Biological Sciences PhD
Major: Biological Sciences
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0 (post-bachelor's) or 45.0 (post-master's)
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1029
About the Program
The Department of Biology offers a graduate program in biological sciences leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The curricula and research programs are designed to help students achieve success in their degree programs and pursue positions of leadership in their respective fields of research.
The intellectual life of the department relies heavily on the participation, creativity, and the energy of graduate students; therefore the department expects students to be vigorously involved in courses, seminars, journal clubs, research, informal discussions, and departmental functions.
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Department of Biology at 215-895-2624.
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences is conferred in recognition of breadth of scholarship and scientific attainment plus demonstrated ability to complete original research.
The following general requirements must be satisfied in order to complete the PhD program in Biological Sciences:
- 90.0 (post-bac) or 45.0 (post-MS) credit hours total
- Establishing a plan of study
- 7 core courses
- Additional courses dependent on advisor or committee recommendations
- Candidacy exam/approval of dissertation proposal
- Dissertation/thesis
- Defense of dissertation/thesis
- A graduate research seminar presentation once a year for students in their third year and beyond.
Thesis Advisor/Plan of Study
For students admitted without an identified thesis advisor, the thesis advisor must be selected by the end of spring term in the first year. All students are asked to submit a plan of study by the end of the first year winter quarter. It is anticipated that the graduate coursework will be completed during the first two years or less. Students should check with the department for a list of available electives.
Program Requirements
| Cell Molecular Genetics Track | ||
| Core Requirement Courses | ||
| BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
| BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
| Distribution Required Courses: Must take all 3 | ||
| BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
| BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
| Statistics Requirement Course | ||
| ENVS 506 | Biostatistics * | 3.0 |
| Required Elective Courses: Must take 1 | ||
| Any BIO (Bioscience & Biotechnology) 500 or above | 3.0 | |
| Research and Research Seminars ** | 69.0 | |
| Graduate Research Seminar | ||
| Research in Bioscience | ||
| Total Credits | 90.0 | |
- *
Or approved substitute course.
- **
BIO 864 and BIO 997 are taken multiple times to reach 90.0 credits.
| Ecology Evolution Track | ||
| Core Requirement Courses | ||
| BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
| BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
| Distribution Required Courses: Must take 2 | 6.0-7.0 | |
| Population Genetics * | ||
| Molecular Ecology * | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Statistics Requirement Course | ||
| ENVS 506 | Biostatistics ** | 3.0 |
| Required Elective Courses: Must take 2 | ||
| Any BIO (Bioscience & Biotechnology) 500 or above | 6.0 | |
| Research and Research Seminars *** | 69.0 | |
| Graduate Research Seminar | ||
| Research in Bioscience | ||
| Total Credits | 90.0-91.0 | |
Sample Plan of Study
Cell Molecular Genetics Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
| BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 1.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 1.5 |
| ENVS 506 | Biostatistics * | 3.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
- *
or approved substitution
Ecology Evolution Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 1.5 |
| Distribution Required Course | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
| Distribution Required Course | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 1.5 |
| ENVS 506 | Biostatistics * | 3.0 |
| Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 4.5 |
| Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 864 | Graduate Research Seminar | 1.5 |
| BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 7.5 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
- *
or approved substitution
Program Level Outcomes
- Develop a strong foundation in core areas of molecular & cellular biology (e.g., biochemistry, cell biology, genetics and molecular biology), molecular and behavioral ecology and/or conservation biology.
- Develop critical thinking and reading skills.
- Effectively communicate research results in written and oral formats.
- Formulate and write research grant proposals with effective questions, hypotheses and experimental designs.
- Develop the inductive and deductive reasoning skills to drive research projects productively and independently.
- Publish a peer-reviewed, primary research manuscript.
Biological Sciences Faculty
Michael Akins, PhD (Yale University). Assistant Professor. The neural mechanisms underlying how organisms interact with the environment; circuit formation, particularly of sensory circuits, and neural diseases including autism and Fragile X syndrome (FXS).
Shivanthi Anandan, PhD (University of California, Los Angeles). Associate Professor. Microbial genetics, in particular the analysis of light-regulated signal transduction pathways and the regulation of gene expression in photosynthesizing organisms.
Joseph Bentz, PhD (State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo). Professor. Biophysics, biochemistry and biopharmaceutics, focused on the molecular basis of biological membrane transport and fusion.
John R. Bethea, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Department Head. Professor. Neuroscience and immunology.
Valerie Bracchi-Ricard, PhD (University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France). Research Assistant Professor. Role of TNF and TNF receptors in neuroinflammation and remyelination following spinal cord injury.
Laura Duwel, PhD (University of Cincinnati) Assistant Department Head, Department of Biology. Teaching Professor. Immunology and microbiology.
Felice Elefant, PhD (Temple University). Associate Professor. Understanding the roles of two classes of chromatin regulatory proteins termed histone acetyltransferases(HATs)and histone de-methylases.
Denise Garcia, PhD (UCLA). Assistant Professor. Neuroscience, the role of astrocytes in the central nervous system.
Tali Gidalevitz, PhD (University of Chicago). Assistant Professor. Genetic and molecular pathways regulating protein folding homeostasis, and their role in protein conformation diseases, aging, and development.
Mary Katherine Gonder, PhD (The City University of New York) Director, Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program Co-Founder, Central African Biodiversity Alliance. Associate Professor. Deciphering spatial patterns of biodiversity across the Gulf of Guinea and Congo Basin region; Conservation measures to mitigate the effects of habitat loss and climate change in western equatorial Africa.
Susan Gurney, PhD (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)). Assistant Teaching Professor. Evolutionary genetics (human and equids); stem cell biology; forensic science
Meshagae Hunte-Brown, PhD (Drexel University). Associate Teaching Professor. Stable isotopes in aquatic food webs, ecosystem ecology, STEM education.
Jiu Jiang, MD, PhD (Shanghai Second Medical University). Research Associate Professor. T cell immune response to virus infection in aged mice.
Karen Kabnick, PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Associate Teaching Professor. Molecular and genetic mechanisms of cellular biology, human disease, host/parasite interactions.
Joy Little, PhD (Wake Forest University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Stem education, cancer cell biology.
Robert Loudon, PhD (Thomas Jefferson University). Associate Teaching Professor. Rho GTPases, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Regulation of G protein-coupled receptors by receptor kinases and arrestins.
Daniel Marenda, PhD (Syracuse University) Director of the Biology Graduate Program, Co-Director of the Cell Imaging Center . Associate Professor. Developmental neurobiology and behavior; CHARGE syndrome; Pitt-Hopkins syndrome; Alzheimer's disease.
Donna Murasko, PhD (Penn State Hershey Medical Center) Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. Professor. The effects of aging on the adaptive immune response to influenza virus and retrovirus latency and reactivation.
Michael O'Connor, MD, PhD (MD, Johns Hopkins University; PhD, Colorado State). Associate Professor. Biophysical and physiological ecology, thermoregulation of vertebrates, ecological modeling.
Ryan Petrie, PhD (McGill University). Assistant Professor. Mechanisms of cell movement through three-dimensional extracellular matrix.
Jerome Ricard, PhD (University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France). Research Assistant Professor. Inflammation and cell death after spinal cord injury. Regulation of cell death by Eph receptors.
Jacob Russell, PhD (University of Arizona). Associate Professor. Microbiomes and metagenomics; ecology and evolution of symbiosis.
Nianli Sang, MB, PhD (M.B., Fudan University Shanghai Medical College; Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson University) Co-Director of the Cell Imaging Center. Associate Professor. Molecular and cellular biology of cancer; posttranslational modification, folding and quality control of proteins and their implication in cell physiology and human diseases.
Aleister Saunders, PhD (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) Senior Vice Provost for Research, Director of the RNAi Resource Center. Associate Professor. Identification and characterization of genes and proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease.
Kevin P.W. Smith, PhD (Drexel University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Linking behavioral ecology and organismal diversity, neonate behavior in herpetological models, STEM education.
Elias T. Spiliotis, PhD (The Johns Hopkins University) Director of the Cell Imaging Center . Associate Professor. Cell polarity and cell division: regulation of cytoskeleton-dependent motility.
Jennifer Stanford, PhD (Harvard University). Assistant Professor. Evaluating and improving approaches to teach STEM content in higher education environments to promote student learning, engagement in STEM courses, and STEM student retention.
Monica M. Togna, PhD (New Jersey Institute of Technology). Assistant Teaching Professor. Examination of the structure and function of living organisms from the cellular to the organismal level in order to better understand common physiological processes.
Emeritus Faculty
Cecilie Goodrich, PhD (Harvard University). Professor Emeritus. Neuroscience and systems physiology, postnatal maturation of physiology and behavior in relation to brain immunocytochemistry.
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