View Courses & Degree Requirements in the Official Academic Catalog (opens in a new window)
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The Ph.D. in Plant Biology requires a minimum of 90 credit hours. Expected time to complete the degree is four years for a student entering with an earned M.S. or five for a student without.
Advising & Program of Study
All new students will report to the Graduate Chair for initial instructions. A student may be co-advised by two Plant Biology tenure-track faculty members. A student may change advisers, but only after approval of the current and potential adviser and the Graduate Chair. If a student leaves his or her adviser, for whatever reason, he or she must find another adviser within four weeks or before the start of the following semester. An unadvised student cannot remain in the Plant Biology graduate program beyond this time limit.
Research & Seminars
A minimum of 60 credits hours of research (PBIO 8950) is required, along with successful completion of four semesters of PBIO 6970 (Seminar) or completion of three seminars and giving a research presentation at Ecolunch in a BIOS or MCB seminar.
Students should enroll in Seminar during the semester in which they are defending their research. The pre-defense seminar is graded by the thesis committee and satisfies one of the four required PBIO 6970 (seminar) courses.
Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination for the Ph.D. in Plant Biology will contain a written and oral section. It must be completed before the end of the third year of study and will be planned and organized by the student and adviser.
Plant Biology Comprehensive Examination
Dissertation
The dissertation proposal must describe a comprehensive, multi-study research project. The Dissertation Committee will advise the student of courses and requirements, conduct the comprehensive exam, approve the dissertation research proposal, and conduct the Ph.D. exam for approval of the dissertation. The dissertation will be orally defended in a formal, public presentation (e.g. PBIO colloquium).
Plant Biology Dissertation
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Each student is trained to conduct independent research in the pursuit of knowledge. Students are mentored in grantsmanship and have many opportunities to support their own research with internal and external funding. Students have hands-on teaching experience because the program provides a teaching assistantship.
As teaching assistants, students have the opportunity to assist in a variety of courses and interact with faculty. Students may additionally have opportunities to supervise and mentor undergraduate students in a research laboratory environment. All students are exposed to the national and international plant biology community through colloquia, seminars, and scientific meetings that will aid them in achieving their post-Ph.D. career goals.
Plant Biology Graduate Financial Aid
Important Deadlines
End of second semester – Course Approval Form to Graduate Chair.
Beginning of fourth semester – Dissertation Committee and Faculty Representative Information [PDF] (opens in a new window) (CAS#5) to Graduate Chair. NOTE: For students in the Plant Biology & Molecular Biology Ph.D. program, this form is due at the beginning of the second semester.
End of fourth academic semester – Dissertation Proposal approved by Dissertation Committee, Department Proposal Approval Form to Graduate Chair.
End of sixth academic semester – Comprehensive exam finished, Recommendation to Advance Student to Candidacy for Ph.D. Degree [PDF] (opens in a new window) (CAS#6) to Graduate Chair.
Graduation semester – Apply to graduate, enroll in PBIO 6970
- Submit dissertation to committee at least two weeks prior to defense and provide thesis title and abstract to office staff.
- Check TAD for their deadlines.
- Submit Report of the Oral Thesis Examination/Dissertation Defense [doc] (opens in a new window) (CAS#8) to Graduate Chair.
End of every spring semester – Graduate Student Progress Report.
Resources
Courses & Resources
Research Opportunities
Faculty Research Areas
Graduate Research Opportunities
