phd in biology

Biology, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Biology

The PhD program in biology offers individualized courses of study tailored to students' interests that include laboratory, field and theoretical work. Flexibility in the program is achieved by requiring only one core class, which is a choice between two topics that cover the breadth of the research directions in this program.

Electives are also as flexible as possible and include areas outside of biology. The major goal is to provide students with the opportunity to create an adaptable and general degree program that allows both traditional and interdisciplinary approaches in any area of biology.

Program Faculty   PhD Students

• BIO 792 Research
• BIO 514 Statistical Models for Biology
• BIO 522 Populations: Evolutionary Ecology
• BIO 507 Advanced Evolutionary Medicine
• BIO 521 Landscape Ecology
• BIO 530 Scientific Teaching (required in first semester for students that will TA at any point in degree)
• BIO 533 K-12 STEM Education & Outreach
• BIO 539 Computing for Research
• BIO 541 SOLS Seminar Series
• BIO 542 SOLS Current Topics in the Life Sciences
• BIO 591 Society and Natural Resource Management
• BIO 591 Social-Ecological Systems & Adaptation
• BIO 591 Drylands in a Changing Earth
• BIO 591 Population Genetic Reading Group
• BIO 591 Communication for Scientists
• BIO 591 Genetics and Genomics of Behavior
• BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing
• EVO 501 Current Topics in Evolutionary Biology
• EVO 601 Principles of Evolution
• EVO 610 Research Areas of Evolution

Application and admission information

How to apply.

Applications open September 1 for admission in Fall of the following year. The application deadline is December 1 . We accept applications for Fall semesters only. We cannot guarantee that applications received after the December 1 deadline will be considered for admission.

All applicants must apply by filling out ASU's Graduate Admissions application. All application materials must be submitted through the application or to Graduate Admissions directly. Please do not mail or email any documents to the School of Life Sciences. 

Required materials and information include the following:

• 1-2 page personal statement
• An up to date CV or resume
• The names of relevant SOLS faculty you have been in touch with who you might be interested in being supervised by
• Unofficial transcripts and English proficiency test scores (if applicable)
• The names and emails of at least 3 recommenders to write you letters of recommendation

Application review process and timeline

Following the December 1 deadline, faculty will begin reviewing applications. Applicants should monitor their My ASU priority tasks to ensure there are no missing materials in their application.

Faculty will decide which applicants they would like to invite to our Graduate Recruitment Weekends (GRWs), typically held in February. Applicants will hear from the School of Life Sciences in January if they are invited to participate in the GRWs.

Admission decisions will begin after the GRWs, and applicants typically receive final decisions by April 1.

Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission include the following:

• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• There are other ways to demonstrate English proficiency beyond the tests, so please refer to ASU's English proficiency webpage to review how you might satisfy requirements

Desired qualifications typically seen in competitive candidates:

• Research experience and a letter of recommendation from a faculty research supervisor
• English proficiency scores that meet these teaching assistant language proficiency requirements

Please note that the GRE is not required.

Students offered admission to a PhD program in the School of Life Sciences will typically receive a funding offer as well. While individual funding offers may differ to some degree, they typically include teaching assistant and/or research assistant positions each semester (summer optional) for 5 years. These positions provide financial coverage through the following:

• A standard salary stipend paid biweekly
• Tuition remission covering enrollment in 6-18 credit hours for fall and spring semesters and 1-14 credit hours for summer semesters
• Health insurance coverage

To discover more, check out the ASU Graduate College's funding opportunities !

Degree Requirements

Curriculum plan options.

• 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (3 or 4 credit hours) BIO 514 Statistical Models for Biology (4) or BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)

Electives (67 or 68 credit hours)

Other Requirements (1 credit hour) BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research in Life Sciences (1)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) BIO 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student. The plan of study is developed by the student and a supervisory committee consisting of a major professor and three additional faculty members. The electives credit hours are comprised of coursework showing breadth in biology subdisciplines, seminars and research.

An oral comprehensive examination is required in order to advance to candidacy, and a formal defense of the final written dissertation is required prior to graduation.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in biology or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants must submit the following:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• academic record form
• personal statement
• curriculum vitae or resume
• three letters of recommendation
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Research experience is desired for entry into this program.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, learning outcomes.

• Able to communicate the findings and originality of their research, both orally and in writing.
• Able to perform research that they have designed to address important and challenging questions in the field of biology.
• Able to review scholarly literature as they develop specialized expertise in their selected research area.

Career Opportunities

Those who have earned a doctorate in biology are prepared for academic careers at every level, from community colleges to research universities. Their skills and knowledge are also valuable for government careers with federal and state agencies responsible for wildlife management and conservation, and for careers in industry and nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

• food, agriculture and health care scientists in academic, private and industrial labs
• principal investigators in government labs and nonprofit organizations
• professors or instructors in universities and colleges
• science teachers in elementary and high schools
• wildlife, animal and conservation scientists

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-1768

Ph.D. Program in Biology

Our graduate program provides students of diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to intensely engage in research in the biological sciences and contribute to the broader scientific community.

Average time to degree: 5.3 years

Percentage of graduates in post-doctoral or permanent positions: 94%

Average publications after completion of program: 3.8 per person

Ph.D. Program

The Department of Biology introduces graduate students to diverse fields of biological science, and provides them with expert guidance to excel in research. The department is invested in training students to become excellent scientists, researchers, science communicators, and instructors. We are a diverse and global community, committed to expanding scientific career opportunities to all. Some of our graduates become academics, whereas others find careers in government, private industry, public policy, or elsewhere (see where recent graduates are now). The ability to communicate ideas and research results clearly and convincingly is key to success in any career.

Experience Biology at Georgetown University

Professors and current students share their perspectives on Georgetown’s cutting-edge biology graduate program.

Potential applicants are urged to identify and contact potential research mentors directly before applying. Please refer to the research page and the list of faculty interested in accepting students . Not all laboratories will have open positions available for a new graduate student in a given year.

Financial Assistance for PhD Students

    students who are accepted into the phd program in biology are guaranteed a minimum of five years of full funding. this funding includes:.

Stipend The stipend for PhD students in Biology is set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Georgetown University and the Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees ( GAGE ). The current stipend rate is $36,934 for the year. The stipend is paid on a 12-month contract, typically in 26 biweekly paychecks.

Tuition Waiver The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) provides full tuition waivers for all PhD students for the duration of the PhD program.

Health Insurance Health insurance is required. The GSAS provides free student health insurance to all students. The insurance covers doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs. Students may waive this benefit if they prefer a different plan through parents or a spouse.

Dental Insurance The GSAS provides free dental insurance to all students. The insurance covers routine dental care, such as cleanings and exams.

Yates Athletic Facility All students are eligible to use the Yates athletic facility for free. The facility has a gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes.

Parental Leave Graduate student workers are guaranteed six weeks of paid parental leave. This leave can be used to bond with a new child or to care for a sick child.

Medical Leave Graduate student workers are guaranteed six weeks of paid medical leave. This leave can be used to recover from a medical condition or to care for a sick family member.

To learn more about financial assistance for PhD students, please visit the Graduate Funding page. You can read more about what it means to do a PhD in a union-protected graduate program  here

Student Quotes

“Until you start your journey in grad school you might not know what you are missing out on. Other than the course work, grad school has been instrumental in  inculcating important life values and skills such as confidence, time management, survival, and holding personal and professional relationships in higher esteem. ”

“Studying at Georgetown has enabled me to be a lot more confident in my ability to ask questions and chart my own path in scientific research. My advisor and mentors here at Georgetown have been top quality in terms of both academic and personal support”

“Georgetown is a place with an environment conducive to learning and professional growth for prospective scientists working towards their graduate degrees and beyond. In this program, I found mentorship and training that foster the critical thinking required to answer the questions I am interested in. I found the multidisciplinary nature of the graduate student body to be engaging and supportive from the beginning of my journey.”

“The breadth of research that goes on in the Bio department really facilitates a broad understanding of biology from the life of single cells to the life of much larger organisms. It really is something unique that you don’t get at other more specific departments and has really helped me think outside of the box with my own work.”

Graduate Research Opportunities

Learn about the research programs that the department of Biology offers and find out which programs are recruiting graduate students.

Graduate Teaching Opportunities

Find out about the many opportunities that are offered to graduate students to develop teaching and mentoring skills.

Graduate Funding Opportunities

Learn about stipend funding and the additional funds from the GU Graduate School offered to help support graduate dissertation research or travel to meetings.

PhD in Biology

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

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

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

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

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

Research Concentrations

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

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

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

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

Secondary Menu

Doctoral degree requirements, general philosophy of the ph.d.  program.

Biology is the most diverse of all the disciplines in the natural sciences. Consequently, the allied fields to which the various subdisciplines in Biology share natural affinities differ. For example, molecular biology makes connections with physical chemistry, biomechanics with engineering and physics, and ecology and evolutionary biology with statistics, mathematics, geology, and atmospheric sciences. The goal of the Biology Doctoral Program is to train young scientists who:

• excel at research and teaching in their own subdisciplines;
• demonstrate competence in fields allied to their subdisciplines; and
• display a breadth of knowledge in Biology as a whole. 

Trajectory through the program

• At the beginning of your Ph.D.: you will be assigned a temporary advisor (typically the sponsor of your admission).
• Before registering for the first semester: discuss with your advisor which courses you should take. As a first-year student, you are encouraged to interact with other faculty in your research area to ask them about courses you should take before the preliminary exam—these faculty may very well become members of your Ph.D. committee.

The philosophy of the department is that you need not spend a great deal of time in coursework.  You should take only the courses that fill gaps in areas that will be needed in your research, and spend most of your time starting your research.

• During the first three semesters: take up to three tutorials with different faculty members in the department. The tutorial requirement is waived as soon as you declare an advisor. Tutorials may involve laboratory work, directed reading in the primary literature, greenhouse or field studies, mathematical or computer modeling, or any other activity that would assist you in identifying a suitable dissertation topic. Other goals of the tutorials are to expose students to the diversity of faculty research interests in their specialty and to help them to identify an appropriate advisor and dissertation committee. 
• By the end of the 3 rd semester, you must choose an advisor and the advisor must convene an initial meeting of the dissertation committee. Dissertation committees will consist of at least four faculty members, one of which will represent your minor (see below). The goals of the initial meeting are to assess the novelty and feasibility of your proposed dissertation topic, to ascertain whether you need to take any additional courses to demonstrate preparedness for the preliminary exam, and to decide the format of the written dissertation proposal (see below).  If you fail to meet with your committee before the end of the 3rd semester, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will notify you in writing, and will discuss with you and your advisor ways to resolve any difficulties. 
• Preferably by the end of the 4 th semester, but certainly by the end of the 6 th semester, you must pass an oral preliminary examination to establish candidacy for the Ph.D. One week prior to the exam, you must present a written essay describing your proposed dissertation research to your committee. The exam itself will cover the specific research areas addressed in your proposal, but will also test your depth of knowledge in your area of specialty and your breadth of knowledge in Biology as a whole.
• When the dissertation research is completed, you will present the written dissertation to your committee two weeks prior to the dissertation defense (the dissertation also has to be submitted to the Grad School two weeks before the defense). You are also required to present your results in a seminar. You are expected to complete the degree requirements as soon as possible, but students making progress toward their degree will be considered to be in good standing through the 12 th semester. 

You are required to declare a minor at the time of the initial meeting with your dissertation committee. At least one member of the dissertation committee must represent the minor field, and will be charged with assessing your knowledge in the minor during the preliminary exam.  The goal of the minor is to ensure that you acquire a breadth of knowledge beyond your immediate specialty, either in a different area of Biology or in an allied field. Dissertation committees have the freedom to determine the specific nature of the minor, to tailor it to your needs, but minors are subject to approval by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Affairs Committee.

The minor may:

• lie entirely outside Biology (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences, Geology);
• require the student to acquire knowledge about a group of organisms that differs from those on which the student’s dissertation research focuses; or
• represent a biological subdiscipline that is distinct from the student’s own subdiscipline.  For example, a student whose advisor is in the Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology sub-department might choose Developmental, Cellular, and Molecular Biology (DCMB) as a minor, with appropriate representation by a DCMB faculty member on the preliminary exam and dissertation committees. A student in ecology might choose evolutionary biology as a minor.

Scholarly productivity

To become recognized as independent scientists and to have an impact on their fields, graduate students must communicate their findings to their colleagues. Therefore, all students are strongly encouraged to begin submitting the results of their research to refereed journals as soon as possible (ideally well before the dissertation is completed). In order to give their committee members an opportunity to comment on them, manuscripts that are intended to be included in the dissertation will be given to all committee members at least two weeks prior to submission. You should submit copies of papers accepted for publication to the Director of Graduate Studies, to be included your file. 

You will be required to serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters. Teaching is not simply a mechanism to provide financial support to graduate students. Rather, it is an integral part of your professional development as both an educator and a researcher.

Annual evaluation of student progress

• After your 1 st year you will meet with your committee annually.
• In your 2 nd year, your first committee meeting serves as the annual committee meeting.
• In your 3 rd year, your Preliminary Exam will serve this purpose if you take it in the Fall.

You MUST have an annual progress meeting with your committee each Fall, UNLESS:

• you are in your 1 st or 2 nd year;
• you are in your 3 rd year and are taking your prelim this Fall (not Spring, and not in your 2 nd year); or
• you are defending your dissertation this year.
• Prior to November 15, you are expected to present to your committee a written report on the progress made over the previous year, and on any difficulties encountered, as well as a plan for completing the dissertation.
• Before the end of the final exam period in December, your advisor will then convene a meeting of the committee to discuss the progress report with you.
• By January 1, your advisor must send a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies summarizing this discussion, providing the committee’s evaluation of your progress, and recommending whether you should receive continued financial support from the department. The progress report you submitted to your committee should be attached to this letter. All faculty members not on your committee will also be able to submit to the Director of Graduate Studies any written commentary on the student’s performance (e.g., as a student or teaching assistant in a course taught by that faculty member).  
• After January 1, the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the Graduate Affairs Committee as needed, will review the written materials to determine whether you shall be granted departmental support for the following academic year. You will receive a letter from the DGS if any remedial measures need to be taken. Your written progress report, your advisor’s letter to the DGS, any letters from faculty not on your committee, and any letters from the DGS will be placed in your folder as a record of your annual progress and evaluation. 

Committee Meetings, Exams, and Defenses during Summer

Scheduling committee meetings, preliminary exams, and dissertation defenses during the summer is strongly discouraged, because faculty members typically have research or other travel plans that must take precedence during this time. Summer meetings, exams, and defenses can only be scheduled by agreement of all members of the committee. In accordance with Graduate School regulations, such meetings can only be held while the summer semester is actually in session, and the student must be registered for the summer semester.

Note: A downloadable version of the information above is available:

• Duke Biology’s Mission Statement
• AJED Annual and Semester Reports
• AJED Meeting Notes
• Biology Cultural Association (BCA)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee (IDEA)
• Learning from Baboons: Dr. Susan Alberts
• Extremophiles and Systems Biology: Dr. Amy Schmid
• How Cells Manage Stress: Dr. Gustavo Silva
• Predator-Prey Interactions in a Changing World: Dr. Jean Philippe Gibert
• Exploring the Extracellular Matrix: Dr. David Sherwood
• Cell Division's Missing Link: Dr. Masayuki Onishi
• Listening in to Birdsong: Dr. Steve Nowicki
• Biogeochemistry as Ecosystem Accounting: Dr. Emily Bernhardt
• Building a Dynamic Nervous System: Dr. Pelin Volkan
• Investigating a Key Plant Hormone: Dr. Lucia Strader
• Imagining Visual Ecology: Dr. Sönke Johnsen
• Outreach Opportunities Across the Triangle
• Job Opportunities
• Location & Contact
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learning Outcomes
• Major Requirements
• Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics
• Animal Behavior
• Biochemistry
• Cell & Molecular Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Marine Biology
• Neurobiology
• Pharmacology
• Plant Biology
• Minor Requirements
• Biology IDM
• List of Biology Advisors
• Guide for First-Year Students
• Transfer Credit
• Application & Deadlines
• Supervisor & Faculty Reader
• Thesis Guidelines
• Honors Poster
• Past Student Projects
• Study Away Opportunities
• Finding a Research Mentor
• Project Guidelines
• Getting Registered
• Writing Intensive Study
• Independent Study Abroad
• Summer Opportunities
• Departmental Awards
• Biology Majors Union
• Commencement 2024
• Trinity Ambassadors
• Degree Programs
• Ph.D. Requirements
• How to Apply
• Financial Aid
• Living in Durham
• Where Our Students Go
• Milestones Toward Ph.D.
• Graduate School Fellowships
• Useful Resources
• Concurrent Biology Master of Science
• En Route Biology Masters of Science
• Form Library
• Mentorship Expectations
• On Campus Resources
• Fellowships & Jobs
• Meet Our Postdocs
• Department Research Areas
• Research Facilities
• Duke Postdoctoral Association
• All Courses
• Biological Structure & Function Courses
• Ecology Courses
• Organismal Diversity Courses
• Alternate Elective Courses
• Primary Faculty
• Secondary Faculty
• Graduate Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty
• Graduate Students
• Department Staff
• Faculty Research Labs
• Developmental Biology
• Ecology & Population Biology
• Neuroscience
• Organismal Biology & Behavior
• Systematics
• Research Articles & Papers
• Botany Plot
• Field Station
• Pest Management Protocols
• Research Greenhouses
• Centers/Research Groups
• Biology Writes
• Alumni Profiles
• For Current Students
• Assisting Duke Students

Boston University Academics

Boston University

• Campus Life
• Schools & Colleges
• Degree Programs
• Search Academics
• PhD in Biology

The goal of the Biology Department is to train students at the highest level in one of three broad subfields within modern biology: Cell & Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, and Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology. Upon completion of the PhD, students should be prepared for postgraduate training and to eventually assume teaching and/or research positions in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit agencies. The PhD is a research degree and normally necessitates at least five years of academic study, including summer work.

Applicants to the PhD program must have completed a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. We favor applicants with both strong academic records and a demonstrated aptitude for research.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate academic mastery in one of three areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.
• 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; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.
• Attain teaching experience and expertise in one of three broad areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.
• Attain the skills and qualifications needed for employment in an academic, government, or private sector position related to the life sciences.

Course Requirements

Students must complete 64 units with a minimum grade point average of 3.0; at least 32 of these units must be accrued from lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course units. See the GRS Transfer of Units policy for more details.

• 2 terms of Progress in Research Seminars (1–2 units each, select from CAS BI 583, BI 584, BI 579, BI 580, NE 500, NE 501)
• 1 term grant-writing course (2 units, usually CAS BI 581 or BI 671)
• 1 term pedagogy course (1 unit, BI 697)
• 1 quantitative course (3–4 units, selected from a list of courses)
• Additional courses vary by specific track and student interests

Cell & Molecular Biology

• CAS BI 735 Advanced Cell Biology
• CAS BI 753 Advanced Molecular Biology
• CAS MB 721 Graduate Biochemistry
• Three electives
• Research units

Neurobiology

• CAS BI 755 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
• CAS BI 756 Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience or BI 741 Neural Systems: Functional Circuit Analysis
• Four electives

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology

• Six electives

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for this degree.

Qualifying Examination

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

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

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

Teaching Requirement

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

MS for PhD Students (Two Options)

Option one: A PhD student who has advanced to candidacy (as demonstrated by passing the PhD qualifying exam) and has completed 32 units of graduate-level coursework (not including research) may apply to the graduate school for a Master of Science (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 the PhD qualifying examination but has not advanced to candidacy based on a failing grade on the examination may still receive a master’s degree. This student may receive a Coursework MS degree provided they have completed 32 units of coursework (not including research units). 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 an MS degree and approved by a majority of the qualifying exam committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Related Bulletin Pages

• Certificate in Biogeoscience
• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Departments
• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Courses
• Abbreviations and Symbols

Beyond the Bulletin

• Department of Biology
• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Financial Aid
• BA/MA Program
• Master’s Degree Requirements
• PhD Degree Requirements
• African American Studies
• American & New England Studies
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• MS in Biology
• Biostatistics
• Classical Studies
• Cognitive & Neural Systems
• Computer Science
• Creative Writing
• Earth & Environment
• Editorial Studies
• History of Art & Architecture
• Latin American Studies
• Linguistics
• Literary Translation
• Mathematics & Statistics
• Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Pardee School of Global Studies
• Playwriting
• Political Science
• Preservation Studies
• Religious Studies
• Romance Studies
• Sociology & Social Work
• Statistical Practice
• African Studies Certificate
• Asian Studies Certificate
• Advanced Biogeoscience Certificate
• European Studies Certificate
• Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Studies Certificate
• Latin American Studies Certificate
• Linguistics Certificate
• Museum Studies Certificate
• Muslim Studies Certificate
• Teaching Language, Literature & Film Certificate
• Teaching Writing Certificate
• Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Certificate
• Departments
• Research Centers & Institutes

Terms of Use

Note that this information may change at any time. Read the full terms of use .

related websites

Accreditation.

Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

• © Copyright
• Mobile Version

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health and Engineering
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy and Management
• Health, Behavior and Society
• International Health
• Mental Health
• Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Program Finder
• Admissions Services
• Course Directory
• Academic Calendar
• Hybrid Campus
• Lecture Series
• Convocation
• Strategy and Development
• Implementation and Impact
• Integrity and Oversight
• In the School
• In the Field
• In Baltimore
• Resources for Practitioners
• Articles & News Releases
• In The News
• Statements & Announcements
• At a Glance
• Student Life
• Strategic Priorities
• Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity (IDARE)
• What is Public Health?

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Offered By: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Onsite | Full-Time | 5 – 6 years

• MSPH Field Placements
• Master's Essays
• MAS Application Fee Waiver Requirements
• Master of Arts and Master of Science in Public Health (MA/MSPH)
• Master of Arts in Public Health Biology (MAPHB)
• Master of Bioethics (MBE)
• Mission, Vision, and Values
• Student Experience
• Program Outcomes
• For Hopkins Undergraduate Students
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Epidemiology
• Alumni Update
• MHS Combined with a Certificate Program
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Bachelor's/MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research
• MHS HEOR Careers
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Master of Health Science (MHS)
• Concurrent School-Wide Master of Health Science Program in Biostatistics
• Master of Health Science - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Master of Health Science Online (MHS) - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Careers in Health Economics
• Core Competencies
• Meet the Director
• What is Health Economics
• MPH Capstone Schedule
• Concentrations
• Online/Part-Time Format
• Requirements

Tuition and Funding

• Executive Board Faculty
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Biostatistics
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Epidemiology
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Bachelor's/MSPH in Health Policy
• FAQ for MSPH in Health Policy
• Field Placement Experience
• MSPH Capstone
• MSPH Practicum
• Required and Elective Courses
• Student Timeline
• Career Opportunities
• 38-Week Dietetics Practicum
• Completion Requirements
• MSPH/RD Program FAQ
• Program Goals
• Application Fee Waiver Requirements
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Biostatistics
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Epidemiology
• Program Goals and Expectations
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Investigation
• Recent Graduates and Dissertation Titles
• PhD Funding
• PhD TA Requirement
• Recent Dissertation Titles
• JHU-Tsinghua Doctor of Public Health
• Prerequisites
• Concentration in Women’s and Reproductive Health
• Custom Track
• Concentration in Environmental Health
• Concentration in Global Health: Policy and Evaluation
• Concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice
• Concentration in Health Policy and Management
• Concentration in Implementation Science
• Combined Bachelor's / Master's Programs
• Concurrent MHS Option for BSPH Doctoral Students
• Concurrent MSPH Option for JHSPH Doctoral students
• Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MD/PhD)
• Adolescent Health Certificate Program
• Bioethics Certificate Program
• Clinical Trials Certificate Program
• Community- Based Public Health Certificate Program
• Demographic Methods Certificate Program
• Epidemiology for Public Health Professionals Certificate Program
• Evaluation: International Health Programs Certificate Program
• Frequently Asked Questions for Certificate Programs
• Gender and Health Certificate Program
• Gerontology Certificate Program
• Global Digital Health Certificate Program
• Global Health Certificate Program
• Global Health Practice Certificate Program
• Health Communication Certificate Program
• Health Disparities and Health Inequality Certificate Program
• Health Education Certificate Program
• Health Finance and Management Certificate Program
• Health and Human Rights Certificate Program
• Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program
• Humanitarian Health Certificate Program
• Implementation Science and Research Practice Certificate Program
• Injury and Violence Prevention Certificate Program
• International Healthcare Management and Leadership Certificate Program
• Leadership for Public Health and Healthcare Certificate Program
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Public Health Certificate Program
• Maternal and Child Health Certificate Program
• Mental Health Policy, Economics and Services Certificate Program
• Non-Degree Students General Admissions Info
• Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Certificate Program
• Population Health Management Certificate Program
• Population and Health Certificate Program
• Public Health Advocacy Certificate Program
• Public Health Economics Certificate Program
• Public Health Informatics Certificate Program
• Public Health Practice Certificate Program
• Public Health Training Certificate for American Indian Health Professionals
• Public Mental Health Research Certificate Program
• Quality, Patient Safety and Outcomes Research Certificate Program
• Quantitative Methods in Public Health Certificate Program
• Requirements for Successful Completion of a Certificate Program
• Rigor, Reproducibility, and Responsibility in Scientific Practice Certificate Program
• Risk Sciences and Public Policy Certificate Program
• Spatial Analysis for Public Health Certificate Program
• Training Certificate in Public Health
• Tropical Medicine Certificate Program
• Tuition for Certificate Programs
• Vaccine Science and Policy Certificate Program
• Online Student Experience
• MAS and Affiliated Certificate Programs
• Barcelona Information
• Registration, Tuition, and Fees
• Agency Scholarship Application
• General Scholarship Application
• UPF Scholarship Application
• Course Evaluations
• Online Courses
• Registration
• General Institute Tuition Information
• International Students
• Directions to the Bloomberg School
• All Courses
• Important Guidance for ONSITE Students
• D.C. Courses
• Registration and Fees
• Cancellation and Closure Policies
• Application Procedures
• Career Search
• Current Activities
• Current Trainees
• Related Links
• Process for Appointing Postdoctoral Fellows
• Message from the Director
• Program Details
• Admissions FAQ
• Current Residents
• Elective Opportunities for Visiting Trainees
• What is Occupational and Environmental Medicine?
• Admissions Info
• Graduates by Year
• Compensation and Benefits
• How to Apply
• Academic Committee
• Course Details and Registration
• Tuition and Fees
• ONLINE SOCI PROGRAM
• Principal Faculty
• General Application
• JHHS Application
• Our Faculty
• Descripción los Cursos
• Programa en Epidemiología para Gestores de Salud, Basado en Internet
• Consultants
• Britt Dahlberg, PhD
• Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC
• Mark R. Luborsky, PhD
• Marsha Wittink, PhD
• Rebekka Lee, ScD
• Su Yeon Lee-Tauler, PhD
• Theresa Hoeft, PhD
• Vicki L. Plano Clark, PhD
• Program Retreat
• Mixed Methods Applications: Illustrations
• Announcements
• 2023 Call for Applications
• Jennifer I Manuel, PhD, MSW
• Joke Bradt, PhD
• Josiemer Mattei, PhD, MPH
• Justin Sanders, MD, MSc
• Linda Charmaran, PhD
• Nao Hagiwara, PhD
• Nynikka R. A. Palmer, DrPH, MPH
• Olayinka O. Shiyanbola, BPharm, PhD
• Sarah Ronis, MD, MPH
• Susan D. Brown, PhD
• Tara Lagu, MD, MPH
• Theresa Hoft, PhD
• Wynne E. Norton, PhD
• Yvonne Mensa-Wilmot, PhD, MPH
• A. Susana Ramírez, PhD, MPH
• Animesh Sabnis, MD, MSHS
• Autumn Kieber-Emmons, MD, MPH
• Benjamin Han, MD, MPH
• Brooke A. Levandowski, PhD, MPA
• Camille R. Quinn, PhD, AM, LCSW
• Justine Wu, MD, MPH
• Kelly Aschbrenner, PhD
• Kim N. Danforth, ScD, MPH
• Loreto Leiva, PhD
• Marie Brault, PhD
• Mary E. Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Meganne K. Masko, PhD, MT-BC/L
• PhuongThao D. Le, PhD, MPH
• Rebecca Lobb, ScD, MPH
• Allegra R. Gordon, ScD MPH
• Anita Misra-Hebert, MD MPH FACP
• Arden M. Morris, MD, MPH
• Caroline Silva, PhD
• Danielle Davidov, PhD
• Hans Oh, PhD
• J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD RN ACHPN
• Jacqueline Mogle, PhD
• Jammie Hopkins, DrPH, MS
• Joe Glass, PhD MSW
• Karen Whiteman, PhD MSW
• Katie Schultz, PhD MSW
• Rose Molina, MD
• Uriyoán Colón-Ramos, ScD MPA
• Andrew Riley, PhD
• Byron J. Powell, PhD, LCSW
• Carrie Nieman MD, MPH
• Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, CHES®
• Emily E. Haroz, PhD
• Jennifer Tsui, Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Jessica Magidson, PhD
• Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW
• Kelly Doran, MD, MHS
• Kiara Alvarez, PhD
• LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, MPH
• Melissa Radey, PhD, MA, MSSW
• Sophia L. Johnson, PharmD, MPH, PhD
• Supriya Gupta Mohile, MD, MS
• Virginia McKay, PhD
• Andrew Cohen, MD, PhD
• Angela Chen, PhD, PMHNP-BC, RN
• Christopher Salas-Wright, PhD, MSW
• Eliza Park MD, MS
• Jaime M. Hughes, PhD, MPH, MSW
• Johanne Eliacin, PhD, HSPP
• Lingrui Liu ScD MS
• Meaghan Kennedy, MD
• Nicole Stadnick, PhD, MPH
• Paula Aristizabal, MD
• Radhika Sundararajan, MD
• Sara Mamo, AuD, PhD
• Tullika Garg, MD MPH FACS
• Allison Magnuson, DO
• Ariel Williamson PhD, DBSM
• Benita Bamgbade, PharmD, PhD
• Christopher Woodrell MD
• Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM
• Jasmine Abrams, PhD
• Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, MD
• Karen Flórez, DrPH, MPH
• Lavanya Vasudevan, PhD, MPH, CPH
• Maria Garcia, MD, MPH
• Robert Brady, PhD
• Saria Hassan, MD
• Scherezade Mama, DrPH
• Yuan Lu, ScD
• 2021 Scholars
• Sign Up for Our Email List
• Workforce Training
• Cells-to-Society Courses
• Course/Section Numbers Explained
• Pathway Program with Goucher College
• The George G. Graham Lecture

About the PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program

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. Cancer biology is a historical and continuing area of interest for many faculty in our program, which has been supported in part by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute since 1975.

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.

PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program Highlights

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 from across the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine
• A strong grounding in the science of biomedical and public health research through a core curriculum that includes courses taught by leading experts from the Schools of Public Health and Medicine
• Training outside the lab and classroom in key skills such as communications and leadership
• Opportunities to build strong communications skills through a range of speaking venues including journal club, research colloquium, department retreats, and national meetings
• Teaching Assistant service to build teaching and interpersonal skills, with options for additional training and professional development through the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Academy to further develop skills
• Access to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Professional Development and Career Office , offering excellent career services and professional development,  including the BMB-required OPTIONS program, a guided process of career exploration for paths from medicine to biotech to academia and beyond
• Opportunities to participate in community service and outreach, with a focus on our East Baltimore neighborhoods, through the Johns Hopkins University community engagement and service-learning center, SOURCE

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

What Can You Do With a PhD In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology?

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.

Sample Careers

• Research Scientist
• Science Policy Adviser
• Biotech Executive
• Senior Scientist
• Patent Lawyer
• Science Policy Analyst/Advocate
• Science Writer/Journalist
• Biological Sciences Teacher

Topic Areas

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, and cancer biology has had a prominent place in our research interest for over 50 years .

Common topic areas within our faculty's diverse research interests include:

• Biophysics and Structural Biology
• Cancer Biology
• Chemical Biology and Proteomics
• Cell Biology
• Cellular Stress and Cell Signaling
• Genetics, Genomics, and Gene Regulation
• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Translational Research

Curriculum for the PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The BMB PhD offers students a rigorous course curriculum, including a set of common core classes from the Schools of Public Health and Medicine. Students further tailor their curriculum with elective courses chosen based on interests and career goals, with options that span the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences. 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 .

Admissions Requirements

For the general admissions requirements see our How to Apply page. The specific program also requires:

Prior Research Experience

Laboratory research experience (from academia, industry, etc.) is required

Prior Coursework

Strong background in the sciences, particularly in chemistry, biochemistry, or biology

Standardized Test Scores

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

Program Faculty Spotlight

Ashani T. Weeraratna

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 J. Matunis

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 M. Kavran

Jennifer Kavran, PhD, MS, MPhil, is a biophysicist who investigates how cells communicate with each other and their environment.

Danfeng Cai

Danfeng Cai, PhD, combines advanced microscopy, genomics, and proteomics to tease out the functions of protein condensates in cells, with a focus on cancer.

Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars

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

[email protected]

Jump to navigation

University of Washington Links

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Directories

• Graduate Students
• Fields of Interest
• Publications
• Opportunities
• Undergraduate
• Postdoctoral Fellows
• Life Sciences Complex
• Recent News
• Newsletters

You are here

Phd program, interested in applying this cycle, rsvp for our information session in november .

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.

Member of the Team

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

• Grad Spotlight
• Undergraduate Opportunities
• Advising & Appointments
• Awards & Scholarships
• Career & Postgrad
• Departmental Honors
• Handouts & Forms
• Internships
• Registration & classes
• Research Opportunities
• Transfers & Postbacs
• Awards & Fellowships
• Ph.D Program
• Prospective Postdocs
• Postdoc Resources
• Course Catalog
• Docent program
• Volunteering
• Backup Freezers
• Information
• Biology Study Area
• Tri-Beta Assistance
• Burke Museum
• Friday Harbor Labs
• COVID-19 information
• Graduation Reception
• Medicinal Herb Garden
• Nature's Depths
• Support UW Biology
• Dept Culture Office Hour
• Diversity and Equity Committee
• Join UW Biology
• Departmental committees
• Mentoring resources
• Organization chart
• Virtual tour

Graduate Admissions

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

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

How to Apply

The 2024-2025 Biology PhD application processes is run through strictly through Biology (School of Humanities & Sciences). 

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

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

Faculty Affiliated with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Oceans Department:

Fio Micheli 100% 

Jeremy Goldbogen 100%

Giulio De Leo 100%

Larry Crowder 100%

Steve Palumbi 50% Oceans/50%Biology

Barbara Block 50% Oceans/50% Biology

*Note Chris Lowe is 100% in Biology

Ecology/Evolution

Liz Hadly 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Rodolfo Dirzo 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Tad Fukami 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Kabir Peay 50% SDSS/50%Biology

Chris Field 50% SDSS/50% Biology

Gretchen Daily 50% SDSS/50% Biology

Application and Deadline

Stanford Biology PhD Program applications are made through Graduate Admissions . The application deadline for Autumn Quarter 2025 matriculation is December 3, 2024 at 11:59pm pst.  The application for the Autumn 2025 cohort will be available in September 2024.  Please review the Graduate Admissions website prior to starting your application. Applications are considered for admission in Autumn Quarter only. 

Application Status

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

Requirements

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

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

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

Biology PhD Program General Information

Diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

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

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

• Department of Biology and Biochemistry

Graduate Programs

• Prospective Students

Ph.D. Programs

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

Biochemistry

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

• View requirements

Cell and Molecular Biology

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

Ecology and Evolution

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

Financial Assistance

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

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

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

Research Assistantships (RAs)

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

Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF)

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

Non-resident Tuition Waiver

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

Presidential Fellowship

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

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

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

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship

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

Medical Insurance

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

Cost of Living

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

Admission Requirements

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

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

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

Tips for Applying

What we look for.

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

Transcripts and GPA

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

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

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

TOEFL/IELTS

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

Statement of Purpose

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

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

Letters of Recommendation

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

Contacting Faculty

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

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

• Open for Applications: June 1
• Deadline: September 1  
• Open for Applications: August 1
• Deadline: January 1  

For More Information

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

The PhD program in Biology provides both a broad background knowledge base and an in-depth study of a specialized area of biology. Students can choose to pursue a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology or Molecular Microbiology.

In The News

Flashes of Insight

The PhD program in Biology emphasizes close interaction between graduate students and faculty in developing the intellectual and experimental skills required for creative independent research. To be considered for admission to the doctoral program, a student must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in a biological science. Individuals with degrees in other natural sciences may be considered, depending on their interests and background.

A minimum GPA of 3.000 for all graduate work is required for the award of the PhD degree. All regulations of the Graduate School regarding maintenance of academic standing apply.

The Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology Group studies questions related to organismal development, aging, regeneration and repair. Our unifying theme is an interest in discovering how organisms build and rebuild tissues during development, after injury, and during aging. Studies in worm, fish, axolotl, mouse, and human tissue culture are providing insights into the development, function, and aging of multiple organ systems. We use genomic and proteomic analyses, and biological imaging approaches, to understand the roles and regulatory networks underlying tissue development and repair.

Biomechanics, Neurobiology, and Behavior Group pursues distinct interests, with a special emphasis on motor learning and control, biomechanics, circadian rhythms, neurogenesis and neural regeneration. Animal models run the gamut from jellyfish and termites to fish and human subjects. Research threads include the social behavior of insects, the neural architectures underlying rhythms, movement and goal-directed behaviors in humans and model organisms, and adult neurogenesis and neuronal regeneration in teleost fish.

Molecular Microbiology Group is interested in understanding the rise of multidrug resistant pathogens. Hence the focus of this group intersects strongly with that of the University in the areas of health and security. The Molecular Microbiology group investigates the bases of dormant persister cells, uncultured bacteria, composition and function of the human and environmental microbiomes, mechanisms underlying mutagenesis, regulation of the DNA damage response, and bacterial development including biofilm formation. Further strengths include the development of platforms for the discovery of new antimicrobials.

• Concentrations in Cell and Molecular Biology or Molecular Microbiology
• Bachelor’s and Advanced-degree entry are possible
• Boston residence requirement of one year of full-time graduate work on campus

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Agios Pharmaceuticals
• Masschusetts General Hospital

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended (Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE General test – Not required
• Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Our priority deadline is December 1 with rolling admissions until March 15, based on space available.

We only admit degree program students for fall semesters.

• Program Website

Request Information for PhD in Biology

Ph.D. in Biology

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 50
• Students: 91
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100%
• Part time study available: No
• Application Terms: Fall
• Application Deadline: December 2

Gregory Wray Director of Graduate Studies Department of Biology Duke University Box 90338 Durham, NC 27708-0338

Phone: (919) 684-6696

Email: [email protected]

Website:  http://www.biology.duke.edu/

Program Description

The Department of Biology offers a diverse and integrative graduate program for students seeking a Ph.D. in the biological sciences. The department provides exciting and interdisciplinary training opportunities in the following broad range of research areas:

• Ecology (including behavioral ecology, population biology, community ecology, physiological ecology, ecosystem analysis, and biogeochemistry)
• Cell and molecular biology (including cellular physiology, molecular genetics, developmental biology, developmental genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics, in a variety of model systems including plants, animals, and microbes)
• Functional organismal biology (including comparative physiology, functional morphology, biomechanics, and animal behavior)
• Evolutionary biology (including population genetics, evolutionary ecology, evolutionary morphology, macroevolution, biogeography, and systematics)

Faculty also participate in the university programs in Cell and Molecular Biology, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Genetics and Genomics, Ecology, and Structural Biology and Biophysics. These programs link researchers across different departments and schools at Duke, most notably the basic sciences departments in the Duke University Medical Center and the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. There are also strong links with the Institute of Statistics and Decision Sciences, the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, the Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems, and the departments of Evolutionary Anthropology, Philosophy, and Psychological and Brain Sciences.

• Biology: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Biology: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Biology: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Biology: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  December 2

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (see departmental guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE General: Optional
• GRE Subject - Biology: Optional
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Department-Specific Application Requirements (submitted through online application)

Statement of Purpose Guidelines Tell us about your previous research experience, work ethic and perseverance toward goals, your preparedness and motivation for graduate study, your academic plans, including some of the research questions you would like to address in your graduate studies and how you would approach them, as well as your future career aspirations. In your statement, be sure to mention which faculty members you are interested in working with, as common interests are considered, and tell us why you believe the Duke Biology Ph.D. program is a good fit for you.

You are encouraged to include examples of educational, cultural, or other life opportunities or challenges you have experienced, and how these are likely to contribute to your overall success in our graduate program and beyond.

Writing Sample None required

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

Biological Sciences

• Mellon College of Science

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

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:

Become contributing, impactful members of their discipline. This requires:

• Being familiar with literature and history of the field
• Understanding how the discipline has evolved and where it is headed
• Identifying novel and important questions
• Identifying desired personal impact on the field.
• Mastering approaches and techniques
• Appreciating the impact of the discipline on a broader community
• Establishing visible profile in the field

Develop professional skills in :

• Scientific writing (papers, proposals, traditional and social media)
• Oral presentation
• Team management (including interdisciplinary teams)
• Communication, networking, connecting with community of researchers & science professionals
• Time management, life/work balance

Establish career development plans through :

• Establishing sense of scholarly citizenship
• Knowing the types of careers paths following from Ph.D. training
• Developing personal career goals
• Appreciating skills required to achieve career goals and how to align personal training with these goals 

Ph.D. Student Research Videos

Emily simon (linstedt lab), andrew wolff (hinman lab).

• Online Application

" 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. "

• Graduate Students
• Administration

Skip to content

School of Biological Sciences

• College of Sciences

Search form

Ph.d. biology.

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

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

Areas of concentration:

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

Quick Facts

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

General Inquiries

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

Ph.D. Program Overview:

• Stipend: $35,500 per year
• Year 1 Focus:  Coursework / Lab Rotations / Teach
• Year 2 Focus:  Coursework / Thesis Research / Qualifying Exams
• Year 3 Focus:  Thesis Research
• Year 4 Focus:  Thesis Research
• Year 5 Focus:  Thesis Research, Writing and Defense

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

PhD students in the School of Biological Sciences are each supported by a stipend and do not pay tuition, only modest   fees   each semester. Stipend support comes from teaching or research assistantships which complement research training towards the PhD. Whether PhD stipends are earned from research or teaching assistantships after the first year is decided in consultation with a student's thesis advisor and the graduate committee. Our base PhD stipend is $35,500. Several fellowships are available which can supplement the PhD stipend.

Further Funding

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

Choosing between the Masters and Ph.D. Program

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

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

Georgia Tech Resources

• Offices & Departments
• News Center
• Campus Calendar
• Special Events
• Institute Communications
• Visitor Resources
• Campus Visits
• Directions to Campus
• Visitor Parking Information
• GTvisitor Wireless Network Information
• Georgia Tech Global Learning Center
• Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center
• Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech
• Ferst Center for the Arts
• Robert C. Williams Paper Museum

College of Sciences Social Links

Biology related research centers.

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

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

• Emergency Information
• Enable Accessibility
• Legal & Privacy Information
• Human Trafficking Notice
• Title IX/Sexual Misconduct
• Hazing Public Disclosures
• Accessibility
• Accountability
• Accreditation

© Georgia Institute of Technology

Department of Biology

• Majors & Minors
• Graduate Programs
• Faculty & Research
• Financial Aid
• Ph.D. Program

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

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

How to Apply

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

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

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

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

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

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

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED ON THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:

Questions? Please contact : [email protected]  

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the letter of intent used for:

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

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

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

Lab Rotations

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

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

BIOLOGY GRADUATE HANDBOOK [PDF]

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

• Cooperative Work Program
• Master's Program
• Graduate Program Handbook (PDF)

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

Social Media

Computational Biology PhD

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

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

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

School of Dentistry

• About Our School
• Points of Pride
• Our Mission & History
• Department and Divisions Overview
• Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences
• Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences
• Department of Primary Dental Care
• Department of Restorative Sciences
• Faculty Emeriti & Faculty Ad Honorem
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Overview
• Building a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Community
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resource Library
• Faculty Development
• Degrees & Programs Overview
• Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Dental Therapy
• Dental Hygiene
• Graduate, Specialty and Advanced Education Programs Overview
• Advanced Education Scholarships
• Endodontics
• Graduate Program in Oral Biology
• Master of Science in Dental Hygiene
• Master of Science in Dentistry
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Training Program
• Orofacial Pain
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Health Educator Certificate Program
• Dental School Preparation Programs Overview
• Discover Dental School
• Open House: Explore Dental Careers
• Community Outreach Experience
• Degree & Education Verification
• Scholarships & Student Support
• Continuing Dental Education Upcoming Courses
• Find a Course
• Dentistry Magazine
• White Coat Ceremony 2024
• Research & Discovery
• Overview of Student Research and Training Opportunities
• Summer Research Fellowship Program
• Minnesota Craniofacial & Oral Health Research Experience
• Faculty Labs
• Oral Health Clinical Research Center Overview
• Faculty and Personnel
• Current Studies
• Data Access and Informatics Consulting
• How to contact a biostatistician from Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center (BDAC)
• Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI): Resources, Services and Funding
• Research and Innovation Office (RIO)
• Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics
• Orofacial MRI Center
• Alumni & Donors Overview
• Alumni Adjunct Faculty
• Learners to Leaders
• Connect with Students
• School of Dentistry Alumni Society
• Giving Opportunities Overview
• Ways to Give
• Estate Giving
• Dean's Circle
• Donor Recognition
• Give to the Max Day
• Memorial Scholarships
• Distinguished Alumni Awards
• Dental Hygiene Alumni
• Alumni Weekend
• Campaign priorities
• School of Dentistry Alumni Society Overview

PhD in Oral Biology Program

The PhD in Oral Biology emphasizes basic science research and training to develop independent investigators.

The four-year PhD in Oral Biology encourages students to focus in one of five areas: biomaterials and biomechanics, epithelial biology and carcinogenesis, microbiology and immunology, sensory neuroscience or bone biology, craniofacial development and tissue engineering. 

The program is designed to ensure that graduates will develop the capability to initiate independent research programs in important areas of oral biology. Most students execute projects that advance mechanistic understanding.

Program at a Glance

Joining the program.

We welcome a diverse pool of applicants, including international students. 

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or a DDS/DMD degree or equivalent (international dental degrees (BDS, etc.) are acceptable).

PhD applications are due December 1 for the program beginning the following fall. Applicants are not admitted during the spring semester.

Applications must be completed online and should include a personal statement, a research essay, a diversity statement, CV or resume, proof of English language proficiency, letters of recommendation and transcripts. 

Application Instructions

+ Program Requirements

+ Curriculum

The first year of the PhD program consists primarily of coursework. Students select courses with their advisor's approval from a core curriculum recommended by the Graduate Faculty for each area and their minor program. The core curriculum provides students with a working knowledge of the major concepts and research paradigms in that scientific area, a working vocabulary and the basis for continued learning. 

In the second year, students complete all coursework and the written and oral preliminary exams. The written and oral exams capture the student’s ability to think critically about the field and the application of logical experimental designs to test hypotheses and answer questions. Upon completion of this two-part preliminary examination of the research proposal, the student will work largely on the dissertation research project through month 45 in residence.

Months 45 through 48 will be used for dissertation writing. Students must also present a public seminar describing their dissertation research (which is attended by the final oral exam committee) no later than six months before defense of the thesis. The dissertation will be defended in another public seminar in month 48.

• DDS/PhD Program
• PhD Program
• Current Students
• Oral Biology Faculty
• Faculty and Student Resources
• About the Program
• Orthodontics Overview
• Pediatric Dentistry Overview
• Periodontology Overview
• Prosthodontics Overview
• Research & Mentorship

PhD Positions (m/f/d) | Research School: Molecules of Life

The International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) offers fully funded PhD student positions (m/f/d) in the areas of biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, systems biology, and computational biology . We are looking for outstanding graduates from all over the world to join our network of passionate young scientists in Munich.

What do we offer

• Excellent career opportunities in a vibrant international research community,
• A structured PhD program created by Munich-based Max Planck Institutes and Universities with English as the main language,
• State-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research projects,
• Individual supervision and mentoring by world-leading scientists,
• Full funding for international and German students, with no tuition fees and additional funding for scientific trainings and internships.

Join our community

The strongest asset of our graduate program is our dynamic and international research community. IMPRS-ML brings together two renowned Max Planck Institutes, the MPI of Biochemistry and the MPI for Biological Intelligence, as well as two leading partner universities, the LMU and TUM, to deliver first-class training for the world’s most promising young scientists.

At IMPRS-ML, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Our research groups focus on exploring the structure, function, and dynamics of biomolecules. They investigate how and where these molecules interact in biological systems to generate appropriate responses to environmental cues.

More than 30 distinguished and internationally recognized group leaders actively participate in the PhD program and offer challenging and cutting-edge research projects in the following areas:

• Biochemistry
• Bio-imaging
• Computational Biology
• Gene Regulation
• Immunobiology
• Structural Biology
• Systems Biology

IMPRS-ML– a structured PhD program for future leaders in science

IMPRS-ML provides comprehensive scientific training in a superb and vibrant research environment with state-of-the-art facilities to students aiming for a successful career in science. Our doctoral researchers work within international teams of scientists in an interdisciplinary setting with extensive access to expertise and support. Seminars, summer schools, elective courses, career development training and participation in international conferences supplement laboratory work.

We invite highly qualified candidates with a strong commitment to basic science to apply.

Applicants should hold an MSc (or equivalent degree) with a strong background in biological sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology or a related discipline. Outstanding candidates with a first-class BSc degree (or equivalent degree) are eligible to apply for the fast-track option.

For more information, eligibility criteria and online application please visit our website .

Online applications open: 01.09.2024

Application deadline: 13.10.2024

Accepted candidates may start research projects between March and October 2025.

Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Germany

Phone: +49 89 8578-1

Notification Settings

Sep 12, 2024

Scripps Student Spotlight: Steffaney Wood

• Campus Life

Steffaney Wood is a fifth-year PhD student researching  marine chemical biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. She grew up primarily in San Clemente, Calif., and Silver Spring, Md. Wood received a bachelor's degree in environmental studies with a minor in chemistry from Davidson College in North Carolina. While earning her bachelor’s, Wood worked with  NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center as a  NOAA Hollings Scholar researching the prevalence of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, along the U.S. West Coast. Upon graduating, Wood received a  U.S. Fulbright Student Program grant to research cyanobacteria HABs in the northern Baltic Sea at the  Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)   Marine Research Centre in Helsinki, Finland. During this time, Wood earned a master's degree in microbiology and microbial biotechnology from the University of Helsinki. Wood is currently advised by Scripps marine biologists  Bradley Moore and  Andrew Allen . Wood is also a recipient of the  Rita L. Atkinson Fellowship and a two-time recipient of the  UC San Diego Brython Davis Endowed Fellowship .

explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?

Steffaney Wood (SW):  I chose Scripps because I was inspired by a discovery made by researchers in the Bradley Moore and Andrew Allen lab groups. The  researchers discovered domoic acid biosynthesis , which is produced during harmful algal bloom (HAB) events by Pseudo-nitzschia, which is a type of algae. After studying Pseudo-nitzschia blooms as an undergraduate, I was amazed by the Scripps scientists’ work. I met the study’s lead authors at the  International Conference on Harmful Algae in Nantes, France, and after our conversation, I knew I wanted to join the project. I wanted to learn the skills necessary to explain biosynthetic pathways, or the production of a chemical compound by a living organism, of HAB toxins to answer how and why phytoplankton produce these toxins.

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

SW:  I study how specific photosynthetic ocean microbes, or single-celled algae and bacteria, produce a neurotoxin, which is a substance that can damage the nervous system. Specifically, I focus on HABs of Pseudo-nitzschia, which produce the potent neurotoxin domoic acid. These blooms are dangerous because domoic acid can contaminate shellfish, poison marine mammals and seabirds, and threaten human health. Acute domoic acid intoxication can cause neurotoxic symptoms and death in marine life and amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. My research explores the environmental and genetic factors influencing domoic acid production during Pseudo-nitzschia blooms and the evolution of domoic acid biosynthesis across diatom genera and species. 

en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?

SW:  Growing up in Southern California, I have been fascinated by the ocean since I was young. I remember collecting my first phytoplankton sample at a marine science summer camp and being mesmerized by the invisible microbes in the ocean water. In college, my interest shifted to environmental health, particularly the relationship between ocean and human health. This led to an internship in Vera Trainer’s lab at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, where I studied Pseudo-nitzschia blooms along the U.S. West Coast. This experience propelled me into a career in marine biology research.

en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.

SW:  In the morning before starting lab work, I like to go for a beach run along La Jolla Shores or paddle board if the conditions are calm! I have spent the majority of my PhD culturing phytoplankton in the lab. On my weekly culturing days, I go to the lab and make media — the solution with nutrients necessary to grow a microorganism — using amended natural seawater pumped from Scripps Pier. Next, I check the health of my cultures under the microscope and transfer a small amount of my existing culture to a new flask with fresh media. This process is like transferring a plant to a new pot with fresh soil. 

en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?

SW:  The most exciting part of my work has been conducting fieldwork during an active, toxic Pseudo-nitzschia bloom. In the spring of 2023, we sampled a developing Pseudo-nitzschia bloom in Monterey Bay in collaboration with the  Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and many others. We also sampled a major domoic acid event in the Santa Barbara Channel last summer, which caused many California sea lion strandings to make national news. Fieldwork is always a pleasant reminder of why I love what I do, and during a toxic bloom, I'm reminded of how important research is. I’m excited to share the results of this fieldwork soon!

en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?

SW:  I am grateful to many mentors who have guided me along the way. I want to thank Vera Trainer, David Backus, Sanna Suikkanen, and Anke Kremp for fostering my interest in research and marine biology. I am deeply appreciative of Bradley Moore, Andrew Allen, Scripps postdoctoral scholar  Vikram Shende , and Scripps biological oceanographer  Clarissa Anderson for their support during my PhD here at Scripps.  

en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?

SW:  As a PhD student, balancing research and life outside the lab can be challenging. Additionally, managing multidisciplinary projects across different labs at Scripps and collaborating with various other researchers adds complexity. However, I’m grateful for the diverse skills I’m acquiring during my PhD, as I believe they will be valuable in addressing environmental challenges in my future career.

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?

SW:  I hope to work at the intersection of research and environmental management, applying the skills I’ve learned at Scripps.

You can find Wood on X  @steffwould .

Related News

Summer fellowship program immerses students in diverse scientific research, scripps student spotlight: raymond leibensperger iii, charting change from coral reefs to climate science, sign up for explorations now.

explorations now is the free award-winning digital science magazine from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Join subscribers from around the world and keep up on our cutting-edge research.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• Published: 12 September 2024

Tap the potential of PhD students

Nature Physics volume  20 ,  page 1361 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

PhD students can face many challenges, such as a lack of confidence in their newly acquired skills or the uncertainty about which career path to choose. We highlight some ways to empower students in their doctoral journey.

The overall development of PhD students during their doctoral studies is important for their personal and professional growth, as well as for the success of their project. However, they are often encouraged to focus on their research project, with other aspects of academic and professional training receiving less attention. As a result, many students face difficulties in moving forward after finishing their doctoral studies. Thus, a well-rounded approach is necessary to empower PhD students with the abilities to confidently choose their career path.

A lack of research autonomy can stifle creativity and hold PhD students back in their development. By granting them control over certain aspects of their research — for example, by allowing them to steer parts of their projects or by encouraging independent exploration within the broader scope of their work — students will learn to become more self-reliant researchers.

Supervisors can further promote their students’ independence by encouraging them to propose their own hypotheses or conduct additional simulations or laboratory-based experiments. In this way, PhD students learn how to develop a research problem and how to tackle it — an invaluable skill not just in academia but in all walks of life.

In addition to conducting research, students must also learn to communicate their findings and develop presentation skills. Universities can facilitate training programmes on soft skills, such as writing research articles and presenting research to a broader audience. This will enhance students' ability to convey their ideas with confidence. It is particularly important when they present posters or give oral presentations in larger forums, such as conferences or seminars, or when they engage with their peers in the research field.

Networking is a vital component of a successful academic and professional career. It allows students to find collaborators, seek advice, and discover new research and job opportunities. However, many PhD students struggle to build and maintain professional relationships, often because of a lack of guidance on how to approach networking effectively. It is not uncommon for PhD students to be unaware of the research activities of their colleagues, whether from other departments or even the same department.

Institutions can help in this regard by organizing frequent workshops or seminars in which students can engage with peers and experts in their field. Conferences and summer schools also offer invaluable networking opportunities, while commonly providing students with the chance to present their research, which in turn enhances their presentation skills. Universities should actively support their students' participation in such events through travel grants. In addition, organizers of conferences and schools should also provide funding opportunities, especially for PhD students from developing countries where principal investigators may not have enough resources to support their students’ travel.

Another crucial aspect of a PhD student’s journey is the process of publishing their work. However, many students feel ill-equipped to handle the steps of academic publishing. They often rely on their supervisors to lead the process, which can leave them unprepared for the demands of publishing as they transition to more independent roles.

To address this, supervisors should actively involve students in every step of the publication process, from the discussion of a suitable target journal to the writing of a manuscript’s first draft and cover letter, to the actual submission and preparation of the response to reviewers' comments. Although this may require additional back-and-forth, it is an invaluable learning experience that prepares the students for future academic challenges and enhances the quality of their research output. These skills are also transferable and will undoubtedly benefit students in any future career path, whether in academia, industry or other sectors.

Uncertainty about future career paths is a common concern among PhD students. Many are unsure whether to pursue research positions or explore opportunities outside academia. Unfortunately, students often lack access to adequate career training, which hinders their ability to prepare for future employment. For example, many students don’t know how to tailor CVs for future employment options or are unsure for which non-academic positions their skills make them suitable applicants.

By facilitating career-oriented workshops, seminars and mentoring programmes, institutions could help guide PhD students on their career path. For example, students would benefit from the interaction with alumni, sharing their career stories. Career counselling and interactions with industry panels can provide insights into possible career choices, helping students understand the range of opportunities available to them. Additionally, workshops on CV writing, interview preparation, and transferable skills, such as project management and data analysis, can boost students' confidence in their abilities and prepare them for diverse career options.

Although the majority of the suggestions discussed above are well known within the academic community, they have not always been given the attention they deserve. By providing the necessary tools and opportunities to PhD students, we can tap their full potential and put them in a better position to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, to drive innovation and to make meaningful contributions to society.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Tap the potential of PhD students. Nat. Phys. 20 , 1361 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02654-2

Download citation

Published : 12 September 2024

Issue Date : September 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02654-2

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.