See the website for a list of electives: http://www.bio.upenn.edu/graduate/handbook/academic-topics/course-requirements
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Code | Title | Course Units |
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Year 1 | ||
Fall | ||
Advanced Topics in Current Biological Research | ||
Cell Biology | ||
Advanced Evolution | ||
Independent Study and Research | ||
Spring | ||
Genetic Analysis | ||
Evolutionary Ecology | ||
Theoretical Population Biology | ||
Independent Study and Research | ||
Independent Study and Research | ||
Summer | ||
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
Independent Study and Research | ||
Spring | ||
Communication for Biologists | ||
Independent Study and Research | ||
Summer | ||
Year 3 and Beyond | ||
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The philosophy of the PhD program, along with the Affiliated Ph.D. Program with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, is to provide world-class research training in the basic biological sciences to equip a diverse group of trainees for a variety of scientific careers ranging from academia and industry to education, communication, or policy. Core principles of the program are to be student centered and attuned to the goals of the trainee.
The core curriculum focuses on development of core competencies and transferable skills in critical thinking, communication, and leadership. The first year prepares students for the core of the PhD program, the development of intellectual independence and creativity through original thesis research, guided by a thesis advisor and committee. Students have a high degree of flexibility in choice of thesis advisor through the rotation program. Throughout the program, there is strong emphasis on engaged mentoring through regular committee meetings, annual reports and Individual Development Plans.
As a central hub of the thriving San Diego biosciences community, the program maintains strong partnerships with other campus units and programs through joint faculty appointments, organized research units, and research collaborations, enabling a wide range of interdisciplinary opportunities . The mission is to conduct leading edge research in the basic biological sciences. Major areas of emphasis currently include structural biology, cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, immunology, microbiology, virology, plant biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Research in the School has emphasized studies using model organisms or in vitro mechanistic approaches, with human studies and clinical research concentrated in other departments or in the Health Sciences. Current and future areas of growth include quantitative biology, data science, and the biological consequences of climate change.
As a doctoral program embedded in a large undergraduate instructional unit, our approach incorporates substantial training in teaching methodology and best practices. Our philosophy remains that teaching and research are interdependent facets of engaged scholarship.
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Phd program.
Graduate students in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington receive a commitment from the entire department to support their education and research. Our students make excellent use of the many opportunities available to them, as evidenced by the extraordinary number of fellowships and awards received, the successful publication of high impact papers, and their regular contributions at national and international meetings. Our students receive additional training by participating in departmental governance, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and other activities. Together these factors combine to promote an unusual degree of professionalism and community spirit.
(All numbers are approximations, exact figures differ annually) greater than 300 40 approx. 25 (about 9% of applicants) 15 6 year average Minimum 2 quarters TAing Our department provides funding for the first five years of your program through a variety of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. Students are frequently able to find funding for the duration of their research program through these means as well. |
By joining the Biology Department at the University of Washington, you will become a part of a world-class research institution. Here, graduate students are treated as colleagues by a committed faculty who work to mentor students, to provide opportunities to develop research interests, to network both on and off campus, and to publish and present their own research.
You will find a collaborative environment at the University of Washington, with faculty engaging in research with the lab next door, researchers across campus, and teams halfway across the world. Our graduate students are encouraged to collaborate similarly, seeking additional mentors and colleagues throughout the world who compliment their research interests.
Timeline to Completion
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| Begin program, lab rotation #1 | Lab rotation #2 | Lab rotation #3, choose advisor/permanent lab | Select Supervisory Committee; first year conversation | |
| Wrap up Prescription Letter Requirements | General Exam by end of Spring Quarter | Supervisory Committee Annual Meeting | ||
| Conduct research and begin writing; work to publish/present research; Supervisory Committee Annual Meeting | ||||
| Conduct research and continue writing; work to publish/present research; Supervisory Committee Annual meeting | ||||
| Publish/present a chapter of your dissertation; select Reading Committee | Schedule Final Exam |
If you would like to make an appointment with our Graduate Program Manager, Andrea Pardo - please consult their calendar linked here!
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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
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.
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.
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)
Cell & Molecular Biology: BI 581
Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology: BI 671
Neurobiology: BI 581
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)
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.
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.
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.
Forms and additional information about PhD graduation can be found on the GRS website .
9 – 12 months before proposed graduation date
Semester prior to your intended graduation cycle
About 2 months before dissertation defense
Once defense date is confirmed with committee
At least three weeks prior to dissertation defense
At least two weeks prior to dissertation defense
At least one week prior to dissertation defense
See the Graduate Program Guide for final dates to submit dissertation to ETD
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.
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 .
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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NYU Biology’s PhD program offers training in a broad range of biological research fields, including developmental genetics, genomics and systems biology, molecular and cellular biology, evolutionary biology, and infectious disease. Our dynamic and diverse community of faculty and graduate students engages closely on all aspects of scientific investigation. Strong mentoring relationships throughout the PhD program develop students’ abilities to independently design and perform research, write grant proposals, and communicate their findings effectively to a wide audience. The combination of cutting edge research, world class faculty, and a dedication to mentoring and career building skills for our PhD students defines the PhD program at NYU Biology.
The mission of the Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences is to train new generations of scientific leaders who make significant and distinctive contributions to society. The department has established a broad range of resources to enable the students to define and achieve their personal mission. With this broad goal in mind, our specific objectives are to mentor students to:
Emily simon (linstedt lab), andrew wolff (hinman lab).
" CMU provides an innovative environment, where technology meets deep scientific thinking. I received constant guidance both for my research projects and career path. I had the opportunity to explore different areas and expand my imagination about what is possible to discover in biology, by taking selective courses and consulting faculty with a broad range of expertise. Through presenting at international conferences, I established scientific collaborations, which lead to significant findings and publications, one of which is in the highly regarded journal Nature . A key perk of being a part of the Department of Biological Sciences is the alumni network of CMU, which consists of overachieving and fearless individuals. As a recent hire of a company started by two CMU alumni, I am excited to continue my pursuit of discovering the unknown and challenging the current limits of experimental sciences ."
" One of the characteristics of CMU that I particularly loved was the extensive levels of collaborations between research groups, even from seemingly unrelated fields. Such exquisite collaborations often further the frontiers of research and being a graduate student at CMU allowed me to lead and be a part of such high quality research. This is primarily due to the excellent faculty at CMU who are always interested in exploring new ideas and are very approachable which gave me immense encouragement ..... Pittsburgh also provided ample opportunities to pursue my varied hobbies, be it art and music or skiing and rock climbing. This was particularly important for me as it provided a way to switch off from research and rejuvenate. "
" As a prospective student in neuroscience, most of the graduate programs I applied to were neuroscience only programs. One of the biggest reasons I am so glad I chose the Biological Sciences graduate program at CMU, is because I not only gained access to excellent training in the field of neuroscience, but I was surrounded by faculty, post-docs, and other graduate students from many other disciplines. This provided me with different perspectives on my research and enabled me to have access to, learn, and incorporate a variety of techniques from different fields during my graduate experience. It also provided me with experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team, which is a very important part of my job now as I work closely with faculty from mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. "
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Ph.d. biology.
Quick Facts |
General Inquiries |
| 404.385.4240 | EBB 2009 |
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 .
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 $35,500. Several fellowships are available which can supplement the PhD stipend.
Please take some time to review our funding opportunities and fellowships .
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.
Biology related research centers.
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Biological Sciences 950 Atlantic Drive Atlanta, GA 30332 Office: 404-894-3700 Fax: 404-894-0519
Georgia Institute of Technology North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30332 404.894.2000
© Georgia Institute of Technology
Offered By: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Onsite | Full-Time | 5 – 6 years
In the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program, faculty, and students work together to increase knowledge of the biochemical and molecular bases of normal and abnormal cellular processes. Our program trains students to be successful independent scientists and gives them the knowledge, research training, and leadership skills to continue to provide new insights into the biomedical issues that have a profound impact on public health.
Students engage in a rigorous course curriculum and a range of structured and informal activities outside the classroom and lab to build their skills. They will pursue their thesis research in the lab of one of our over forty training faculty across the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Visit our dedicated PhD program website to learn more about the diverse research training opportunities of the program.
Our position within the School of Public Health provides a unique setting in which students learn how biochemistry, molecular biology, physical chemistry, cell biology, and genetics can be used to solve significant problems in public health and medicine. Our program offers:
Training faculty across the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine
Schools that students can take courses in: Public Health, Arts & Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering
Two-month rotations in the first year prior to selecting thesis lab
Average number of incoming students in the BMB PhD degree program each year
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program prepares students for a range of biomedical and health sciences careers, including in academia, industry, policy, and beyond. Visit the Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.
The BMB PhD program faculty conduct research to gain new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal cellular processes, and their relevance as targets for improving health and treating disease. Our training program places particular emphasis on mechanistic approaches to research problems.
Common topic areas within our faculty's diverse research interests include:
The BMB PhD offers students a rigorous course curriculum, including a set of common core classes from the Schools of Public Health and Medicine. A rich array of seminar programs and journal clubs are also available to all students.
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 .
Courses in core curriculum
Minimum elective credits
Seminars on current research presented by experts from across Johns Hopkins and other biomedical research institutions
Courses available across Johns Hopkins Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Arts and Sciences
For the general admissions requirements see our How to Apply page. The specific program also requires:
Laboratory research experience (from academia, industry, etc.) is required
Strong background in the sciences, particularly in chemistry, biochemistry, or biology
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.
Ashi Weeraratna, PhD, studies how cancer cells move to distant sites and how changes in the normal cells around a tumor contribute to their movement, especially as we age.
Michael Matunis, PhD, studies how protein modification by SUMO—the small ubiquitin-related modifier—drives changes in key cellular pathways from stress response to DNA repair.
Jennifer Kavran, PhD, MS, MPhil, is a biophysicist who investigates how cells communicate with each other and their environment.
Danfeng Cai, PhD, combines advanced microscopy, genomics, and proteomics to tease out the functions of protein condensates in cells, with a focus on cancer.
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, 2024. VTSI applicants are eligible for an application fee waiver , but the fee waiver must be requested by November 15, 2024 and prior to submission of the SOPHAS application.
Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.
In the BMB PhD program, all full-time PhD students who remain in good academic standing will receive the above support through the entire duration of the program.
Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a 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.
Mike Matunis, PhD PhD Program Director
Roza Selimyan , PhD BMB Executive Director for Academic Affairs and Education Programs
Erika Vaitekunas Administrative Specialist
Program description.
The PhD program in Molecular and Cell Biology begins with core courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and quantitative biology. PhD candidates conduct experimental or computational research in a laboratory of their choosing. Research in the department of Biological Sciences is organized into five areas of strength, which are:
Our faculty members are dedicated to teaching, and classroom experiences are balanced with a substantial research program that serves as the platform for our mentor-based teaching methods. For those who choose the thesis option, lab work will expose students to state-of-the-art research techniques used to understand the molecular mechanisms of biological processes such as gene expression, protein structure and function, carcinogenesis, neurodegeneration, bacterial pathogenicity and symbiosis, metabolism and signaling networks.
The department is well-equipped for research in modern molecular and cell biology. Facilities include next generation sequencing platforms, cell imaging systems, protein and small molecule mass spectrometry and cell sorting.
Graduates of the program seek positions such as: research scientist and professor.
The NSM Career Success Center is an important resource for students pursuing STEM and healthcare careers. Career professionals are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes and connecting with campus recruiters, among other services.
Review the marketable skills for this academic program.
International Applicants: International applications are accepted during the fall semester only. If you would like to discuss your interest in the program, please email [email protected] .
Degree requirements: Background in calculus, general physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry and general biology, including genetics. Students intending to do research in computational biology should have some background in mathematics and in programming. Entering students not having this background may be required to take some additional course work in their first year or in the summer immediately preceding entry.
Test score required: No
Deadlines: University deadlines apply.
Whitney Mira Phone: 972-883-6255 Email: [email protected]
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W Campbell Rd Richardson, TX 75080-3021 [email protected] Phone: 972-883-2416
nsm.utdallas.edu
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We have received your request for more information, and thank you for your interest! We are excited to get to know you and for you to explore UT Dallas. You’ll begin receiving emails and information about our beautiful campus, excellent academic programs and admission processes. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
The University of Texas at Dallas respects your right to privacy . By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails and calls from a representative of the University.
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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.
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] ).
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Fall (August) admission | Application deadline ( ). | December 1 |
Open house events | January-February | |
Admissions decisions | February-May | |
Spring (January) admission | Application deadline ( ) | September 1 |
Open house events | September-October | |
Admissions decisions | November-December |
Questions? Please contact : [email protected]
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:
What is the letter of intent used for:
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.
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.
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] .
Location : Life Sciences Building, Room 337, 501 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX 76019 Mailing address : P.O. Box 19498 Phone : 817-272-2872
Search stanford cancer institute.
Established in 1978, the interdisciplinary Cancer Biology PhD Program is designed to provide graduate and medical students with the education and training they need to make significant contributions to the field of cancer biology. The program is led by Laura Attardi, PhD, and Julien Sage, PhD, and currently has over 60 participating faculty members representing a variety of specialties.
Coursework during the first year equips students with a broad understanding of the molecular, genetic, cellular biological and pathobiological aspects of cancer. By the beginning of the second year, students have chosen a research advisor and begun work on their dissertation projects. An annual program conference provides students with an opportunity to present their research findings, receive feedback and forge collaborations with faculty and fellow students.
The Cancer Biology program also sponsors a postdoctoral scholar track in which accepted MD and PhD scholars pursue research under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Catharine and howard avery professor of the school of medicine and professor of genetics.
Elaine and john chambers professor of pediatric cancer and professor of genetics.
Health care.
©2024 Stanford Medicine
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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).
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 .
Out-of-state students and international students employed as TAs or RAs receive a waiver of the additional tuition charged to non-residents.
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:
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.
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.
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 .
Houston has a relatively low cost of living compared to most major U.S. cities and many low-cost apartments and houses are available.
The minimum entrance criteria for doctoral graduate studies in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry are as follows:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contact: Rosezelia Jackson 713-743-2633 [email protected]
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest degree we offer in the plant biology graduate program.
Our goal is to produce independent research scientists who will contribute fundamental knowledge to the world or who will become leaders in government and industry laboratories.
Most Ph.D. students will be assigned to a graduate advisor. For those who are not, the DGP will serve as an initial advisor, and these students will work with the DGP to prepare a rotation schedule and identify a dissertation advisor (also known as a “major advisor”). All Ph.D. students must identify a graduate advisory committee prior to completing their first year.
The advisory committee consists of the student’s major advisor and at least three additional graduate faculty members, two from plant biology and one from an outside department. All required committee members must hold appointments within the NC State Graduate School. Scientists who are not members of the Graduate School faculty (e.g., adjunct faculty, industry scientists) may be appointed as additional members of the committee. Prior to the preliminary exam, the Graduate School will assign a representative to the student’s committee. See the Graduate School Handbook for details.
A students advisory committee will meet at least once a year throughout the student’s degree program. During committee meetings, students must give a presentation on their research project and progress. Students should provide each committee member with the following before each meeting:
For the first committee meeting, students will discuss their long-term goals and preliminary ideas concerning their dissertation research.
Doctoral students must serve as a laboratory teaching assistant in at least two sections. The undergraduate coordinator creates these teaching assignments. During the semester a Ph.D. student serves as a teaching assistant, they should enroll in at least one hour of PB 895 (Doctoral Supervised Teaching).
Ph.D. students with prior master’s degrees that are included in their Graduate Plan of Work (GPOW) are only required to teach in one section. Substitutions for the teaching requirement are subject to approval by the DGP.
Student and their advisor will outline a Graduate Plan of Work (GPOW) as soon as possible. The GPOW includes all courses to be taken, an anticipated timetable for taking each course and a tentative dissertation title.
Students will submit their GPOW to their advisory committee for approval and then submit it to the Graduate School by the end of their second semester.
Students will submit annual reports upon request by the DGP. These reports are typically due late January to mid-February. Ideally, students will meet with their committee prior to submitting the annual report, where they will make an oral presentation and submit a written report on their laboratory research.
The advisor and committee must determine if the student is making satisfactory research and academic progress for the student to be re-appointed to their assistantship and to remain in good status in the graduate program.
Preliminary examination.
Students must pass the written and oral preliminary examination (Prelim) to gain admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. See the Ph.D. Policies and Procedures for details.
All Ph.D. candidates must write a dissertation on their research that conforms to the NC State Thesis and Dissertation Guide . The content and structure of the dissertation must be approved by the advisory committee. Additionally, all candidates must prepare their results for publication prior to program completion.
Doctoral candidates who have completed their research and other degree requirements (72 credit hours) may enroll in PB 899 (Dissertation Preparation) while they are writing their dissertation. They must also present a seminar hosted by the plant biology graduate program as part of their final exam (defense).
Upon the candidate’s satisfactory defense of the Ph.D. dissertation, the advisory committee will approve it for transmission to the Graduate School. See the Ph.D. Policies and Procedures for details.
Year | Term | Goals |
---|---|---|
Fall | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours); 6-7 hours formal courses – Start building necessary research tools, expertise and background knowledge for dissertation research – Discuss advisory committee membership with advisor and form committee | |
Spring | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours); 6-8 hours of formal courses – Continue building research tools, expertise and background knowledge for dissertation research – First committee meeting. – File GPOW; this will require a tentative dissertation title (can be revised later) | |
Summer | – No registration (GSSP does not pay summer school tuition) – By the end of first summer, student must have an idea for a dissertation topic | |
Fall | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours); ~6 hours formal courses – Continue building research tools, expertise and background knowledge for dissertation research | |
Spring | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours); ~6 hours formal courses (This will likely be the last semester of formal courses) – : Arrange a committee meeting to review research progress and plan preliminary written and oral exams – Meet with DGP to discuss progress in the Ph.D. program | |
Summer | – No registration (GSSP does not pay summer school tuition) – : Make substantial research progress during the summer! | |
Fall | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours) – Take written and oral preliminary exams – Review research goals and progress, and begin forming plans for publication and presentation of research | |
Spring | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours) – : Arrange a committee meeting to review research progress and make any modifications to research goals. Revise dissertation title in GPOW, if necessary. | |
Summer | – No registration (GSSP does not pay summer school tuition – : Make substantial research progress during the summer! | |
Fall | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours)* – Dissertation research should be well-focused and well-established with substantial progress | |
Spring | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours)* – This is a critical semester for a committee meeting. – Plan on making a formal presentation of research results. Be prepared to discuss a tentative timeline for the completion of degree. | |
Summer | – No registration (GSSP does not pay summer school tuition) – During the summer, plan to present research at a national meeting | |
Fall | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours)* – Significant progress being made toward bringing research to a conclusion. – Discuss with major professor the timeline for graduation. – Review timelines with DGP. | |
Spring | – Full-time registration (9-12 hours)* – Significant progress made on your writing if you plan to graduate this semester. – Communicate with major professor and committee. – Work closely with major professor on drafts and revisions. – Review all deliverables and their deadlinesSend dissertation to advising committeeSchedule your defense – Final doctoral oral exam (defense) | |
Summer | If you plan to defend in the summer or to defend by the “no registration required” deadline for fall graduation, you must be registered for the summer.** |
Students in the M.S. program may wish to bypass the M.S. degree and transfer directly into the Ph.D. program. In these cases, a student’s advisory committee must receive sufficient evidence of the student’s research ability, such as published manuscripts or abstracts or other scientific presentations, to justify the transfer. The student must meet with their committee to present current research results and research objectives for the Ph.D. dissertation. Following the meeting, a letter signed by the advisor and endorsed by a majority of the advisory committee is forwarded to the DGP recommending transfer into the Ph.D. program.
Students may also wish to pursue admission to the Ph.D. program following completion of their M.S. degree. Similarly, a student may consider transferring from the Ph.D. program into the M.S. program after a year or more in the graduate program. In either instance, the student’s advisory committee will hold a meeting to address the student’s status. A letter signed by the thesis advisor and endorsed by a majority of the committee is submitted to the DGP with a recommendation. The student and their advisor will receive a letter notifying them of admission or change in program.
Any other transfers between degree programs must be approved by a student’s advisory committee with a specific recommendation and then submitted to the DGP.
This concentration leads to both Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Environmental Conservation (ECo) and is designed for students who want scientific training in the multi-disciplinary field of wildlife, fish and conservation biology. The focus of this concentration is broadly on animal ecology and conservation biology but encompasses specialized training in fields such as conservation genetics, population ecology and landscape ecology. The prime impetus for this concentration is the need for an adequate science base and professional training for decision-making regarding wildlife and fish resources.
Coursework and more detailed information (pdf)
Faculty affiliated with this concentration (see below) have expertise in vertebrate population ecology; endangered, threatened, and overabundant species; wetland and forest ecology; animal behavior and physiology; geographic information systems and remote sensing; aquatic toxicology; population dynamics and demographic modeling; and landscape and ecosystems ecology. A major strength of our program is the unique convergence of Universities, federal and state agencies in Amherst, unmatched in the Northeast. A series of cooperative agreements, memoranda of research understanding and sole-source vendor relationships with state and federal agencies provide a strong base of research funding. These agreements also provide important teaching and research relationships between our program and state and federal natural resource agencies. Wildlife research focuses on wetlands, biodiversity, animal habitat associations, landscape and systems ecology, remote sensing, human-wildlife conflicts, forest-wildlife relationships, and international conservation. Fisheries research focuses on marine, estuarine, and inland resources and specifically on population dynamics, relationship of ecosystem structure and production, the effect of organic and inorganic contamination on aquatic ecosystem function, and anadromous fish behavior, ecology and physiology. There are approximately 70 graduate students in the Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology Concentration. Through their research projects, graduate students often employ or provide volunteer opportunities for interested undergraduates (about 150 in the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation concentration within the Natural Resources Conservation major). Graduate students are encouraged to participate in projects and activities of their colleagues to broaden their experience and to provide and receive ideas and suggestions for improvements.
At the MS level, students have the option of pursuing either a professional degree or thesis degree. The thesis/dissertation degree leads to the MS or PhD degree and centers around the completion of a major independent research project in addition to a modest coursework requirement. The professional degree leads to the MS degree and centers around a professional paper based on an internship/practicum in addition to a more substantial coursework requirement. Both degree options provide students a strong foundation in three core topic areas: environmental science (biology, ecology, conservation and environmental building systems), 2) quantitative science (statistics, GIS and modeling), and 3) human dimensions (environmental policies, economics, politics, administration, management and values). The MS thesis degree is intended to prepare students for the option of pursuing a PhD or a career in conservation science. The MS professional degree is meant to be a terminal degree for students seeking graduate-level training in a particular field of study and a career as a professional conservation scientist. Overall, the academic requirements of this concentration in combination with the research/practicum experience provide students the professional training for conservation science positions within academia, state and federal resource management agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and private industry (e.g., environmental consulting firms). In addition, MS thesis degree students completing this program are well prepared to meet the challenges of any PhD program.
The following courses are offered for partial fulfillment of the degree requirements (see below). Note, all courses ending in 90 and 97 have an additional letter designation (e.g., 697A) not specified below because it is subject to change; Please check the SPIRE online and department’s course offering sheet ( https://tinyurl.com/y7pz3uu2 )for the current course number listing.
1. Core Courses for the MS Thesis degree
2. Core Topic Areas for the MS degree
a. Environmental Science
b. Quantitative Science
c. Human Dimensions
Prerequisites.
Candidates for an MS professional degree in this concentration will be admitted on the basis of their academic training, work experience, and letters of recommendation. At a minimum, candidates will be expected to possess a Bachelor’s degree in:
Note, prerequisites exist for many of the required courses. Students are expected to have satisfied these prerequisites prior to commencing the program.
Students in this concentration are expected to meet all the requirements for a MS degree in ECo, as outlined in the student handbook, including the following:
Prerequisites .
Candidates for an MS thesis degree in this concentration will be admitted on the basis of their academic training, work experience, and letters of recommendation. At a minimum, candidates will be expected to possess a Bachelor’s degree in:
MS thesis degree students in this concentration are expected to meet all of the requirements for an MS degree in ECo, as outlined in the student handbook, including the following:
Candidates for a PhD degree in this concentration will be admitted on the basis of their academic training, work experience, and letters of recommendation as evaluated by the faculty sponsor. At a minimum, candidates will be expected to possess:
*Note, students wishing to pursue a PhD with only a BS degree can choose to obtain a MS degree on the way to completion of Ph.D. degree requirements. MS is not a requirement.
Students in this concentration are expected to meet all of the requirements for a PhD degree in ECo, as outlined in the student handbook, including the following:
Two University forests (totaling 2,000 acres), the 800-acre Swift River Wildlife Management Area of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the 81,000-acre Quabbin Reservation of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation offer unique field study areas close to campus. The University of Massachusetts also maintains the Nantucket Field Station and the Marine Station at Gloucester. The Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center in Turners Falls offers excellent, modern facilities for both lab and field study of migratory fish behavior, ecology and physiology. Cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service allows graduate students to participate in research cruises in the Northwest Atlantic, as well as use facilities at the NMFS Woods Hole Laboratory. As members of the Five College School of Marine Science Program, students have access to research laboratories at Woods Hole and Waquoit Bay on Cape Cod. Further, concentration faculty conduct research in a variety of sites outside Massachusetts, including overseas.
This program typically takes a full-time MS professional degree student 2-4 semesters to complete, a full-time MS thesis degree student 3-5 semesters to complete, and a full-time PhD student 8-10 semesters to complete, including the completion of a practicum/thesis/dissertation. However, some students may be able to complete the degree in less time and some take longer depending on their academic preparedness and the dictates of the practicum or thesis/dissertation research project.
Funding opportunities are limited, yet financial assistance is provided to our MS thesis and PhD students through teaching or research assistantships (at Graduate Employee Organization bargained wage rates), University fellowships, or hourly wages. Tuition is waived during semesters in which at least a 10-hour assistantship or fellowship is awarded, but the student is responsible for most fees. Research assistantships are available through faculty members who have grant-supported research, and many faculty only accept students if they are able to provide grant-supported assistantships. Limited University and Departmental fellowships are awarded by the Graduate School or ECo Graduate Program in open competition.
Funding opportunities are more limited for students in the MS professional degree option. Some teaching assistantships and University fellowships may be available, or internship institutions may be able to provide some assistance, but most professional degree students are self-funded. Again, tuition is waived during semesters in which at least a 10-hour assistantship or fellowship is awarded (or the equivalent from an internship employer), but the student is responsible for most fees.
The following on-campus faculty (both regular and adjuncts) and professional staff, including the Graduate Concentration Coordinator, are principally affiliated with this concentration and regularly serve in the role of the student’s advisory committee chair or member and instructor for core courses; other faculty and staff are occasionally involved in this concentration. See Departmental website for information about the faculty and staff ( http://eco.umass.edu/index.php/people/ ).
Graduate Concentration Coordinator:
Timothy Randhir Dept. of Environmental Conservation 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst, MA 01003-4210 Tel: 413-545-3969 Email: [email protected]
Principal Faculty Affiliates:
University of Massachusetts 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst, MA 01003-9285 Map
1 (413) 545-2665
Computational biology and bioinformatics (CB&B) is a rapidly developing multidisciplinary field. The systematic acquisition of data made possible by genomics and proteomics technologies has created a tremendous gap between available data and their biological interpretation. Given the rate of data generation, it is well recognized that this gap will not be closed with direct individual experimentation. Computational and theoretical approaches to understanding biological systems provide an essential vehicle to help close this gap. These activities include computational modeling of biological processes, computational management of large-scale projects, database development and data mining, algorithm development, and high-performance computing, as well as statistical and mathematical analyses.
Cynthia Brandt
Director of Graduate Studies
Robin Einbinder
Departmental Registrar
Standardized testing requirements.
GRE is not accepted.
TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English. BBS requires a score of at least 600 on the paper version, 250 on the computer-based exam, and 100 on the internet-based exam. Please take the test no later than November and no earlier than 24 months prior to submitting your application. Use institution code 3987 when reporting your scores; you may enter any department code.
You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.
The terminal Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Master’s program is intended for students interested in biomedical informatics training offered through a new academic unit at Yale the called the Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science. Those with questions about the Master’s degree may contact the Master's program coordinator ( [email protected] ) or the CBB registrar ( [email protected] ).
Program Advising Guidelines
GSAS Advising Guidelines
Academic calendar.
The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.
Featured Resource
https://registration.yale.edu/
Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.
Master's funding.
While Master's programs are not generally funded, there are resources available to students to help navigate financial responsibilities during graduate school.
Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.
July 09, 2024 Written by Nya Wynn | Photos by Jeremy Wayman
When Joe Patria first came to UD for his Ph.D. in molecular biology, he never thought he would end up doing research involving chickens. But, when he came across Mark Parcells , professor of molecular virology, and his lab, Patria ended up doing just that.
His main interests were molecular and cell biology — how changes within them affect the overall physiology of an entire system.
“Those contributions of everything that goes on down on a molecular level,” said Patria, who was named a Hiram Lasher Fellow. “When I met Prof. Parcells and did a rotation in his lab, I saw how it all came together by studying viruses and pathogens and how they kind of affect those pathways to cause systemic disease.”
As a molecular biology student doing research in CANR, Patria researches the mechanisms behind Marek’s disease virus. For his work in the field, Patria won top research poster at a graduate symposium at the Wistar Institute this past February.
Marek’s disease virus primarily causes cancer in immune cells, which usually results in fatality in chickens. It is highly contagious and transmissive, so it poses a large threat to the poultry industry.
“With Marek’s, you put it into chickens, and if they're not vaccinated, like 95 percent of them will die of cancer within four to six weeks, so it’s an incredibly penetrant virus,” Parcells said. “Every chicken that is exposed to Marek’s in the field, carries that virus for their entire life, just like if you got chickenpox as a kid, you have that virus for your whole life.”
To combat this extremely infectious virus, scientists developed an effective vaccine to protect chickens against it; however, the virus has evolved.
“Over the course of several decades, Marek’s disease virus has shown to break through the protection afforded by those vaccines,” Patria said. “So that is the focus of my work, and studying how the virus actually overcomes the protection from these vaccines.”
As the viruses evolve to evade vaccines, they also evolve with their hosts and learn to target areas that would be most detrimental to the host, such as DNA repair and damage response.
“By studying how viruses evolve, to evade the host immune responses and overcome protection from vaccines, it gives us a better understanding of how we can develop improved vaccines to target those pathways that the viruses have evolved to be dependent on,” Patria said.
Not only can Patria’s work impact the poultry industry, there is also an application to human health. Patria explained that Marek’s disease virus causes cancer of the lymphocytes, which can be compared to Hodgkins and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects humans.
“There are a lot of parallels between chickens and humans, which you might not expect. On the basis of immunology, we are very similar,” Patria explained. “There’s some parallels there.”
According to Parcells, more than 95 percent of all humans are positive for Epstein Barr virus, another herpes virus like Marek’s disease virus.
“When that goes latent, which it does, a small percentage of people within 20 years develop Hodgkin's lymphoma or another type of cancer associated with that virus,” Parcells said. “It’s not a high frequency, and you can’t really study it in humans.”
This is where our similarities with chickens really come into play.
“Because Marek’s disease virus’ natural host is a chicken, we’re able to study it in its natural reservoir host, which is a unique thing that you can't really do with other viruses,” Patria said. “Especially for viruses that infect humans.”
“It's a way in which you can kind of study these different interactions with the virus in the context of something where it normally causes cancer,” Parcells added. “That may inform how things are working with the development in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
Patria continues to work alongside Parcells, other graduate students, and undergraduate students in the Parcells Lab to make more discoveries in the field of molecular biology and with Marek’s disease virus specifically.
In addition to his own development as a researcher, Patria values his opportunities to work with other graduate students and mentor UD undergraduates.
“I hold the worth of science advocacy in high regard,” Patria said. “It was great to see that their contribution to this work has made an impact.”
Ud’s non-thesis master’s in animal science prepares alena brown for a career in animal care, hands-on veterinary experience.
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
531 South College Avenue Newark, DE 19716 (302) 831-2501
July 8, 2024
By Kendall Daniels
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the maternally-inherited UBE3A gene and characterized by poor muscle control, limited speech, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities. Though there isn’t a cure for the condition, new research at the UNC School of Medicine is setting the stage for one.
Ben Philpot, PhD , the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine and associate director of the UNC Neuroscience Center , and his lab have identified a small molecule that could be safe, non-invasively delivered, and capable of “turning on” the dormant paternally-inherited UBE3A gene copy brain-wide, which would lead to proper protein and cell function, amounting to a kind of gene therapy for individuals with Angelman syndrome.
“This compound we identified has shown to have excellent uptake in the developing brains of animal models,” said Philpot, who is a leading expert on Angelman syndrome and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We still have a lot of work to do before we could start a clinical trial, but this small molecule provides an excellent starting point for developing a safe and effective treatment for Angelman syndrome.”
But these results, which were published in Nature Communications , mark a major milestone in the field, according to Mark Zylka, PhD , the W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine and Director of the UNC Neuroscience Center. No other small molecule compound has yet to show such promise for Angelman, he added.
Unlike other single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia, Angelman syndrome has a unique genetic profile. Researchers have found that children with the conditions are missing the maternally-inherited copy of the UBE3A gene, while the paternally-inherited copy of the UBE3A gene remains dormant in neurons, as it does in neurotypical individuals. Typically, UBE3A helps regulate the levels of important proteins; missing a working copy leads to severe disruptions in brain development.
For reasons that aren’t fully clear, the paternal copy of UBE3A is normally “turned off” in neurons throughout the entire brain. Thus, when the maternal copy of the UBE3A gene is mutated, this leads to a loss of UBE3A protein in the brain. Philpot and other researchers have theorized that turning on the paternal copy of UBE3A could help treat the condition.
Hanna Vihma, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Philpot lab and first author on the study, and colleagues screened more than 2,800 small molecules from a Pfizer chemogenetic library to determine if one could potently turn on paternal UBE3A in mouse models with Angelman syndrome.
Researchers genetically modified mouse neural cells with a fluorescent protein that glows when the paternal UBE3A gene is turned on. After treating the neurons with more than 2,800 small molecules for 72 hours, researchers compared their thousands of treated cells against those treated with topotecan, a known small molecule that can turn on paternal UBE3A but lacked therapeutic value in animal models of the condition .
( S )-PHA533533, a compound that was previously developed as an anti-tumor agent, caused neurons to express a fluorescent glow that rivaled that induced by topotecan, meaning that its effect was potent enough to successfully turn on paternal UBE3A . Researchers were able to confirm the same results using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from humans with Angelman syndrome, indicating that this compound has clinical potential.
Additionally, researchers observed that ( S )-PHA533533 has excellent bioavailability in the developing brain, meaning it travels to its target with ease and sticks around. This is notable in that previous genetic therapies for Angelman syndrome have had more limited bioavailability.
“We previously showed that topotecan, a topoisomerase inhibitor, had very poor bioavailability in mouse models,” said Vihma. “We were able to show that ( S )-PHA533533 had better uptake and that the same small molecule could be translated in human-derived neural cells, which is a huge finding. It means it, or a similar compound, has true potential as a treatment for children.”
Although ( S )-PHA533533 shows promise, researchers are still working to identify the precise target inside cells that causes the desired effects of the drug. Philpot and colleagues also need to conduct further studies to refine the medicinal chemistry of the drug to ensure that the compound – or another version of it – is safe and effective for future use in the clinical setting.
“This is unlikely to be the exact compound we would take forward to the clinic,” said Philpot. Along with medicinal chemists in the lab of Jeff Aubé, PhD , the Philpot lab is working to identify similar molecules with improved drug properties and safety profiles. “However, this gives us a compound that we can work with to create an even better compound that could be moved forward to the clinic.”
This work was supported by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Simons Foundation, a sponsored research agreement between the University of North Carolina and Pfizer (to BDP), and Pinnacle Hill, LLC, a portfolio company of certain funds managed by Deerfield Management Company, L.P (to BDP).
Media contact: Kendall Daniels , Communications Specialist, UNC Health | UNC School of Medicine
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Students are strongly encouraged to sign-up for direct deposit of their stipend and salary online via AXESS.
Students must register in exactly 10 units (or 0 units of BIO 802 if in TGR status) in Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer quarters. In many quarters, students will enroll in 10 units of research (typically BIO 300 or BIOHOPK 300H) with their advisor.
Stipend Distribution
As long as students have enrolled in the required number of units by the published deadline, fellowship stipends are available the first day of each quarter. If the enrollment deadline is missed, stipends are disbursed a few business days after the student eventually meets the enrollment requirements.
Mandatory charges on the student bill, including rent for on campus housing, will be deducted from the stipend before it is issued. No taxes are withheld, but stipends are reportable and taxable income. (Fellowship tuition and tuition allowance are not taxable in most cases.)
Students with assistantships are paid their salaries through bi-monthly (i.e., twice monthly) pay checks from the Stanford Payroll Office. The normal pay days are the 7th and the 22nd of every month. Student assistantship salary is taxable income, and applicable taxes and deductions will be withheld in accordance with the W-4 Tax Data form completed by each student. This form and other payroll forms will be provided to new students during the orientation in Autumn Quarter.
Pay Periods
Pay periods within each quarter are based on a calendar year, not the academic year. Pay cycles run two weeks behind the actual pay date, thus a student's first Autumn Quarter pay check is issued on October 22 (for work completed during the pay period of October 1st to the 15th). Students are paid every 7th and 22nd of the month thereafter.
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Why Study Biology in United States. Studying Biology in United States is a great choice, as there are 106 universities that offer PhD degrees on our portal. Over 957,000 international students choose United States for their studies, which suggests you'll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends from all over ...
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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.
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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 ...
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Seven Biology PhD Students offered NSF GRFP Awards. June 06, 2024. Songtao Jia Interviewed by Columbia News. June 04, 2024. ... (212) 854-4581 . Contact Us [email protected] Follow Us Twitter. Columbia University ©2024 Columbia University Accessibility Nondiscrimination Careers Built using Columbia Sites. Back to Top
Joe Patria, a molecular biology Ph.D. student at UD, unexpectedly pursued poultry research under Professor Mark Parcells, focusing on Marek's disease virus (MDV). He is exploring the molecular virology of MDV and its evolution to become more virulent over time. His work has implications for both poultry and human health, as the virus causes a lymphoma that is similar to some human lymphomas.
Researchers in the lab of Ben Philpot, PhD, the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine and associate director of the UNC Neuroscience Center, have identified a small molecule that could lead to a safe and effective treatment for the neurodevelopmental condition known as Angelman syndrome.
Students with assistantships are paid their salaries through bi-monthly (i.e., twice monthly) pay checks from the Stanford Payroll Office. The normal pay days are the 7th and the 22nd of every month. Student assistantship salary is taxable income, and applicable taxes and deductions will be withheld in accordance with the W-4 Tax Data form ...