Doctoral Degree Program

Biochemistry

In the Biochemistry program, research areas include DNA/RNA structure and function, regulation of protein synthesis, and signal transduction. Students admitted to graduate study in Biochemistry will typically have an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry. Students with an undergraduate degree in a related discipline are expected to have the following undergraduate preparation for graduate study – beyond introductory chemistry and a year of organic chemistry, at least one semester of analytical chemistry and one semester of physical chemistry-thermodynamics and kinetics, with appropriate math. Students without that background are expected to take courses to fulfill those requirements as part of their graduate study.

Integrative Biology and Neuroscience

The graduate program in Integrative Biology and Neuroscience is designed to train students in advanced organismal biology with the emphasis on behavioral ecology, evolution, functional morphology, endocrinology, and neurobiology of animals. The mission of the program is to create students who are broadly trained and uniquely capable of asking questions and solving problems at the interface of these traditionally defined fields. Students admitted to the program should have a basic knowledge of evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavioral neuroscience, and/or behavioral ecology. Students will begin by taking core courses providing a broad foundation in Integrative Biology at the graduate level and will work toward a Ph.D. with a concentration in either behavioral neuroscience or behavioral and evolutionary ecology. Regardless of concentration, all students in the program will develop an appreciation for the fact that all aspects of biology, whether cellular, physiological, anatomical, behavior, environmental, or social, are inextricably linked and cannot be fully understood as separate, parallel systems of knowledge.

Cell and Molecular Biology

Research areas in the Cell and Molecular Biology program include microbial evolution and genetics, plant and animal molecular genetics, developmental biology, eukaryotic cell biology, and regulation of gene expression. Students admitted to this program typically have an undergraduate degree in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology. Depending on the student’s undergraduate education, core courses in cellular and molecular biology are first taken, followed by seminar style courses in which journal articles from the current scientific literature are read and discussed. This degree program is ideally suited for individuals seeking biomedical research careers in academia, industry, and government.

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