The Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. Program is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the study of biological problems at the molecular level using chemical, computational, mathematical, physical, and statistical approaches as well as conventional biological approaches. A number of faculty from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy participate in the program, which offers students a truly diverse education. Faculty participants are engaged in a variety of research areas:

Biochemistry Biotechnology Cell Biology Ecology Environmental Toxicology Evolutionary Biology Immunology Microbiology Molecular Modeling Structural Biology

Goals

The goals of the Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biosciences are:

1. To provide rigorous academic preparation for the study of molecular patterns and processes of biological systems at an advanced level. This preparation will enable a MBS graduate to compete for future employment in academia, government, and/or industry.
2. To develop in-depth research ability in a specific area within the MBS sub-disciplines. This will be accomplished initially by engaging students in bench research with faculty mentors and later by requiring them to design and conduct in-depth research as independent scientists who contribute original knowledge to the discipline and successfully complete a dissertation.
3. To develop the ability to communicate scientific concepts to others through writing and submitting manuscripts to scientific journals and presenting the results of research at scientific conferences and symposia.
4. To develop and nurture the skills that will lead to excellence in classroom and laboratory teaching as future faculty members.

A strength of the Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences is the individual attention available to the students and the strong mentoring relationship between the program faculty and the students. If you have any questions about the Ph.D. program, please contact the Graduate Program Director.