The PhD in Biology is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge of research in the areas of cell/molecular/biochemistry, ecology /evolution, or computational biology.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants are expected to have an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in biology from an accredited institution. Candidates with other appropriate backgrounds will be considered.

In addition to the application form, three letters of recommendation, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test scores are required for admission. GRE scores of 50 percentile or better on each of the general examinations are required. The subject test in Biology is recommended. All applicants whose primary language is not English are required to submit their scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Bridge Program: To ensure academic success in their graduate studies, students may be required to take additional undergraduate or graduate courses before beginning graduate curricula. Such courses are not counted toward degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

The doctoral curriculum in biology is divided into three tracks. Students may select the cell/molecular/biochemical, the ecology/evolution or computational biology track. Each track has a set of required courses that provide a formal foundation in research fields covered in each track.

Students must earn at least a grade of B in order to receive credit for these courses. The remainder of the course work is chosen in consultation between the student and the advisor and the Standards Committee with permission of the graduate program director. During the first year all doctoral students undertake rotations through at least two departmental research laboratories.

Required

• 36 credits of course work, including three core courses
• 36 credits minimum of doctoral dissertation research

Core Courses

Computational Biology Track (9 credits):

• BIOL 601 Foundations of Computational Biology
• 6 credits   Graduate level Biology courses pertinent to field of specialization

Cell/Molecular/Biochemical Track (9 credits):

• 26:120:515   Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes
• 26:120:524   Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology
• 26:120:571   Biochemistry

Ecology/Evolution Track (9 credits):
3 credits from:

• 16:120:565   Community Dynamics
• 26:120:586   Landscape Ecology
• 26:120:587   Systems Ecology: Ecosystems in the Landscape

3 credits from:    

• 16:215:533   The Behavior of Animal Populations
• 16:215:590   Population Ecology
• 26:120:593   Physiological Ecology

3 credits from:

• 26:120:503   Plant Morphology
• 26:120:532   Evolution
• 26:120:594   Systematics

Qualifying Examination:  At the completion of the core course requirements and of 6 credits of successful laboratory rotations, the student takes the qualifying examination. The examination consists of a written and oral examination in the cell/molecular/biochemical track; and a written review paper, an oral presentation, and an oral examination in the ecology/evolution track.

Formation of Dissertation Committee: After successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student chooses an advisor, begins research for the dissertation, and forms a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee for all students is composed of the student’s thesis advisor, and at least three other members of the graduate faculty. One member must be from outside the program. The dissertation committee administers at least one dissertation prospectus meeting and the final defense of the dissertation. In addition, the dissertation committee may meet with the student once every six months to assess the student’s progress.