G-BIO-PHD - Biology - PhD

The Department of Biology offers a variety of training opportunities leading to the PhD in biology.

Students in the department may specialize in a wide variety of areas including anatomy; behavior; physiology; cellular and molecular biology; community, ecosystem, physiological, and population ecology; evolution; functional morphology; developmental, ecological, molecular, organelle, and population genetics; genomics; and phylogenetic systematics.

There is a high level of interaction among the various areas of biology and other programs. Faculty members participate in the University Programs in Developmental Biology, Ecology, Genetics and Genomics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Structural Biology and Biophysics, and Neurobiology; tropical research is facilitated through the university’s membership in the Organization for Tropical Studies. There are also strong relationships with the Departments of Evolutionary Anthropology (primatology, phylogenetic systematics, macroevolution), Mathematics (theoretical biology), and Psychology (behavior); the Pratt School of Engineering (biomechanics); the Medical Center (molecular biology and genomics); and the Nicholas School of the Environment (ecology).

Students entering the program generally have a broad background in biological sciences supplemented with basic courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Biochemistry and physical chemistry are strongly recommended for students interested in molecular areas, and advanced courses in mathematics are recommended for students in population genetics and ecology. While deficiencies may be corrected by taking appropriate courses during the first year of graduate study, it is advised that students search widely in this bulletin for information about the intellectual resources of the university. Courses below the 500 level may not be applied toward the required credits needed for a post-baccalaureate degree. With the approval of their Director of Graduate Studies and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, graduate students may enroll in lower-level courses, but these courses will not count toward any graduation requirement and will not be included in a student’s GPA calculation. Special attention should be given to announcements of the programs and departments listed above, as well as to those of Cultural Anthropology, History, Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pharmacology, Philosophy, and Sociology, and of the Pratt School of Engineering and the Nicholas School of the Environment.