Biology

The PhD in Biology is a research-intensive program and also has a strong focus on teaching. The program's primary goal is to develop independent and creative research scientists, which is accomplished through research training, graduate-level courses, seminars, and teaching experience. Your advisory committee of three faculty members will work with you to plan a program of study based on your experience, interests and goals.

Because our program is very individualized, we encourage interested students to look over faculty research areas and email a potential supervisor for information before the application deadline. An effective email is a brief summary of your background and interests and how they fit with the research in a specific lab group. All admissions decisions are made by the Biology Department Graduate Admissions Committee, only after receipt of a full application through this website.

Program Outcomes

As a student in the program, you'll receive extensive training in pedagogy, outreach, and communication that will prepare you for careers in academia, biotechnology, education, and policy. Graduate students serve as teaching assistants in undergraduate courses and 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. During the first year, you'll also 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 your PhD thesis, and it also sets the stage for cross-disciplinary approaches to the thesis topic.

Graduates of the PhD in Biology become top research scientists and educators equipped with a broad base of knowledge to tackle the most important biological problems of today.