where English is not the official language. There are two standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL minimum passing scores are 90 for the  Internet-based test (IBT) , and 570 for the paper-based format (PBT) . The TOEFL may be waived if an international student has completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better while in residence at a U.S. university (transcript will be required). Please click here for more information .

Application Deadlines

The Application Deadline is 8:59 pm Pacific Standard Time, November 30, 2023 . The application will lock at 9pm PST, precisely. All materials must be received by the deadline. While rec letters can continue to be submitted and received after the deadline, the committee meets in early December and will review incomplete applications. TOEFL tests should be taken by or before the deadline, but self-reported scores are acceptable for review while the official scores are being processed. All submitted applications will be reviewed, even if materials are missing, but it may impact the evaluation of the application.

It is your responsibility to ensure and verify that your application materials are submitted in a timely manner. Please be sure to hit the submit button when you have completed the application and to monitor the status of your letters of recommendation (sending prompts, as necessary). Please include the statement of purpose and personal statement in the online application. While you can upload a CV, please DO NOT upload entire publications or papers. Please DO NOT send paper résumés, separate folders of information, or articles via mail. They will be discarded unread.

The Computational Biology Interview Visit dates will be: February 25-27, 2024

Top applicants who are being considered for admission will be invited to visit campus for interviews with faculty. Invitations will be made by early January. Students are expected to stay for the entire event, arriving in Berkeley by 5:30pm on the first day and leaving the evening of the final day. In the application, you must provide the names of between 7-10 faculty from the Computational Biology website with whom you are interested in conducting research or performing rotations. This helps route your application to our reviewers and facilitates the interview scheduling process. An invitation is not a guarantee of admission.

International students may be interviewed virtually, as flights are often prohibitively expensive.

Tips for the Application Process

Uploaded Documents: Be sure to put your name and type of essay on your essays ( Statement of Purpose [2-3 pages], Personal Statement [1-2 pages]) as a header or before the text, whether you use the text box or upload a PDF or Word doc. There is no minimum length on either essay, but 3 pages maximum is suggested. The Statement of Purpose should describe your research and educational background and aspirations. The Personal Statement can include personal achievements not necessarily related to research, barriers you’ve had to overcome, mentoring and volunteering activities, things that make you unique and demonstrate the qualities you will bring to the program.

Letters of Recommendation: should be from persons who have supervised your research or academic work and who can evaluate your intellectual ability, creativity, leadership potential and promise for productive scholarship. If lab supervision was provided by a postdoc or graduate student, the letter should carry the signature or support of the faculty member in charge of the research project. Note: the application can be submitted before all of the recommenders have completed their letters. It is your responsibility to keep track of your recommender’s progress through the online system. Be sure to send reminders if your recommenders do not submit their letters.

Extramural fellowships: it is to your benefit to apply for fellowships as they may facilitate entry into the lab of your choice, are a great addition to your CV and often provide higher stipends. Do not allow concerns about coming up with a research proposal before joining a lab prevent you from applying. The fellowships are looking for research potential and proposal writing skills and will not hold you to specific research projects once you have started graduate school.

Calculating GPA: Schools can differ in how they assign grades and calculate grade point averages, so it may be difficult for this office to offer advice. The best resource for calculating the GPA for your school is to check the back of the official transcripts where a guide is often provided or use an online tool. There are free online GPA conversion tools that can be found via an internet search.

Faculty Contact/Interests: Please be sure to list faculty that interest you as part of the online application. You are not required to contact any faculty in advance, nor will it assist with admission, but are welcome to if you wish to learn more about their research.

Submitting the application: To avoid the possibility of computer problems on either side, it is NOT advisable to wait until the last day to start and/or submit your application. It is not unusual for the application system to have difficulties during times of heavy traffic. However, there is no need to submit the application too early. No application will be reviewed before the deadline.

Visits: We only arrange one campus visit for recruitment purposes. If you are interested in visiting the campus and meeting with faculty before the application deadline, you are welcome to do so on your own time (we will be unable to assist).

Name: Please double check that you have entered your first and last names in the correct fields. This is our first impression of you as a candidate, so you do want to get your name correct! Be sure to put your name on any documents that you upload (Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement).

California Residency: You are not considered a resident if you hope to enter our program in the Fall, but have never lived in California before or are here on a visa. So, please do not mark “resident” on the application in anticipation of admission. You must have lived in California previously, and be a US citizen or Permanent Resident, to be a resident.

Faculty Leadership Head Graduate Advisor and Chair for the PhD & DE John Huelsenbeck ( [email protected] )

Associate Head Graduate Advisor for PhD & DE Liana Lareau ( [email protected] )

Equity Advisor Rasmus Nielsen ( [email protected] )

Director of CCB Elizabeth Purdom ( [email protected] )

Core PhD & DE Faculty ( link )

Staff support Student Services Advisor (GSAO): Kate Chase ( [email protected] )

Department of Biology

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The Department of Biology offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Quantitative Biology with research emphasis in a number of areas including: Genome Biology & Genetics, Cell Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, or Microbiology. The doctoral program is designed to train students to apply sophisticated quantitative techniques to solving basic and applied problems in biology. Students in this program will attain substantially greater quantitative skills than in traditional doctoral programs in the biological sciences, providing them with a competitive advantage in business, industry, government, and academia.

The  University Catalog  contains all UTA admission requirements for the Department of Biology Ph.D. program.

How to Apply

First, read the general instructions for applying to the graduate program and download the checklists available on the Office of Graduate Studies webpage:  www.uta.edu/admissions/graduate/apply

International applicants have specific requirements, and a separate admissions checklist, available here: https://www.uta.edu/admissions/apply/international-graduate  

Additionally, the Department requests that applicants fill out the following questionnaire as part of the application package:  https://common.forms.uta.edu/view.php?id=2034157   Students are accepted into our Ph.D. program as either direct admit or rotation students. 

Direct admit: To qualify as a direct admit, an applicant must secure the backing of a faculty member before applying, mention their faculty support in their letter of intent, and ask that their faculty member reach out to Dr. Mark Pellegrino ( [email protected] ).

To secure the support of a faculty member before applying, begin by visiting our Biology faculty page: https://www.uta.edu/academics/schools-colleges/science/departments/biology/faculty - research/faculty , review the research focuses of the labs, and contact individual faculty members to discuss your research interests. Explain how your interests align with their lab and inquire if they would consider having you join their lab as a new Ph.D. candidate.

Rotation program: Applicants would choose this option if they are unsure which area of research interests them. Please indicate your interest in the rotation program in your letter of intent. Applicants admitted into the program will perform three rotations in three separate labs. At the end of the rotation period, applicants are placed in a home lab under the guidance of a Rotation Program Committee. Applicants will select their rotation labs only after being admitted into the Ph.D. program. Please note that applications to the rotation program are only considered for the Fall semester . For more information about the rotation program, please contact the chair of the Rotation Program Committee, Dr. Mark Pellegrino ( [email protected] ).

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED ON THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:

Questions? Please contact : [email protected]  

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Biology must apply to either the “B.S. to Ph.D. track” or the “Ph.D. program”, with the corresponding prerequisites:

B.S. to Ph.D. track:  A bachelor's degree in biology, or a bachelor's degree in some other discipline with at least 12 hours of advanced level coursework (junior or senior level courses) in biology. This is the Ph.D. track designed for students with a B.S and without master’s degree, which tends to be the majority of applicants.

Ph.D. program:  This track is for students that already have a master's degree in biology, or at least 30 hours of graduate level coursework in biology. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale), as calculated by the Graduate School, is expected. An applicant's GPA in science courses will be taken into consideration. If an applicant has a master's degree, the GPA from their master's degree will also be considered. For applicants with up to 30 hours of graduate coursework but no master's degree, the GPA from those hours will be also be taken into consideration.

GRE:   The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is no longer required for admission. 

Application, scores, and transcripts:   Your online application will include instructions for uploading transcripts, test scores, and any other required materials. 

International students:  Students whose native language is not English must provide a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of at least 45, a minimum score of 23 on the Speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT exam or a minimum score of 7 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam. See the following website for complete details:  https://www.uta.edu/admissions/apply/international-graduate

Letters of recommendation:  Three letters  of recommendation are required for admission to the program. Ideally one or two letters should come from professors or instructors who can speak to your academic abilities; others may come from employers or other individuals who can comment on your work ethic and potential for graduate study. Letters should be emailed directly from the letter writer to [email protected] . If you have questions regarding letters of recommendation, please email [email protected] and include your UTA ID #, provided within your online application.

Letter of intent:  Please email a Letter of Intent to [email protected] and include the following information:

• Your full name and UTA ID #.
• Indicate that you are seeking the Ph.D. degree in Quantitative Biology
• Tell us which research track or types of research you are interested in. Examples include: Genome Biology & Genetics, Cell & Developmental Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, or Microbiology
• Provide names of any specific faculty member(s) that you are interested in working with if you have particular preferences. Note, however, that it is also OK if you are not sure what faculty member you are interested in working with (which is common), in which case, we will use your research interests above to help match you with potential faculty research mentors. We also encourage you to reach out to faculty members directly by email to discuss the potential for research in their lab, and if you have contacted any, please put this information in your letter of intent.
• How do you decide on which lab to conduct research in for your PhD? - Some students have a clear idea of their research interests, others may not. Both situations are common and our PhD program can account for both types of students, and students can decide on a single lab upfront to conduct research (direct admission) or decide to rotate in multiple labs during their first year, and decide which of these they will do their PhD work in in the second year. Our diverse department enables a broad range of research opportunities.
• Identify if you wish to be admitted directly to a single faculty member’s laboratory (and identify this faculty member), or indicate that you are interested in potentially rotating in multiple labs (2-3 labs) in the first year to make this decision. If interested in a lab rotation, please also indicate which faculty members’ labs are of interest, and if you have been in contact these faculty. More information about Rotations is provided below.
• Your Letter of Intent should also include details of your experience, training, any research experience you may have had, and motivations that you believe make you a strong candidate for success in a PhD program. You may also briefly discuss the long-term professional goals that motivate you to work towards a PhD. This is also an appropriate place to clarify details of your academic and work experience to date.

What is the letter of intent used for:

• The letter of intent is used to help the department link interested candidates with potential research professors/labs, and serves as an opportunity for the applicant to make a personal argument for why they believe they will be successful in conducting a PhD based on their experience and motivations. Your letter will be forwarded to the faculty members you indicate, but you are encouraged to also contact those faculty members directly (e.g., by email) to determine if they are accepting new students. It is therefore useful to also visit the listed  faculty pages  to find faculty research that you might be interested in and contact those faculty members.

PhD Funding:  Ph.D. students are guaranteed 5 years of financial support in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs), funded by the department, or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), funded by grants to individual faculty members. Many students are supported by a mixture of these two assistantships throughout their PhD. All Ph.D. students enrolled full-time and receiving an assistantship also receive reduced-cost in-state tuition regardless of residence, and a major portion of these tuition costs are supported by the assistantships.

Checking the status of your application:   You can check your application and admissions status through the MyMav student portal, where you can also review if you have any missing items needed to complete your application.   CHECK YOUR STATUS IN MYMAV . To confirm receipt of letters of recommendation, first check with your recommenders before contacting  [email protected] .  Please include your UTA ID #, available via MyMav, in any correspondence with the Biology Department.

Lab Rotations

The UTA Biology Department encompasses numerous laboratories that conduct research on a remarkably broad range of topics, and choosing a lab and research topic can be difficult. About half of entering students join a single lab as a direct admission. The other portion of students decide to rotate in multiple labs their first year. If several labs are of interest to you, consider signing up for lab rotations your first semester. Our lab rotation option allows you to experience multiple labs before making a final decision. However, please be sure to reach out to at least two potential rotation faculty to be sure they are able and interested in taking students for rotation. In your letter of intent (see  How To Apply  above), inform the Biology Department which labs are of interest to you (list up to three labs), and note which faculty have agreed to host you as a lab rotation student if you are accepted.

• If you decide to enter the PhD program as a rotation student, you can do ½ semester rotations in two host labs to get a sense of the research being conducted prior to making a final decision on which lab you will conduct your PhD research in.  
• For those students opting for a lab rotation, your letter of intent will be forwarded to the faculty members you indicate, but you should also contact those individuals directly to determine if they are taking new students and have the resources to support your research. During your first semester you will join/rotate through up to three labs in which you are interested and that are currently recruiting students. If no fit is found during your first semester, you have the option of rotating through additional labs in your second semester. Please visit the listed faculty pages to find faculty research that you might be interested in and contact those faculty members to set up a rotation. We feel confident that you will find an exciting and dynamic dissertation lab to join.  

BIOLOGY GRADUATE HANDBOOK [PDF]

The Biology Graduate Handbook is currently under revision. Up-to-date information regarding the PhD in Biology is available in the UTA Graduate Catalog . Questions regarding the Biology graduate program should be emailed to [email protected] .

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Location : Life Sciences Building, Room 337, 501 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX 76019 Mailing address : P.O. Box 19498 Phone : 817-272-2872

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PHD, Plant Biology

Plant Biology department offers a broad spectrum of educational and research opportunities in plant and fungal biology. We are committed to providing outstanding scientific research opportunities and the long-term career development of our students.

Degree Type: Doctoral

Degree Program Code: PHD_PBIO

Degree Program Summary:

UGA’s Plant Biology Department is a multidisciplinary program with 25 full-time faculty working on a wide range of research problems in the plant and fungal sciences. We are one of the top ranked plant biology departments in the United States. While the Plant Biology Department is named on the basis of the predominant organisms studied, it has always defined its overall mission broadly to include many disciplinary areas. We are particularly strong in the overlapping areas of molecular genetics, biochemistry and physiology, biology education, cellular and developmental biology, genomics and bioinformatics, systematics, and ecology. A focus on evolutionary principles unites the diverse disciplines within the department. Visit the Research Areas pages to learn more about the breadth of our interests, then visit a faculty member’s individual homepage to learn about his or her specific focal areas.

Degree Awarded: PhD

Degree Code: PHD_PBIO

The Department of Plant Biology offers a graduate program leading to the PhD degree. Program strengths include a very flexible curriculum to meet the needs of individual students, guaranteed stipend funding, professional development opportunities (teaching, grant writing, mentoring, outreach), and a very active Plant Biology Graduate Student Association (PBGSA).

Prospective students should address inquiries to the Graduate Coordinator, Department of Plant Biology. Our Web address is plantbio.uga.edu. Graduate students are eligible for a number of university fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. Interested applicants should apply through the Integrated Plant Sciences program. The deadline for applications is December 1. Students are normally only admitted at the beginning of the fall semester.

Facilities for graduate training in plant biology include greenhouses, growth chambers, field plots, the herbarium, electron microscope laboratory, molecular cytology facility, genomics and bioinformatics facilities, computing facilities, and modern research laboratories. Cooperative arrangements for joint research exist with such off-campus facilities as the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, State Botanical Garden, UGA Marine Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and other regional research centers.

Locations Offered:

Athens (Main Campus)

College / School:

Franklin College of Arts & Sciences

346 Brooks Hall Athens, GA 30602

706-542-8776

Department:

Plant Biology

Graduate Coordinator(s):

Wolfgang Lukowitz

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Best Global Universities for Biology and Biochemistry in the United States

These are the top universities in the United States for biology and biochemistry, based on their reputation and research in the field. Read the methodology »

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Here are the best global universities for biology and biochemistry in the United States

Harvard university, massachusetts institute of technology (mit), stanford university, university of california berkeley, university of california san francisco, university of california san diego, university of washington seattle, johns hopkins university, university of california los angeles, cornell university.

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• # 1 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
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Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest higher education institution in the U.S. The bulk of Harvard's... Read More

• # 2 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 2 in Best Global Universities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded in 1861, is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston. Around... Read More

• # 3 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 3 in Best Global Universities

Stanford University was founded in 1885 and is located in California’s Bay Area, around 30 miles south of San Francisco... Read More

• # 4 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
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The University of California—Berkeley is situated roughly 15 miles from San Francisco in what is known as the Bay Area... Read More

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The University of California—San Francisco is a public institution that was founded in 1864. The health sciences-focused... Read More

• # 7 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 20 in Best Global Universities

The University of California—San Diego is a public institution that was established in 1960. It is located in the La... Read More

• # 8 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 6 in Best Global Universities

The University of Washington is a public institution that was founded in 1861. The school's oldest and largest campus in... Read More

• # 10 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 10 in Best Global Universities

Johns Hopkins University is a private institution that was founded in 1876. The school has campuses located in and... Read More

• # 12 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
• # 14 in Best Global Universities

The University of California—Los Angeles, commonly referred to as UCLA, is a public institution that was founded in... Read More

• # 13 in Best Universities for Biology and Biochemistry
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Cornell University is a private institution that was founded in 1865. The Ivy League school is located in Ithaca, New... Read More

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School of Integrative Plant Science

PhD Field of Plant Biology

Revealing fundamental principles of plant biology and evolution.

Graduate study in Cornell's Integrative School of Plant Science is organized into five Graduate Fields providing unparalleled opportunities to connect disciplines, creatively solve problems, and integrate complex systems, preparing graduates for diverse careers and futures as leaders in science and society.

Programs in the Field of Plant Biology range from the molecular/genetic investigation of fundamental plant processes and mathematical modeling of plant development to study of plant diversity and evolution. Most of the faculty advisors in the Field of Plant Biology are affiliated with the Section of Plant Biology in the School of Integrative Plant Science. The Graduate Field of Plant Biology encompasses a broad range of topics.

Grand Challenge Fellowships

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) is offering four two-year fellowships to graduate students for research tackling our  Grand Challenges .

• Fellowships are for August 2024 admission.
• Application deadline is December 1, 2023.  (November 15, 2023 for Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology.)
• More information.

Apply to the Graduate Field of Plant Biology

• Apply (Cornell Graduate School Application)
• Graduate Field of Plant Biology application information

Development, organelle biology, evolution and diversity, or systems biology - our students are making breakthroughs in many important research areas of plant biology

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Select the graduate field of interest from the pull-down menu on the linked page

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Karin Jantz Graduate Field Coordinator 233 Emerson Hall Phone: 607-255-4075 Email: kpg2 [at] cornell.edu (kpg2[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Adrienne Roeder Director of Graduate Studies 239 Weill Hall Phone: 607-255-4467 Email: ahr75 [at] cornell.edu (ahr75[at]cornell[dot]edu)

More information about graduate study in Plant Biology

See these links for information specific to MS/PhD studies in the Field of Plant Biology

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Learn more about graduate study in SIPS

Five interrelated Graduate Fields are associated with the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) with many resources common to all

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• Hans Oh, PhD
• J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD RN ACHPN
• Jacqueline Mogle, PhD
• Jammie Hopkins, DrPH, MS
• Joe Glass, PhD MSW
• Karen Whiteman, PhD MSW
• Katie Schultz, PhD MSW
• Rose Molina, MD
• Uriyoán Colón-Ramos, ScD MPA
• Andrew Riley, PhD
• Byron J. Powell, PhD, LCSW
• Carrie Nieman MD, MPH
• Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, CHES®
• Emily E. Haroz, PhD
• Jennifer Tsui, Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Jessica Magidson, PhD
• Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW
• Kelly Doran, MD, MHS
• Kiara Alvarez, PhD
• LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, MPH
• Melissa Radey, PhD, MA, MSSW
• Sophia L. Johnson, PharmD, MPH, PhD
• Supriya Gupta Mohile, MD, MS
• Virginia McKay, PhD
• Andrew Cohen, MD, PhD
• Angela Chen, PhD, PMHNP-BC, RN
• Christopher Salas-Wright, PhD, MSW
• Eliza Park MD, MS
• Jaime M. Hughes, PhD, MPH, MSW
• Johanne Eliacin, PhD, HSPP
• Lingrui Liu ScD MS
• Meaghan Kennedy, MD
• Nicole Stadnick, PhD, MPH
• Paula Aristizabal, MD
• Radhika Sundararajan, MD
• Sara Mamo, AuD, PhD
• Tullika Garg, MD MPH FACS
• Allison Magnuson, DO
• Ariel Williamson PhD, DBSM
• Benita Bamgbade, PharmD, PhD
• Christopher Woodrell MD
• Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM
• Jasmine Abrams, PhD
• Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, MD
• Karen Flórez, DrPH, MPH
• Lavanya Vasudevan, PhD, MPH, CPH
• Maria Garcia, MD, MPH
• Robert Brady, PhD
• Saria Hassan, MD
• Scherezade Mama, DrPH
• Yuan Lu, ScD
• 2021 Scholars
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About the PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program

Through a departmental core curriculum as well as research area-specific courses, laboratory rotations, qualifying examinations, mentored research, and professional development, all MMI PhD students are prepared to engage in cutting edge research and scholarship that advances knowledge. MMI PhD students hone their scholarship, research and professional skills. Course and laboratory work can address problems in microbial pathogenesis, immunology, disease transmission, and diseases related to malaria, mosquito and arboviral biology.

Students can choose to complete the traditional MMI PhD program or the MMI PhD program concentration in Rigorous, Reproducible, and Responsible Research Investigation in Immunology & Microbiology (R 3 IM). The concentration in Rigorous, Reproducible, and Responsible Research Investigation in Immunology & Microbiology (R 3 IM) conveys a broad background in immunology and infectious diseases research, with a special emphasis on critical thinking, logic, ethics, and written and oral skills to help graduates become communicators of complex scientific concepts and agents of change in their workplaces and communities.

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Molecular Microbiology And Immunology?

Sample careers.

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate
• Science Communicator or Writer
• Scientist (academia, industry)
• Specialist in Science Regulatory Affairs
• Faculty, Professor
• Science Advocate (nonprofit agencies)
• Public Health Service (NIH, CDC, FDA)
• Science Policy Fellow

Curriculum for the PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Current students can view the MMI student handbook on the MMI portal site.

Topic Areas

MMI faculty are recognized experts in a wide variety of infectious diseases research areas, allowing our PhD students to study the biology of disease based on their research interests and career goals. Our PhD students gain a comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases that provides a foundation to launch careers that directly tackle critical public health challenges.  

Topic Areas include: 

• Bacterial pathogenesis
• Cell biology 
• Fungal pathogenesis 
• Medical entomology/Disease ecology
• Parasite pathogenesis 
• Rigor, Reproducibility, and Responsibility in Scientific Practice
• Tick-borne diseases
• Vaccine development 
• Vector biology
• Viral pathogenesis

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores (GRE) are  optional  for this program. The admissions committee will make no assumptions if a standardized test score is omitted from an application, but will require evidence of quantitative/analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and/or supplemental questions.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.

Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars

The  Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI)  is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically Black college and university (HBCU) or other minority serving institution (MSI) for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, you will need to submit a SOPHAS application, VTSI supplementary materials, and all supporting documents (letters, transcripts, and test scores) by December 1, 2023. VTSI applicants are eligible for an  application fee waiver , but the fee waiver must be requested by November 15, 2023 and prior to submission of the SOPHAS application.

All full-time PhD students will receive the following support for all years of the program: stipend, full tuition, individual health insurance, University Health Services clinic fee, vision insurance, and dental insurance.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU  starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a $1500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Alex Kim , Senior Academic Program Coordinator  Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E5014 Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Fax: (410) 955-0105

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Residents & Fellows
• Give to SMHS

Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS)

Cancer biology phd program.

The GW Cancer Biology PhD program is designed to equip the next generation of researchers with the knowledge, research training and leadership skills necessary to foster progress in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. The PhD program provides research training in areas reflecting GW faculty expertise, which includes the study of cancer signaling and checkpoint inhibitors, cancer immunology and immunotherapy, and molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis and metastasis, cancer genomics and epigenetics and the tumor microenvironment.

The  GW Cancer Center (GWCC)  brings together cancer research, clinical cancer care, and cancer control/prevention and outreach initiatives at GW, and offers students a range of exciting research programs, seminars and retreats. Researcher labs are located on the 8th floor of the contemporary Science and Engineering Hall, in Ross Hall and other locations. An important focus for the Cancer Center is to address prominent health disparities in breast, cervical, colorectal, pancreatic, liver and prostate cancers faced by communities in the District of Columbia. Students have access to cutting-edge core facilities for flow cytometry, imaging, and computational biology as well as the  Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy (CETI) lab , and state-of-the art  GW Biorepository  resource of biospecimens and clinical data to facilitate research on HIV/AIDS and cancer.

The  GW Cancer Biology Training Program  (supported by NIH T32 CA247756) is a prestigious dual  basic/clinical mentorship  program guided by expert cancer researchers and clinician investigators designed to prepare the next generation of outstanding cancer research scientists. The two-year program for predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows includes courses and workshops as well as a discovery research project leading to an independent research career. Students apply for this program at the end of their first year, with their mentor and cancer-related research.

The PhD in Cancer Biology begins with the interdisciplinary coursework in molecular, cellular, and systems biology and research rotations offered through  GW’s Integrated Biomedical Sciences curriculum . In the second and third semester students add a comprehensive introduction to the conceptual and experimental underpinnings of cancer biology. Further electives, career development coursework in scientific writing, oral communication, and research ethics and laboratory rotations are provided. Following required laboratory rotations, students complete a. grant-style qualifier and then work with their research advisor and the Graduate Program Directors to complete remaining Cancer Biology degree requirements, including the research dissertation.

Cancer Biology Courses:

CANC 8221: The Basic Science of Oncology CANC 8222: Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics CANC 8998: Advanced Reading and Research Seminar Course CANC 8999: Dissertation Research

Some Suggested Electives:

GENO 6237: Proteomics & Biomarkers CANC 8223: Cancer Immunology BIOC 6240: Next Gen Sequencing HSCI 6263: Biostatistics Clinical Translational Scientific Research (online)

Seminars/Journal Clubs:

The Cancer Biology seminar series held is held Thursday at 4 pm, and the monthly Tumor Board discussions held each Friday morning at 8 am. An annual Cancer Center Retreat is held in May. Faculty and trainees share interest groups (breast, prostate, ovarian cancer) as well as thematic meetings (Cancer Biology, Cancer Immunology, Cancer Engineering), to focus on common research interests.

Examples of Recent Cancer Biology PhD Dissertations:

Sulgi (John) Lee PhD. 2020, “Identification and Characterization of Tumor Specific Antigens in Pediatric Diffuse Midline Gliomas” Mentors: Javad Nazarian, Eric Villain. (Now Application Scientist at Namocell, Washington DC)

Eden Dejene, PhD 2020 “Regulation of Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease Activity by Reversible Lysine Acetylation”. Mentor: Edward Seto, Inducted into Bouchet Society, NCI supplement. (Now Associate Scientist, Abcam, United Kingdom)

Graduate Program Directors:

Norman Lee, PhD Professor of Pharmacology & Physiology GWU; Ross Hall 601 [email protected]

Yanfen Hu, PhD Professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology GWU; Ross Hall 551-B [email protected]

How to apply  to the IBS and Cancer Biology PhD program.

For IBS Application Questions contact  Colleen Kennedy, IBS Program Manager  at  [email protected]

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Message from the director.

A welcome message from Sabrina Diano, PhD, Director, Institute of Human Nutrition.

IHN alumni are advancing nutrition around the world through work in the health care industry, clinical research, medical education, and more.

Research Laboratories

Learn more about the Institute for Human Nutrition's research.

In the Community

Local initiatives.

IHN is a proud supporter of local organizations and activities here in Washington Heights and the surrounding communities.

PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology

The Nutritional and Metabolic Biology (NMB) PhD training program prepares students to work at the frontiers of biomedical research in nutritional and metabolic sciences, exploring the role of nutrition in maintaining optimal human health.  The objective of the training program is to prepare individuals who will conduct original basic science research, teach in medical schools and universities, and hold positions of leadership in community and international nutrition.

Housed within the Institute of Human Nutrition (IHN) at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), this inter-disciplinary and multi-departmental training program is highly structured and comprises both coursework and basic research. The NMB program is one of the few pre-doctoral training programs in nutrition in the United States that is located within a medical school and is unique among the other PhD programs at CUMC with an equal number of MDs and PhDs as faculty mentors (including ten MD/PhDs). The location of the NMB training program in a medical school offers trainees a wide array of research opportunities in laboratories headed by established senior scientists as well as NIH-funded younger independent investigators, all focused on the role of nutrition and metabolism in health and disease.

nmb_phd_program_faculty_-_life_at_columbia

nmb_phd_program_students_-_life_at_columbia

For information on NMB faculty, please visit the Faculty page on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) site .

Lori Zeltser, PhD

• Co-director

Anthony Ferrante Jr., MD, PhD

• Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

• Application for Degree
• Credit for Completed Graduate Work
• Ad Hoc Degree Programs
• Dissertations
• English Language Proficiency
• African and African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Biological Sciences in Public Health
• Biostatistics
• Business Administration
• Business Economics
• Byzantine Studies
• Celtic Languages and Literatures
• Chemical Biology
• Chemical Physics
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• Earth and Planetary Sciences
• East Asian Languages and Civilizations
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• Public Policy
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• Religion, The Study of
• Romance Languages and Literatures
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• Social Policy
• South Asian Studies
• Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology
• Secondary Fields
• Year of Graduate Study (G-Year)
• Master's Degrees
• Grade and Examination Requirements
• Conduct and Safety
• Financial Aid
• Non-Resident Students
• Registration

Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page. 

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Course requirements.

All first-year students are required to complete OEB399.

All courses must be taught by OEB faculty members or be courses in other departments approved by the OEB Graduate Committee. The grade minimum for graded courses is B-. OEB students must maintain a grade point average of at least a B (3.00) each academic year; the grade point average is weighted for each course based on the number of course credits. For example, a grade received in a two-credit course proportionally impacts the grade point average compared to a four-credit course. 

Students admitted in 2017 or later  are required to have completed four graded, four-credit courses by the end of their second year and a total of six graded, four-credit courses by the end of their third year. Students may fulfill up to two of these six total course requirements by teaching unique courses. For instance, a student who takes four graded courses and teaches two unique courses during their first three years would fulfill this requirement. A student can count a course once as a student and once (but not more than once) as a Teaching Fellow.  

For some students, specific courses may be prescribed by the OEB Graduate Committee. No student can be expected to have deep knowledge of all areas of modern biology, but all OEB graduate students are expected to have some familiarity with biological processes in (i) suborganismic (molecular and cellular biology), (ii) organismic (structure and function) and (iii) supraorganismic levels (evolution and ecology). Students are also expected to have competence in (iv) basic mathematics and statistics. Soon after their arrival at Harvard University, incoming students will meet with their advisor and members of the OEB Graduate Committee to review the student’s previous coursework, identify any gaps in basic knowledge, and develop a plan of study. If gaps are identified in any of the basic areas (i)–(iv), this plan of study will include prescribed courses to be completed by the end of the student’s second year with a grade of B- or better. All prescribed courses count toward the requirement for six graded four-credit courses. 

Students admitted prior to 2017 are required to have completed any prescribed courses by the time of their qualifying examination and a minimum of four graded courses by the time they defend their dissertation. With advisor approval, students may opt to take courses beyond their four-course requirement. The grade minimum for graded courses is B-. OEB students must maintain a grade point average of at least a B (3.00) each academic year; the grade point average is weighted for each course based on the number of course credits. For example, a grade received in a two-credit course proportionally impacts the grade point average compared to a four-credit course. 

Pedagogical Requirements

Teaching in the first year is not allowed per Harvard Griffin GSAS policy.

For students admitted in 2016 and later , the department requires at least three teaching fellow assignments for completion of the degree. Students must teach at least two different courses over at least two different terms. As part of your dissertation proposal for the qualifying examination, you should develop a teaching plan that will help you balance factors, including when courses of interest are being offered and when you might have a particularly intense field or laboratory work. 

Students admitted prior to 2016  are required to complete two teaching fellow assignments to meet the pedagogical requirement. 

Satisfactory Progress Requirements

All students in the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences must be making satisfactory progress in order to be eligible for any type of financial aid. The following provisions are the interpretation of satisfactory progress for graduate students in OEB.

• During the first two years of graduate study, any student who is permitted to register is considered to be making satisfactory progress. OEB students are required to enroll and participate in OEB 399 in their first year.
• Students admitted in  2017 and later  must have completed four letter-graded courses (including all prescribed courses) and have taken the qualifying examination by the end of the second year. Students admitted  before 2017  are simply required to complete their prescribed courses and their qualifying examination by the end of the second year. Students can petition the OEB Graduate Committee to have their qualifying examination deferred until their third year. Such a petition takes the form of a written request to the director of graduate studies (DGS), endorsed by your advisor, and submitted during the second year. A deferral, if granted by the OEB Graduate Committee, does not change the requirement that a student who has not passed the qualifying examination by the end of their third year will be expected to withdraw. OEB students must maintain a grade point average of at least a B (3.00) each academic year; the grade point average is weighted for each course based on the number of course credits. For example, a grade received in a two-credit course proportionally impacts the grade point average compared to a four-credit course.
• Students admitted in  2017 and later  must have passed the qualifying examination and completed six letter-graded courses by the end of the third year. Students admitted  before 2017  must complete four letter-graded courses by the time they defend their dissertation.
• After passing the qualifying examination, students must hold a yearly dissertation advisory committee meeting and be judged to be making satisfactory progress.
• Students in their fourth year must participate in the G4 symposium in the spring.
• A student who is judged not to be making satisfactory progress may, with department endorsement, be placed on  grace status  for up to one year. Students on grace status remain eligible for financial aid during this period but cannot hold teaching appointments. At the end of the grace period, the student must have rectified the deficiency and be in compliance with all other established criteria in order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress. A student is ordinarily allowed only one period of grace.
• As noted above, the calendar of requirements may be interrupted by a single year of department-approved leave. In the particular case of a student who wishes to obtain a professional degree, the approved leave period can be extended beyond a single year.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is an oral examination conducted to assess whether the student has a well-designed research plan for their dissertation and to examine the student’s knowledge in broad areas of organismic and evolutionary biology. Students are expected to have taken the qualifying examination before the end of the second year of graduate study (exceptions may be granted by petition to the OEB Graduate Committee) and, at the very latest, to have passed the examination before the end of the third year of graduate study.

The qualifying examination committee consists of the student’s advisor and at least three other individuals. At least three committee members, including the chair,  must be members of the OEB faculty. Students should choose their committee chair (any OEB faculty committee member except their advisor) in consultation with their advisor. They should invite the chair to serve in that capacity when they invite them to serve on the committee. Students must obtain DGS approval of their qualifying examination committee and chair designation prior to submitting a notice of their examination to the senior academic programs administrator.

Students contact their committee to arrange an examination date and time. Three hours must be allotted for the meeting. Students should be aware that many faculty members may not be available when classes are not in session. Students are advised to remind faculty of the time and place of the meeting several days before the examination.

During the exam,  students will be tested on three broad topics pertinent to, but not restricted to, the specific topic of the proposed or ongoing dissertation studies. Topics should overlap a little and should be broad in scope. Students must obtain approval from the DGS for the three exam topics for these syllabi. After DGS approval, the student prepares a course syllabus outline for each topic. At least two of these courses should be modeled on a one-term lecture course meeting two to three times a week and addressing a broad area of biological knowledge. One course can be an advanced-level seminar on a more specialized topic. These syllabi will serve as a guide for the qualifying examination committee members to begin asking questions. However, committee members are not limited to asking questions directly relevant to the syllabi. Students are encouraged to meet with committee members before the examination to discuss questions that might be asked and to receive advice and recommendations on specific material that may be worth reviewing. There are no set guidelines on syllabus format; they should be modeled after those commonly distributed at the beginning of OEB courses. Students should consult with their advisor on the format.

The student is also expected to prepare a written dissertation   research proposal  for the qualifying examination committee.  Students should consult with their advisor about the format. In the examination, students will present a brief oral presentation on the proposal, designed to last approximately 15 to 20 minutes, not counting questions (recalling that committee members will have read the proposal so that it is neither necessary nor desirable to review everything in it).

The syllabi and dissertation proposal must be electronically distributed to qualifying examination committee members and the senior academic programs administrator at least two weeks before the examination. Failure to do so will result in the postponement of the examination .  

The qualifying examination committee chair will be in charge of the examination. At the outset, the student will be asked to leave the room so that the committee can discuss progress to date and ensure course prescriptions have been fulfilled. The advisor will then be asked to leave the room for the student to talk with the other committee members. After the advisor’s return, the student will then make their oral presentation, after which committee members will ask questions. Usually, committee members take turns, each asking several questions, with several rounds of questioning. At the end of the examination, students will again be asked to leave the room.

After the exam , students who passed the qualifying examination will be promptly notified and approved for the continuation of dissertation studies and advancement to doctoral candidacy. At least one term should ordinarily elapse between the qualifying examination and when the dissertation examination can be held. The qualifying examination committee may pass the student but prescribe additional coursework or other additional work (such as writing a review paper on a particular topic). Completion of this prescribed work is required before the next dissertation advisory committee meeting for the student to be judged at that time as making satisfactory progress.

If the qualifying examination reveals serious deficiencies , the committee may decide: (1) that the student be reexamined at a later date (but not later than the end of the G3 year) or (2) that the student not be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree. In the latter case, the committee will recommend that further candidacy be terminated not later than the end of the ongoing academic year. The recommendation to terminate must be reviewed and approved by the OEB graduate committee. The student, together with the advisor, may appeal any such decision by submitting to the OEB graduate committee written arguments for a reversal of the decision to terminate. Under such circumstances, the case will be further reviewed by the OEB graduate committee and the department before a final decision is rendered.

Dissertation Advisory Committee Meetings

Students have opportunities to review their dissertation project, its progress, and future potential with their dissertation advisory committee (DAC) in annual DAC meetings.  The first DAC meeting should be held no later than one year after the qualifying examination and at one-year (or shorter) intervals thereafter.  The student should present a brief account of any results obtained and plans for additional research. The DAC should indicate to the student whether it anticipates that the dissertation will be acceptable. It should also suggest improvement where needed. The DAC meeting is not intended to be an oral "examination,” but the DAC must approve the student’s progress and plans. If the DAC does not approve, then the student will be considered not to be making satisfactory progress, and a plan must be prepared to return to good standing within six months. Failure to do so may lead the DAC to recommend dismissal from the graduate program. Students more than six months late in holding a DAC meeting will automatically be considered not to be making satisfactory progress.

The DAC will consist of the student’s advisor and at least two other members. At least three members of the DAC must be OEB faculty. Additional members affiliated with other departments or institutions may be added after consultation with the advisor. Students should choose their DAC chair (any OEB faculty committee member except their advisor) in consultation with their advisor when they are assembling their DAC. The overall composition of the DAC must be approved by the DGS. The members of the DAC will, in most cases, also constitute the dissertation examination committee. In some situations, scheduling a meeting that all DAC members can attend may not be possible. With permission of the advisor and the DGS, one DAC member may be absent from the meeting, as long as arrangements are made for the student to meet separately with that DAC member. 

Dissertation Presentation and Examination

All graduate students in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology come under the jurisdiction of the OEB graduate committee. The DGS is authorized to approve all examination committees appointed for doctoral candidates.

1.  Application for the PhD Degree

Information on the degree  application is available on the  Harvard Griffin GSAS website . Students can find updated degree applications on the Harvard Griffin GSAS  Degree Calendar  and  Academic Calendar  pages. All applications must be approved by the DGS. Students should be aware that many committee members are not available for dissertation defenses when courses are not in session.

2.  Dissertation Presentation

The student must present the subject matter of the dissertation in a seminar open to the community and to which the members of the dissertation examination committee have been invited. This presentation shall take place prior to the dissertation examination. The senior academic programs administrator will send out notice of the public presentation to the OEB community two weeks prior to the date. A copy of the posted notice of the seminar will become part of the student's record.

3.  Dissertation Abstract

Each PhD candidate will prepare an abstract of the dissertation —ordinarily limited to one page, single-spaced—and submit it to the senior academic programs administrator two weeks prior to the date of the dissertation examination. Copies of the dissertation abstract will be distributed to the OEB community.

4.  Dissertation Examination

The  dissertation  is written under the supervision of the student's research advisor and should conform to the standards outlined in the Harvard Griffin GSAS policy page on  Dissertations .

The  Dissertation Examination Committee  will consist of the student’s advisor and at least two other members. At least three members of the committee must be members of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Additional members affiliated with other departments or institutions may be added by the advisor. As with the DAC, the committee chair must be an OEB faculty member who is not the student's advisor. The overall composition of the committee must be approved by the DGS. 

The senior academic programs administrator and the DGS must be notified of the  time and location of the dissertation   examination at least four weeks prior to the date  desired. The candidate must electronically distribute to their dissertation examination committee and the student academic programs administrator  their dissertation in final form at least 10 business days prior to the defense date .  Failure to electronically distribute the finalized dissertation to the dissertation examination committee and the senior academic programs administrator 10 business days prior to the exam date will automatically lead to postponement of the dissertation defense.

The student should observe the final dates for holding the dissertation examination indicated in the  Academic Calendar  posted on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website. It is strongly suggested that the dissertation examination be held at least one month prior to the dissertation electronic submission deadline to allow time for revisions; students should not expect committee members to approve a dissertation because a student has an impending deadline.

After examination, the dissertation examination committee will decide whether the candidate will pass, fail, or pass on the condition that specified changes be made to the dissertation (because students are often required to do additional work before the dissertation is passed, we recommend that students defend two to four weeks before degree filing or other deadlines). The dissertation examination committee may delegate to its chair the responsibility for seeing that such changes are made in a satisfactory manner before the award of the degree is recommended to the department by the graduate committee. The student's advisor should make such certification in writing to the DGS.

If possible, students should schedule their last DAC meeting one to three months before their dissertation defense. At this time, they should review the dissertation thoroughly, allowing committee members to identify issues that should be rectified prior to the presentation of the dissertation. Holding such a DAC meeting is the best way to ensure that problems are identified prior to the defense, thus minimizing the chance that the committee will require substantial additional work that may delay awarding of the degree.

In rare cases, it may be possible to hold the dissertation exam with one committee member absent. Arrangements must be made for that committee member to confer with the advisor prior to the dissertation being approved. Approval for such an arrangement must come from the DGS and only will be granted under unusual circumstances.

5.  Filing the Dissertation 

Students should consult the  dissertation submission guidelines . Each candidate must be registered in Harvard Griffin GSAS, with the required registration fee(s) paid, at the time the dissertation is filed, as summarized on the  Application for Degree  page. It is the student's responsibility to  electronically   via ProQuest ETD in accordance with the desired graduation date deadline.

Requirements for the AM Degree

The Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology does not admit students whose sole purpose is to study for the Master of Arts (AM) degree.

However, graduate students admitted to  any PhD program  at Harvard University or  OEB graduate students admitted prior to 2017 may apply for the AM degree if they fulfill the following requirements:

• Six letter-graded four-credit courses in the department (or other courses approved by the DGS), with no grades lower than B-. Students must maintain a grade point average of at least a B (3.00) each academic year; the grade point average is weighted for each course based on the number of course credits. For example, a grade received in a two-credit course proportionally impacts the grade point average compared to a four-credit course.  
• AM candidates must submit a written paper based on original research conducted under the guidance of a faculty member in the department. Both the student's advisor and the DGS must send the senior academic programs administrator their written approval of the paper.

OEB graduate students admitted in 2017 and later  may also apply to be awarded the AM degree. The requirements for students within the department are:

• Four graded four-credit courses by the end of their second year. In addition, students must either have completed a total of six graded four-credit courses by the end of their third year, or have completed four graded four-credit courses and acted as a Teaching Fellow in two additional courses by the end of their third year. All courses must be taught by OEB faculty members or be courses in other departments approved by the OEB graduate committee. The grade minimum for graded courses is B-. Students must maintain a grade point average of at least a B (3.00) each academic year; the grade point average is weighted for each course based on the number of course credits. For example, a grade received in a two-credit course proportionally impacts the grade point average compared to a four-credit course.  A student can count a course once as a student and once (but not more than once) as a Teaching Fellow.  All prescribed courses count toward the requirement for six graded four-credit courses.
• A written report based on original research conducted under the guidance of a faculty member in the department (the student’s dissertation proposal will often satisfy this requirement). The student's advisor and the DGS must send the senior academic programs administrator their written approval of the report.

Contact Info

Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Website

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Oral Biology, PhD

The PhD program provides training for those who wish to pursue basic and/or clinical research in dental medicine or the biomedical sciences. Candidates may include those with bachelor's, master's, or DDS (or equivalent) degrees. 

FALL 2025 ENROLLMENT  |  Applications accepted June 1, 2024 - February 1, 2025

Program Co-Directors: Dr. Jill Kramer [email protected]

Dr. Rose-Anne Romano [email protected]

About the Program

This program leads to a doctoral degree in Oral Biology. 

The opportunity exists for dual-enrollment in one of the following Advanced Certificate programs: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Periodontics, or Prosthodontics. Candidates must apply to each program separately by posted deadlines. Acceptance into each program is a separate process.

Interdisciplinary in nature, the PhD program draws upon faculty expertise in a broad range of disciplines, including biochemistry, biophysics, developmental biology, immunology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, physiology, and pharmacology. Students choose an area of concentration from these disciplines, but may also combine work in several fields in order to support their research interests.

PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS)

The  PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences  provides an entry portal and a common first-year curriculum, equipping first year PhD students with core knowledge and concepts to support their pursuit of a PhD degree in one of several participating departments, including Oral Biology. 

The Department of Oral Biology supports basic and clinical research directed to solve important problems affecting oral and general health.

Faculty Research Areas

Centers and Facilities

Student Research

Length of Program

The program length is 60 months of full-time attendance beginning August 15, the first year. Combined programs may entail a longer period of matriculation depending on the chosen graduate program. Dual enrolled students follow the start date of their clinical program.

Acceptance into any research program is a separate process. Program options include:

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Periodontics | Prosthodontics

Community Highlight – Nathan Kiel

Nathan Kiel is a Doctoral candidate in iBio graduating May 2024. Before he transitions to the next phase in his career, we talked with him about his research and graduate student experience in iBio and UW-Madison.

Nathan’s research focuses on understanding how forests are changing with a warming climate and widespread wildfire. He has done most of his work in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the Rocky Mountains as part of the research team in Dr. Monica Turner’s lab. Forests in Greater Yellowstone are threatened with climate change and more frequent wildfire. He is studying how plant communities and ecosystem processes are currently responding to better understand the future of Greater Yellowstone’s forests as climate and fire continue to change.

Nathan is interested in conducting research that addresses the needs of natural resource managers as well as communicating science to broad audiences. This led him to minor in translational ecology, a subdiscipline of ecology that prioritizes impactful research that leads to real-world outcomes. With this training, he has written two popular press articles communicating his research to National Park Service land managers and the general public, given several public webinars, and developed biology and ecology undergraduate curriculum to help train the next generation of scientists.

The opportunity to work with Dr. Monica Turner, a leader in the field of ecology, is what first drew him to UW-Madison. However, he soon realized that the university and department were well-suited to support his career goals of becoming a professor at a primarily undergraduate institution. iBio’s flexible coursework requirements allowed him to prioritize professional development in teaching and mentorship that he wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere. But the graduate student community in the department and Dr. Turner’s lab was what really convinced him that it would be a great place to pursue his PhD.

When we asked about the most valuable experiences he had in iBio, he feels like his skills as a scientist have been greatly improved from collaborating with fellow graduate students on research projects. He has also grown a lot as a mentor, working closely with several undergraduate students on their independent research projects for one of the department’s introductory biology courses. Finally, some of the most fun he has had while conducting research has been while collecting data for his dissertation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks!

Nathan says after graduating in May, he is starting a post-doctoral research position at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where he earned his Bachelors degree. There he will be studying the effects of climate change on tree species’ migrations across mountains in New York and New England.

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Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD Thesis

03 Jan 2024 - 29 Dec 2024

Hamilton, Tauranga

BIOL900, BIOEB900

To see available locations for each teaching period, view the teaching periods and locations table .

Teaching Periods and Locations

If your paper outline is not linked below, try the previous year's version of this paper .

Indicative Fees

You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment - please see the  Table of Fees and Charges for more information.

Available subjects

Molecular and cellular biology, additional information.

Subject regulations

• Paper details current as of 28 Jan 2024 00:00am
• Indicative fees current as of 9 Apr 2024 01:30am

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You're a domestic student if you are:

• A citizen of New Zealand or Australia
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• Intending to study on a student visa
• Not a citizen of New Zealand or Australia

Seminar list for this week: April 8-12

Monday, April 8, 2024

3:00 PM          Biochemistry Colloquium:  A radical solution for C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation during the biosynthesis of macrocyclic membrane lipids; Speaker:  Squire Booker, PhD, Prof. Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University.

Join in person:  1211 HFD Biochemical Sciences

Join virtually:  https://go.wisc.edu/bio_colloq

  3:30 PM          McArdle Trainee Seminar:  HuSH EBV: An unexpected inhibitory complex of EBV in Burkitt Lymphoma; Speaker:  Madilyn Ellis (Advisor: Bill Sugden, PhD); Investigating the molecular mechanism of mitotic arrest caused by HIV-1 protein Vif; Speaker:  Dhaval Ghone (Advisor: Aussie Suzuki, PhD).

Join in person:  6571 WIMR II

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

12:00 PM        Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Seminar:  Physiological DNA Damage in the Breast and Uterus; Speaker:  Lindsay Hinck, PhD, Prof., Co-Director: Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells (IBSC), University of California, Santa Cruz.

Join in person:  Discovery Center at Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID)

Join via Zoom:  https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/96958883460?pwd=bWVHbEdWdGxQdHMyOVkxTHV5UW9mdz09 (Passcode: 936743)

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

8:00 AM         Oncology Grand Rounds:  Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Development of Circulating Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer; Speaker:  Paul Swiecicki, MD, Clinical Assoc. Prof. Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan.

Join in person:  1306 HSLC

Join via Zoom:   https://uwmadison.zoom.us/s/94681614650?pwd=MFBVNHRGWTB6OFRVWnQzemN6ZGJsZz09  (Passcode: Grand)

11:00 AM       Cancer Biology Seminar:   Revisiting immunobiology of early cancer through patients with plasma cell disorders; Speaker:  Madhav Dhodakpar, MD, Prof. Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine.

Join in person:  1345 HSLC

Join via Zoom:  https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/92891363864

  12:00 PM        Neuroscience Seminar:  TBA; Speaker:  Dwight Bergles, PhD, Prof. of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University.

Join in person:  3571 WIMR II

  3:30 PM          Genetics Colloquium:  The origins and endpoints of beneficial cell-in-cell relationships; Speaker:  John McCutcheon, Arizona State University.

Join in person:  1111 Genetics/Biotechnology Center

Join via Zoom:   https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98087850165?pwd=azZ5Q3diR0tXb2p4UTBxTDVZVkJkZz09  

Thursday, April 11, 2024

9:00 AM         Pathology Seminar:  Integrated single cell and spatial analysis of the tumor microenvironment in squamous cell carcinomas; Speaker:  Athena Golfinos, CMP Graduate Student, Dinh Lab, UW-Madison.

Join via Zoom: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99490374322?pwd=N050ZHFjUERoQzd6c1U3ZUdyWVBidz09

  11:00 AM       Nutritional Sciences Seminar:   The Process of Hepatic Lipogenesis and its Role in Liver Disease; Speaker:  Elizabeth Parks, PhD, Prof. of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri.

Join in person:  290 Nutritional Sciences

  12:10 PM        Molecular Virology Seminar:  New tricks for an old dog: expanded function of influenza virus proteins; Speaker:  Andy Mehle, Assoc. Prof. Medical Microbiology & Immunology, UW-Madison.

Join in person:  1211 Biochemical Sciences

  12:30 PM        Evolution Seminar:  Starship elements drive genome evolution dynamics in a model eukaryotic microbe; Speaker:  Emile Gluck-Thaler, Assist. Prof. Plant Pathology, UW-Madison.

Join in person:  1360 Genetics/Biotech

Join via Zoom:  https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98648374748

  Friday, April 12, 2024

12:00 PM        Medical Microbiology & Immunology Seminar:   A Journey from Hydrogen Gas Production to Bacterial Longevity; Speaker:  Caroline Harwood, PhD, Prof. of Microbiology, University of Washington.

Join in person:  1420 Microbial Sciences

  12:00 PM        John D. Wiley Seminar:  Pharmacogenomics and Gene X Environment Interactions in a Dish; Speaker:  Jason Stein, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Genetics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Join in person:  T216, John D. Wiley Conference Center