Doctor of Philosophy in Biology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Biology curriculum spans the spectrum of subdisciplines of the biological sciences. The program is grounded in coursework involving current biological concepts and culminates in the defense of a dissertation describing novel and quality research conducted independently by the student. PhD graduates in Biology are highly competitive for positions in academic settings, industry, and international research facilities.

The PhD program in Biology offers students two distinct degree tracks that allow students to obtain broad, foundational training in modern biology while also affording a focused, specialized research experience: (1) Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEO) and (2) Cell, Molecular, Health, and Disease Biology (CMHD).

EEO students typically identify a faculty mentor prior to or during the application process based on their personal research interests. CMHD students may apply to work with a specific faculty mentor, but all students participate in lab rotations during the first year before matching with a mentor’s lab.

Please review the interactive document below for a summary of the program, our faculty, research, and facilities. For more specific information, refer to the current Biology Graduate Handbook for important information on additional requirements related to teaching, seminar requirements, comprehensive oral exam, and grades. Finally, please see details about the admissions process.