biological research graduate programs

Biology Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 396 results

MIT School of Science

Cambridge, MA •

Massachusetts Institute of Technology •

Graduate School

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,

Graduate School ,

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

Stanford University Department of Humanities and Sciences

Stanford, CA •

Stanford University •

Stanford University ,

STANFORD, CA ,

Stanford University School of Medicine

• • Rating 5 out of 5   3 reviews

Doctoral Student: I begin in the Fall of 2023--Based on my interview, and pre-classes I have taken this program is amazing. It is very student-centered. ... Read 3 reviews

3 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says I begin in the Fall of 2023--Based on my interview, and pre-classes I have taken this program is amazing. It is very student-centered. .

Read 3 reviews.

Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

University of Pittsburgh •

Graduate School •

PITTSBURGH, PA

College of Arts, Sciences, and Education - University of Michigan - Flint

University of Michigan - Flint •

Walla Walla University

COLLEGE PLACE, WA

• • Rating 4.36 out of 5   14

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard University •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Through this School, I will be focusing my time at the John A. Paulson school of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Looking forward to wrapping up my final year on campus! ... Read 9 reviews

Harvard University ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... .

Read 9 reviews.

Harvard Medical School

Boston, MA •

• • Rating 4.94 out of 5   16 reviews

Other: Harvard is my dream school. Next year I will graduate the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Then I will applying to Harvard Medical School. If I accepted by this school, I will try my best of the best….. ... Read 16 reviews

BOSTON, MA ,

16 Niche users give it an average review of 4.9 stars.

Featured Review: Other says Harvard is my dream school. Next year I will graduate the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Then I will applying to Harvard Medical School. If I accepted by this school, I will try... .

Read 16 reviews.

Duke University School of Medicine

Durham, NC •

Duke University •

• • Rating 4.76 out of 5   17 reviews

Doctoral Student: Professors are incredible, always willing to go the extra mile to help students succeed. Curriculum is designed to prepare students to be successful therapists. This program is truly incredible. ... Read 17 reviews

Duke University ,

DURHAM, NC ,

17 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says Professors are incredible, always willing to go the extra mile to help students succeed. Curriculum is designed to prepare students to be successful therapists. This program is truly incredible. .

Read 17 reviews.

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Brown University Graduate School

Providence, RI •

Brown University •

Brown University ,

PROVIDENCE, RI ,

School of Arts & Sciences - University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA •

University of Pennsylvania •

University of Pennsylvania ,

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Evanston, IL •

Northwestern University •

Northwestern University ,

EVANSTON, IL ,

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Nashville, TN •

Vanderbilt University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Graduate Student: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Loved my experience! Great teachers, easy to access, clear cut goals in class, great clinical experiences. ... Read 2 reviews

Vanderbilt University ,

NASHVILLE, TN ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Loved my experience! Great teachers, easy to access, clear cut goals in class, great clinical experiences. .

Read 2 reviews.

Washington University in St. Louis - Arts & Sciences

St. Louis, MO •

Washington University in St. Louis •

Washington University in St. Louis ,

ST. LOUIS, MO ,

Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Hanover, NH •

Dartmouth College •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Alum: I had a beautiful life-changing experience at the grand Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini graduate program MALS created so many beautiful opportunities in interdisciplinary learning. Guarini is well integrated within the College, which provides a unique world-class learning experience. Guarini went beyond my expectations and made this experience the best I had and will ever have in my life. The only thing I would like changed is having a GRAD diploma in Latin instead of English to keep up with College tradition. ... Read 1 review

Dartmouth College ,

HANOVER, NH ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I had a beautiful life-changing experience at the grand Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini graduate program MALS created so many beautiful opportunities in interdisciplinary... .

Read 1 reviews.

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Division of Biology and Biological Engineering - California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA •

California Institute of Technology •

California Institute of Technology ,

PASADENA, CA ,

College of Science - University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN •

University of Notre Dame •

University of Notre Dame ,

NOTRE DAME, IN ,

Biological Sciences Division - University of Chicago

Chicago, IL •

University of Chicago •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: So far so good. Nothing out of the ordinary. Professors are knowledgeable. I would say to ensure that you know your interests and work closely with the advisors to pick suitable classes. ... Read 1 review

University of Chicago ,

CHICAGO, IL ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says So far so good. Nothing out of the ordinary. Professors are knowledgeable. I would say to ensure that you know your interests and work closely with the advisors to pick suitable classes. .

Pritzker School of Medicine

Dornsife college of letters, arts and sciences.

Los Angeles, CA •

University of Southern California •

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Ithaca, NY •

Cornell University •

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

Georgetown University School of Medicine

Nw Washington, DC •

Georgetown University •

• • Rating 4.75 out of 5   4 reviews

Doctoral Student: Compressed pre-clinical work. Administration has been working on finding better and better educators, as well as hiring more learning specialists for the student body. Could have more focus on Step 1 and Step 2 preparation. ... Read 4 reviews

Georgetown University ,

NW WASHINGTON, DC ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says Compressed pre-clinical work. Administration has been working on finding better and better educators, as well as hiring more learning specialists for the student body. Could have more focus on Step 1... .

Read 4 reviews.

School of Arts and Sciences - Tufts University

Medford, MA •

Tufts University •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: Best: - Incredible colleagues, many of whom are working professionals in the field, all of whom are passionate & come from diverse backgrounds & bring a wide variety of life/ professional experiences that enhance the overall experience -One of the few DEIJ degree programs offered worldwide -flexible options for program completion -many passionate professors & deep learning opportunities -increasing program investment by Tufts, including 2 new FT program-specific professors Most challenging: -program has grown exponentially in the last several years & has experienced commiserate growing pains, including confusion about requirements, need for more faculty, and more opportunities for practice. Tufts is responding but needs to continue its investment. -Since the program is interdisciplinary, students in the DEIJ-L program often need to take classes offered by other dept's/ colleges which may have different requirements & DEIJ-L students may not get preference for registration purposes ... Read 3 reviews

Tufts University ,

MEDFORD, MA ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Best: - Incredible colleagues, many of whom are working professionals in the field, all of whom are passionate & come from diverse backgrounds & bring a wide variety of life/ professional experiences that... -One of the few DEIJ degree programs offered worldwide -flexible options for program completion -many passionate professors & deep learning opportunities -increasing program investment by Tufts, including 2 new FT program-specific professors Most challenging: -program has grown exponentially in the last several years & has experienced commiserate growing pains, including confusion about requirements, need for more faculty, and more opportunities for... -Since the program is interdisciplinary, students in the DEIJ-L program often need to take classes offered by other dept's/ colleges which may have different requirements & DEIJ-L students may not... .

UCLA College of Letters and Science

University of California - Los Angeles •

• • Rating 3 out of 5   1 review

University of California - Los Angeles ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.

Krieger School of Arts & Sciences

Baltimore, MD •

Johns Hopkins University •

• • Rating 4.53 out of 5   19 reviews

Master's Student: I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student Advisor, Alexis has been extremely helpful in initiating my enrollment process and answering all of my questions in a timely matter. My intended Advanced Academic Program is the accelerated (2 semester), dual-modality, 40-credit M.S. in Biotechnology, Biodefense concentration. All of the anticipated course subjects are diverse and there's even a customizable core lab course on campus (at least until Summer 2024). I can't wait and I wish you all the best in your search for academic programs or professional certifications. ... Read 19 reviews

Johns Hopkins University ,

BALTIMORE, MD ,

19 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student... .

Read 19 reviews.

Mellon College of Science

Pittsburgh, PA •

Carnegie Mellon University •

Blue checkmark.

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA •

University of Virginia •

Alum: Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study ... Read 1 review

University of Virginia ,

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ,

Featured Review: Alum says Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study .

College of Sciences - Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA •

Georgia Institute of Technology •

Other: Georgia Tech is among the top colleges you can attend. My journey there had its highs and lows, but looking back, every experience contributed significantly to my growth. A piece of advice I'd offer to newcomers is to prioritize building friendships early on. One regret I have as I reflect on my year is not connecting with more people. I initially thought I should always work independently, but that was a misstep in my academic journey. Remember, it's essential to strike a balance between learning and having fun. ... Read 1 review

Georgia Institute of Technology ,

ATLANTA, GA ,

Featured Review: Other says Georgia Tech is among the top colleges you can attend. My journey there had its highs and lows, but looking back, every experience contributed significantly to my growth. A piece of advice I'd offer... .

University of Houston - Clear Lake

HOUSTON, TX

• • Rating 4.65 out of 5   68

College of Arts and Sciences - American University

American University •

WASHINGTON, DC

Miami University - College of Arts and Sciences

Miami University •

Showing results 1 through 25 of 396

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="biological research graduate programs"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Biomedical and biological sciences, field description.

The Cornell University Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) Graduate Program is an interdisciplinary program consisting of outstanding graduate students conducting state-of-the-art basic, clinical and translational life sciences research alongside their world-renowned faculty mentors and other research professionals. Housed in the heart of biomedical research at the Cornell-Ithaca campus in the College of Veterinary Medicine, the BBS program takes advantage of outstanding research facilities, the vibrant Cornell campus and strong links to the Weill Cornell Medical College campus in New York City. The BBS Program fosters a nurturing, student-centered community of scholars that is accessible, engaging and committed to ensuring that our graduate students reach their full potential in research, teaching and professional development. Students in the BBS field will select Special Committee chairs associated with one of five concentrations: Immunology and Infectious Disease, Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Population Medicine and Epidemiology, Translational Medicine, and Zoology and Wildlife Conservation.

Population Medicine and Epidemiology represents the study of health and disease in a population and the underlying factors that lead to these conditions.  The goal of this research is to prevent the spread and/or future incidents of illness.  As such, it is considered the cornerstone of public health, production medicine, and preventive medicine.

Immunology and Infectious Disease : The concentration of Immunology and Infectious Disease has a substantial cadre of faculty members and students working in the areas of infection and immunity, cellular immunology, immune regulation, immunogenetics, and immunopathology. There are also members currently carrying out studies in the areas of immunotoxicology, membrane biochemistry, developmental immunology, immunoparasitology, and related fields.

Molecular and Cellular Medicine faculty and trainees are engaged in investigations of fundamental cellular processes and the mechanisms that control them in health and disease.  Research projects range from molecular interactions, protein folding, and membrane biophysics to development and function of organ systems and whole animals. Fundamental research, using cutting-edge technologies, enables researchers at Cornell to make significant advances in broad scientific disciplines such as cell and developmental biology, genetics and genomics, neurobiology, pharmacology, and physiology. 

Translational Medicine :  Translational medicine seeks to leverage basic science discovery for the development of new therapies that will improve the health of animals and humans.   Basic scientists and clinicians partner in drug and biomarker discovery, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and development of imaging technology to tackle problems in reproductive biology, infectious disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other clinically relevant areas. 

Zoology and Wildlife Conservation integrates two broad fields of biology: animal biology and conservation biology. Opportunities exist for study and research in comparative and functional anatomy, developmental biology, and comparative and experimental embryology. The survival of threatened and endangered species requires innovative and integrative ideas and approaches to wildlife conservation, and our faculty are those innovators – conservation studies focus on individual animals, species, and ecosystems.

Contact Information

S3-009 Schurman Hall

Data and Statistics

• Doctoral Program Statistics

Field Manual

Subject and degrees, biomedical sciences.

• Biomedical Sciences (Ph.D.) (Ithaca)

Concentrations by Subject

• immunology and infectious disease
• molecular and cellular medicine
• population medicine and epidemiology
• translational medicine
• zoology and wildlife conservation

Carolyn E. Adler

• Campus: Ithaca
• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: molecular and cellular medicine

Hector Aguilar-Carreno

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; translational medicine

Craig Altier

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease

Douglas Francis Antczak

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine; translational medicine

Marc A. Antonyak

• Campus: Ithaca - (Minor Member)
• Research Interests: An over-arching goal of my work has been to understand the signaling cues and regulatory events that direct the growth and survival of cells. These efforts have led me to study what is turning out to be an exciting mechanism of intercellular communication that is garnering a good deal of attention from the cell and cancer biology communities. It involves the ability of cells to form and release (shed) multiple distinct classes of non-traditional secretory vesicles, collectively referred to as extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs generated by cancer cells contain a variety of cytosolic and nuclear proteins, metabolic enzymes, RNA transcripts, and even micro-RNAs that can be transferred between two cancer cells, or between a cancer cell and a normal cell, thereby altering the behavior of recipient cells in ways that support cancer progression.

Avery August

Barbara Ann Baird

Joeva Barrow

• Research Interests: Molecular Nutrition

Parminder S. Basran

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: translational medicine
• Research Interests: My lab has 3 main areas of focus in Veterinary Medicine: Radiation Dosimetry and Treatment Planning; Medical Image Processing and Analysis; and Medical Physics Training and Education. I have keen interests in machine learning methods in radiation oncology, stereotactic ablative radiation therapies and hypofractionation, and medical imaging processing and analysis.

Gary W Blissard

Dwight Douglas Bowman

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; zoology and wildlife conservation
• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: zoology and wildlife conservation

Ilana Lauren Brito

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine
• Research Interests: infection and immunity, genetics and genomics

Nicolas S Buchon

Elizabeth L. Buckles

Jonathan T. Butcher

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: molecular and cellular medicine; translational medicine

Sarah Caddy

• Research Interests: immunology and infectious disease, molecular and cellular medicine, translational medicine

Casey Lu Cazer

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: population medicine and epidemiology
• Research Interests: Population Medicine & Epidemiology

Richard A Cerione

Yung-Fu Chang

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine; translational medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation

Pamela V. Chang

Jonathan Cheetham

Soon Hon Cheong

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine; population medicine and epidemiology; translational medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation

Theodore G Clark

Paula Cohen

Aimee Colbath

• Research Interests: translational medicine

Ruth N Collins

Pierre Comizzoli

Scott A. Coonrod

Brian Crane

• Research Interests: Protein redox chemistry; electron-transfer reactions; mechanisms of signal transduction; circadian clocks; protein photosensors; bacterial chemotaxis; receptor signaling; nitric oxide enzymology; metallobiochemistry

Kevin J. Cummings

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; population medicine and epidemiology

Paul D Curtis

Robin Dando

Susan Daniel

• Research Interests: biochemical engineering; surface science; fluid dynamics; heat and mass transfer

Charles G. Danko

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: molecular and cellular medicine; population medicine and epidemiology

Arunika Das

• Research Interests: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Medical Genetics and Genomics Reproductive Biology

Erin K. Daugherity

• Research Interests: Translational medicine

Mandi M de Mestre

• Research Interests: molecular and cellular medicine; translational medicine

Michelle Lee Delco

• Research Interests: biochemistry & cell biology, stem cell biology

Matthew P DeLisa

Diego G Diel

• Research Interests: infection and immunity

Mariana Diel de Amorim

• Research Interests: Immunology & Infectious Disease; Molecular & Cellular Medicine; Translational Medicine

Tobias Doerr

Anushka Dongre

• Research Interests: translational medicine; immunology and infection disease; molecular and cellular medicine

Callum G. Donnelly

Gerald E. Duhamel

Scott D. Emr

Jacquelyn M Evans

• Research Interests: population medicine and epidemiology; molecular and cellular medicine

Maria Julia Bevilaqua Felippe

Joseph R. Fetcho

Julia L. Finkelstein

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine; population medicine and epidemiology; translational medicine

Kathryn Fiorella

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: population medicine and epidemiology; zoology and wildlife conservation
• Research Interests: epidemiology, wildlife conservation

Claudia Fischbach-Teschl

Andrew Flyak

• Research Interests: immunology and infectious disease; translational medicine; molecular and cellular medicine

Deborah J. Fowell

• Research Interests: Regulation of immunity at tissue sites of infection and autoimmunity, immune imaging, intravital multiphoton microscopy

Rodman Guy Getchell

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; population medicine and epidemiology; zoology and wildlife conservation
• Research Interests: epidemiology, infection and immunity, wildlife conservation

Martin Gilbert

Laura Goodman

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; translational medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation
• Research Interests: infection & immunity, epidemiology, wildlife conservation, genetics & genomics

Yrjo Tapio Grohn

• Research Interests: molecular and cellular medicine

Galina M. Hayes

Gunther Hollopeter

Kelly R. Hume

Saki Ichikawa

Renata Ivanek Miojevic

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: immunology and infectious disease; population medicine and epidemiology; translational medicine

Glenn Albert Jackson

• Research Interests: Molecular and cellular medicine, translational medicine

Mason Cameron Jager

• Research Interests: immunology and infectious disease; translational medicine

Shaoyi Jiang

• Research Interests: Immunology and Infectious Disease, Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Translational Medicine

Elizabeth Lauren Johnson

• Research Interests: Molecular and Cellular Medicine

Toshimitsu Kawate

Satoshi Kimura

• Research Interests: Kimura lab focuses on translation mechanisms in bacterial pathogens.

Holger Klinck

Gary Alan Koretzky

• Research Interests: biochemistry & cell biology, cancer biology, infection and immunity

Michael I Kotlikoff

Natasza Kurpios

• Research Interests: Molecular and cellular medicine; Translational medicine

Jan Lammerding

Colleen M. Lau

• Research Interests: Immunology and infectious disease, molecular and cellular medicine

Brian Paul Lazzaro

Eric C. Ledbetter

• Research Interests: vascular biology, cancer biology, lymphology and immunology

Sylvia Siu Lee

Cynthia A. Leifer

Karl J Lewis

• Research Interests: molecular and cellular medicine, translational medicine

David Ming Lin

Maurine E. Linder

Marla E. Lujan

Sabine Mann

Eirene Chloe Markenscoff-Papadimitriou

Jessica McArt

Mandy J. McGeachy

• Research Interests: Immunology and infectious disease

Saurabh Mehta

Andrew David Miller

Katharyn Jean Mitchell

• Research Interests: Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Translational Medicine

Hussni Omar Mohammed

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: population medicine and epidemiology; translational medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation

Motoko Mukai

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: molecular and cellular medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation

Alexander Yu Nikitin

Nozomi Nishimura

• Research Interests: Neuroscience

Linda M Nowak

Zeribe Nwosu

• Research Interests: The Nwosu lab focuses on cancer metabolism and therapy. The goal of the lab is to identify and study novel mechanisms through which cancer cells acquire/use nutrients and to explore strategies for disrupting such processes for cancer therapy. Specific interests include to identify and characterize nutrient transporters, novel enzymes, oncogenic signaling, transcriptional or epigenetic regulators or cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (e.g., immune cells, fibroblasts) that facilitate cancer cells ability to ‘feed’ and grow.

Daryl Van Nydam

Kimberly O. O'Brien

Steven A. Osofsky

John Stuart Leslie Parker

Colin Ross Parrish

Joseph E Peters

Ned J. Place

• Concentrations: Biomedical Sciences: translational medicine; zoology and wildlife conservation

Raina K. Plowright

• Research Interests: Immunology and infectious disease; population medicine and epidemiology; zoology and wildlife conservation

Shu-Bing Qian

Heidi L. Reesink

Mark Stephen Roberson

David G Russell

Richa Sardana

Chris B. Schaffer

Luis M. Schang

John C. Schimenti

Krysten L. Schuler

Vimal Selvaraj

Praveen Sethupathy

Carolyn S. Sevier

Glenn E Simmons

• Research Interests: immunology and infectious disease; molecular and cellular medicine; translational medicine

Marcus B. Smolka

• Research Interests: biomedical sciences, molecular and cellular medicine, translational medicine

Paul Soloway

Jeongmin Song

Nucharin Songsasen

Rory James Todhunter

Alexander J.A. Travis

Tudorita Tumbar

Gerlinde Van de Walle

Brian C. VanderVen

Bettina Wagner

Lorin D Warnick

Gregory Arthur Weiland

Robert Samuel Weiss

Andrew C. White

Gary R Whittaker

Martin Wiedmann

Matthias Josef Wieland

• Research Interests: Immunology and infectious disease; population medicine and epidemiology

Mariana Federica Wolfner

Chunhui (Chris) Xu

• Research Interests: We perform research in the broad area of Biomedical Systems Biology with both high-throughput experimental and integrative computational methodologies.

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• Academics /

Biology Master’s Degree Program

Learn how to apply critical thinking to real-world scenarios in the life sciences while exploring cutting-edge research and theory.

Online Courses

On-Campus Experience

1 weekend or one 3-week course

$3,220 per course

Program Overview

Through the master’s degree in the field of biology you:

• Enhance your understanding of the biological sciences, including molecular biology, genetics, genomics, cell biology, physiology, neurobiology and behavior, evolution, and ecology.
• Build a foundation in scientific practice, including experimental or case study design and implementation, scientific data collection and analysis, and ethical practices.
• Develop advanced professional communication skills, with an emphasis on sharing scientific results in written, oral, and graphical forms.

Program Benefits

A faculty of life science instructors from Harvard University

Personalized academic and career advising

In-depth thesis experience with faculty advisor

Entrepreneurial opportunities through the Harvard Innovation Labs

Paid research options supporting faculty

Harvard Alumni Association membership upon graduation

Customizable Course Curriculum

Our curriculum is flexible in pace and customizable by design. You’ll experience the convenience of online learning and the immersive benefits of learning in person. You can study part time, choosing courses that fit your schedule and align with your professional goals.

As you work through the program, you’ll take courses in essential biology topics like genetics, neurobiology, biochemical engineering, and molecular biology.

9 Online Courses

• Synchronous and asynchronous formats
• Fall, spring, January, and summer options

You’ll complete 1 biology elective course in person, at an accelerated or standard pace:

• An online course with an intensive weekend on campus in fall or spring
• A 3-week summer session

You’ll complete a 9-month independent research project on a topic in biology in consultation with a thesis director.

The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program.

First, you’ll register for and complete 3 required courses, earning at least a B in each. These foundational courses are investments in your studies and count toward your degree, helping ensure success in the program.

Getting Started

We invite you to explore degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.

Our Community at a Glance

Students in the biology degree program are accomplished professionals who are pursuing the degree to continue their career advancement or prepare for further advanced study in biology. They work in a variety of fields, including education, research, and healthcare.

Download: Biology Master's Degree Fact Sheet

Average Age

Average Courses Taken Each Semester

Work Full Time

Would Recommend the Program

Professional Experience in the Field

Pursued for Career Advancement

Careers & Alumni Outcomes

Biology alumni have gone on to doctoral programs in a variety of fields, including bioethics, biomedical sciences, biomedical forensic sciences, chronic disease epidemiology, education, medical/veterinary sciences, neuroscience, oncology, and pubic health at top research universities.

Roles held by recent graduates include: 

• Senior Research Technician
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Medical Student

Alumni work at a variety of organizations, including:

• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Harvard University

Career Advising and Mentorship

Whatever your career goals, we’re here to support you. Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success offers career advising, employment opportunities, Harvard alumni mentor connections, and career fairs like the annual Harvard Biotech, Pharma, & Healthcare Expo on campus at Harvard.

Your Harvard University Degree

Upon successful completion of the required curriculum, you will receive your Harvard University degree — a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Biology.

Expand Your Connections: the Harvard Alumni Network

As a graduate, you’ll become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).

Tuition & Financial Aid

Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.

After admission, you may qualify for financial aid . Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.

Learning & Connection

Deep learning springs from human connection. That’s why we work so hard to bring people together — whether in a live virtual classroom or an in-person seminar on campus.

Our approach to online learning fosters interaction without sacrificing flexibility. Each week, you’ll engage with your instructor, participate in peer discussions, and receive one-on-one support from teaching staff—all from your home or office.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Life Sciences | Graduate | Careers | Undergraduate

Aeronautics and astronautics, biological engineering, biophysics graduate certificate program, brain and cognitive sciences, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering (environmental microbiology), computational and systems biology, earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, hst - health, sciences and technology, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, microbiology program, nuclear science and engineering, sloan mba with a health care focus, sts- science, technology, and society, whoi joint program, writing and humanistic studies, life sciences at mit.

Many areas of research today have a Life Sciences focus. This is primarily due to the powerful tools of molecular biology, which form a common language and allow exciting and important interdisciplinary approaches. Experience in Life Sciences-based research opens multiple career paths.

This site collates the broad array of MIT graduate degree programs with a primary focus on biological questions, or that can include a Life Sciences focus. Applications for graduate study should be made through the appropriate program. Please explore this site, and our program offerings!

Find out more about:

Life at MIT and how to apply

School of Science

School of Engineering

Sloan School of Management

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Open Courseware

Printable List of Programs

List of Life Sciences Subjects at MIT

Graduate Life Sciences Programs at MIT

Office of Admissions

Mit open courseware.

Developed by the Dean's Office: MIT School of Science, in cooperation with MIT departments.

Copyright 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Site designed by Chrysos Designs .

• Office of Graduate Education

Program Overview

When you join Stanford Biosciences, you join a collaborative network tackling some of the world’s toughest questions.  The Stanford Biosciences  Home Programs  comprise nine departments and five interdisciplinary programs, which span the School of Medicine and the School of Humanities and Sciences.  These Home Programs are the foundation of our collaborative culture, offering students the opportunity to tailor their graduate education  by working within an entire network of faculty, labs, and approaches to pursue their research.

Each student is admitted to a particular Home Program and initiates training with a core group of faculty, students, and postdoctoral fellows who share scientific interests. Many Home Programs host annual retreats—facilitating the exchange of ideas between Stanford colleagues and fostering team-building—as well as seminar series that invite outside speakers.

In addition to that intimate setting, all Biosciences students have access to faculty in every Home Program for laboratory rotations and potential thesis work.  One of Stanford Biosciences’ biggest strengths is the physical proximity of programs and labs , encouraging face-to-face collaboration and feeding an environment of interdisciplinary innovation. Indeed, the Biosciences PhD Programs combine the supportive atmosphere of a small program with the many opportunities afforded by a large umbrella program—the best of both worlds.

A closer look

The 14 Home Programs in Stanford Biosciences’ collaborative network:

Biochemistry

Department website | Find Faculty

Biomedical Data Science

Cancer Biology

Chemical and Systems Biology

Developmental Biology

Microbiology and Immunology

Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Neurosciences

Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

Structural Biology

Related programs

Bioengineering.

Program website | Find Faculty

Biomedical Physics

Health Policy

Epidemiology and Clinical Research

Dual-Degree Programs

Providing a select group of medical students with an opportunity to pursue a training program designed to equip them for careers in academic investigative medicine.

Program website

• Public Lectures
• Faculty & Staff Site >>

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Recognizing the need for highly trained scientists conversant across disciplines, the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) offer an interdisciplinary research program, the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program (MCB). For 25 years, MCB has combined the strengths of UW and Fred Hutch to foster an innovative and flexible graduate training program. Joined by the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), Seattle Children’s and Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI), MCB offers a broad range of opportunities for research in all areas of biomedical science.

Program Website

Degree(s)/Certificate(s) offered

• Doctor of Philosophy (Molecular and Cellular Biology)
• Master of Science (Molecular and Cellular Biology)*

*Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program only.

Program director/interdisciplinary group chair

• Celeste Berg, Professor, Department of Genome Sciences
• Julian Simon, Affiliate Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry

Interdisciplinary Faculty Group Membership

The following are the core/voting Graduate Faculty members of the interdisciplinary group. For a complete list of faculty active in the program, see the program website.

• John Aitchison, Affiliate Professor, Department of Biochemistry
• Geoffrey Baird, Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
• Sandra Bajjalieh, Professor, Department of Pharmacology
• Mark Bothwell, Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
• Daniel Campbell, Affiliate Professor, Department of Immunology
• Ajay Dhaka, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Structure
• Michael Emerman, Affiliate Professor, Department of Microbiology
• Stanley Fields, Professor, Department of Genome Sciences and Department of Medical Genetics
• Suzanne Hoppins, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry
• Takato Imaizumi, Professor, Department of Biology
• Rick McLaughlin, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Genome Sciences
• Samuel Miller, Professor, Department of Microbiology
• David Raible, Professor, Department of Biological Structure
• Nina Salama, Affiliate Professor, Department of Microbiology
• Stephen Tapscott, Professor, Department of Neurology
• Toshio Tsukiyama, Affiliate Professor, Department of Biochemistry

Graduate Programs

Biomedical sciences.

Cancer Biology

Exploring novel scientific mechanisms that explain the etiology, progression and treatment of cancer as a disease

Understanding mechanisms of immunity and their applications to diseases

Microbiology

Understanding microbial life forms and their relevance to human and environmental health

Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition

Molecular and biochemical studies of uptake, clearance, storage and utilization

Darwinian Sciences

Evolutionary Biology

Interdisciplinary study of organisms, ecosystems across time and organizational scales

Ecology & Evolution

Ecological and evolutionary processes, with a strong emphasis on theoretical underpinnings

Integrative Biology

Investigating biological structure, function, development, and evolution at the organismal level

Independent Programs

Biophysical Sciences

Interdisciplinary dual-mentored program bridging the physical and biological sciences

Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program – MD/PhD

Physician-scientist training in human biology and disease processes

Medical Physics

Applying physical science principles to biomedical problems

Public Health Sciences

Study of population health through biostatistics, epidemiology, and health services research

Molecular Biosciences

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

Understanding living systems at the molecular and atomic levels

Cell and Molecular Biology

Fundamental mechanisms of biological phenomena at molecular, cellular and multi-cellular scales

Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology

Mechanisms of building and maintaining cells, tissues and organisms

Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology

Genetic analysis of complex systems

Human Genetics

Experimental and computational studies of disease and quantitative trait genetics

Neuroscience

Computational Neuroscience

Quantitative approaches to studying nervous system function

Neurobiology

Investigating brain function from molecular to systems levels

Training Grants

Degree requirements, divisional requirements.

Committee on Evolutionary Biology

Graduate Program Guide 2023-2024

Table of contents.

• General Information
• Biology Program Overview
• MS in Biology Requirements
• PhD in Biology Requirements
• Program and Research Areas
• Administrative Resources
• University Policies & Procedures
• Health Resources
• Student Life & University Resources

1. General Information

1.1 Department of Biology Administration 1.2 Boston University Diversity Statement 1.3 Facilities 1.4 Building Hours 1.5 Emergencies

1.1 Department of Biology Administration

Chair Pamela Templer

Associate Chairs Cell and Molecular Biology – Trevor Siggers Neurobiology – Angela Ho Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution – John Finnerty

Director of Graduate Studies Francisco Naya

Director of Master’s Studies Randi Rotjan

Graduate Committee Chair –  Jennifer Bhatnagar Cell & Molecular – Cynthia Bradham Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution – Jeffrey Marlow Neurobiology – Meg Younger

Graduate Program Specialists Jen Corria Eliza Givens

Biology Department Staff

Top of Section                   Table of Contents

1.2 Boston University Diversity Statement

Boston University’s founders opened its doors to all students without regard to religion, race, or gender. Building and sustaining a vibrant community of scholars, students, and staff remains essential to our mission of contributing to, and preparing students to thrive in, an increasingly interconnected world.

We strive to create environments for learning, working, and living that are enriched by racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. We seek to cultivate an atmosphere of respect for individual differences in life experience, sexual orientation, and religious belief, and we aspire to be free of intellectual parochialism, barriers to access, and ethnocentrism.

Success in a competitive, global milieu depends upon our ongoing commitment to welcome and engage the wisdom, creativity, and aspirations of all peoples. The excellence we seek emerges from the contributions and talents of every member of the Boston University community.

1.3 Facilities

All Charles River Campus Buildings are Non-Smoking!

Biology Research Building (BRB), 5 Cummington Mall

This building houses departmental administrative offices, research laboratories, and offices of faculty primarily in the Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) and Marine Biology (BUMP) programs. It also houses departmental common facilities, including the Aquarium Room, Stable Isotope Laboratory, DNA Sequencing and Molecular Biology Facility, Workshop, Instrument Rooms, Environmental Rooms, a graduate student lounge, seminar rooms, and two classrooms.

Biological Science Center (BSC), 2 Cummington Mall

This building houses research laboratories, and offices for faculty and graduate students in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM).

Life Sciences & Engineering Building (LSE), 24 Cummington Mall

This building houses a centralized stockroom, the offices and laboratories of faculty members in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM) and Neurobiology (NEURO) as well as departmental common facilities, including instrument rooms and environmental rooms. It also houses departmental common facilities, including the Electron Microscope and Confocal Imaging Facility and the Biology Media Center.

Metcalf Center for Science & Engineering (SCI), 590 Commonwealth Avenue

This building houses the administrative offices for Introductory Biology and the departmental teaching laboratories. Laboratories for Introductory Biology are located on the third floor (west side). The fourth floor houses upper-division teaching laboratories. This building also houses the University-wide Laboratory Animal Care Facility, and public lounges, as well as the teaching laboratories, offices, and research laboratories of the Departments of Chemistry and Physics.

Science & Engineering Library (SEL), 38 Cummington Mall

This library contains most of the University’s holdings in the areas of Science & Engineering. More general holdings are located in Mugar Library at 775 Commonwealth Avenue. On-line catalogue and journal access is available at both libraries, as well as any departmental computer terminal.

1.4 Building Hours

Main doors to 2, 5, Cummington Mall and 590 Commonwealth Avenue will generally be unlocked from 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Admittance is possible 24 hours a day (including weekends). For after hour access, contact the Front Desk Staff in BRB 101. Main doors to 24 Cummington Mall will be unlocked from 7:30 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Friday. After hour access at 24 Cummington Mall is coordinated by Peter Castellano in LSE 602.

At 5 Cummington Mall, your office key will open most common spaces. At 2, 5 and 24 Cummington Mall, as well as 590 Commonwealth Avenue, there is a swipe card reader to open the front door after hours. All keys for BSC, BRB, and SCI are distributed by Front Desk Staff in BRB 101. Check the number on the door locks/cores. All keys for LSE are distributed by Peter Castellano in LSE 602 or Tom Symancyk in LSE 107. Please return keys when you graduate.

All persons using departmental facilities must arrange for their use through the staff or faculty member responsible for the facility. Persons using the facility must be checked out before use by the responsible staff member and must familiarize themselves with the regulations governing its use and maintenance.

1.5 Emergencies

In case of emergencies at 5 Cummington Mall building services (heat, electricity, water, refrigeration, air-conditioning, etc.), call Tom Symancyk, Materials Manager, at 617-353-2467. If Tom is unavailable call the building supervisor Dennis Batista 617-358-4282. If Dennis is not available, call the Buildings & Grounds Emergency number 617-353-2105. In case of emergencies at 2 and 24 Cummington Mall, contact Dennis Batista 358-4282. If Dennis is not available, contact Peter Castellano 617-353-8736.

In case of emergencies posing threat to health or safety (chemical spills, etc.), contact Director of Environmental Health and Safety, at 617-353-9734, or for immediate assistance, contact Campus Police at 617-353-2121.

In case of a medical emergency, Student Health Services and/or the University Police will help in managing the emergency quickly and effectively. Call the Boston University Police at 617- 353-2121 (3-2121 on a campus phone) or 911 if you have a life-threatening emergency. True medical emergencies are transported by ambulance to local hospital emergency departments.

Boston University Student Health Services will call to follow up on your emergency and will help in arranging additional care when needed. Later you should contact Mary Dangora in the Biology Office to file the required Accident Report Form.

• Emergency: 617-353-2121 BU Police, 911 if life-threatening
• Student Health Services 617-353-3575
• Sexual Assault 617-353-SARP (7277)
• Behavioral Medicine 617-353-3569
• Poison Control Center 617-232-2120
• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 617-492-RAPE (1-800-841-8371)

Visit http://www.bu.edu/ehs/comm/ for more detailed information regarding emergencies.

2. Biology Graduate Program Overview

2.1 Biology Graduate Program Overview 2.2 Grades and Academic Standing for Graduate Students 2.3 Transfer Credits 2.4 Biology Courses Approved for Graduate Credit 2.5 Recommended List of Quantitative Courses 2.6 Directed Studies in Biology 2.7 Financial Assistance

2.1 Biology Graduate Program Overview

The goal of the Biology Department at Boston University is to train students at the highest level in one of three broad sub-fields within modern Biology. Upon completion of the M.S. or Ph.D., students should be prepared for post-graduate training and on track to assume teaching and/or research positions in academia, industry, government agencies or non-government organizations.

The Director of Graduate Studies oversees academic programs and policies at the graduate level in the Department of Biology. In addition, there is a Graduate Committee, consisting of the Chair of the Committee and department faculty representing the three programmatic areas in the Department (Ecology, Behavior and Evolution; Cell & Molecular Biology; Neurobiology). The Committee Chair and members of the Committee are appointed by the Chair of the Department. The Graduate Committee is responsible for the programs of continuing students, allocating Department Travel and Research Grants, and maintaining overall standards in the Graduate programs.

2.2 Grades and Academic Standing for Graduate Students

Student responsibilities:

As outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin, the Graduate School and the Biology Department require grades of at least a B- and a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing and to be eligible to complete the graduate degree. Teaching grades are not included in calculating the GPA. A student receiving a grade lower than B- in a graduate course will be counseled by their faculty advisor and the appropriate member of the Graduate Committee. A student who receives a second grade lower than B- will be counseled by the Director of Graduate Studies, and will lose good academic standing in the Biology Department. Grades below a B- do not count towards a student’s graduate degree. In rare cases, a student can petition the Director of Graduate Studies to have a grade below a B- count towards their degree. All Departmental guarantees including financial support guarantees are dependent on being in good academic standing.

The Director of Graduate Studies will advise any student on academic probation of the specific time frame (generally within two semesters) during which the student must reestablish a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and, thus, regain good academic standing. Failure to meet these requirements within the specified time, or receipt of a third grade lower than B- will result in a recommendation to the graduate school of termination of the student’s enrollment at the University. Appeals of the decision to recommend termination may be made to the Graduate Committee.

The Graduate School’s policy on grades and satisfactory academic progress can be found here .

Faculty responsibilities:

The faculty advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies are responsible for monitoring the academic performance of each graduate student each semester. These individuals generally notify the Graduate Committee of any student who receives a grade below B-. The Director of Graduate Studies will inform the Graduate Committee of the requirements for regaining good academic standing for any student placed on academic probation. The Graduate Committee will serve as the venue for student appeals.

2.3 Transfer Credits

Students may make the request for transfer credit through the online Transfer of Credit Request Form from GRS. There are three specific steps for requesting transfer credit:

• Review the transfer credit procedures outlined on the Graduate Student Resources page. If you are a PhD student, complete the appropriate coursework transfer credit plan.
• Submit the online GRS form for the credits you are looking to transfer. The form first goes to GRS Records to check if the courses are eligible to be transferred in accordance with GRS policy.
• If the courses are eligible, GRS will forward the request via email to the Director of Graduate Studies (copying the administrator) for review and approval. GRS staff will never apply credits to a student’s record without approval from the program

Important Links:

• GRS Transfer Credit Policy

2.4 Biology Courses Approved for Graduate Credit

All Biology courses numbered 500 and above are approved for graduate credit. A current list of Biology courses can be found here . In addition, the following courses are also approved for graduate credit:

• CAS BB522 Molecular Biology Laboratory
• GRS MB721/722 Graduate Biochemistry

Please note that specific programs maintain a separate list of courses that count toward their specific research area. More information can be found under Program and Research Areas .

2.5 Recommended List of Quantitative Courses

CAS AN597 Special Topics in Biological Anthropology CAS BI519 Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology CAS CN510 Principles & Methods Cognitive and Neural Modeling CAS CN530 Neural and Computational Models of Vision CAS CS542 Machine Learning CAS EE507 Dynamical Oceanography CAS EE509 Applied Environmental Statistics CAS EE516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers CAS EE585 Ecological Forecasting and Informatics CAS MA565 Mathematical Models in the Life Sciences CAS MA581 Probability ENG BE517 Optical Microscopy of Biological Materials ENG BE700 Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering ENG BF527 Applications in Bioinformatics ENG BF571 Dynamics & Evolution of Biological Networks ENG BF 768 Biological Database Analysis GRS BI708 Systems Developmental Biology GRS MA665-666 Modeling and Data Analysis in Neuroscience GRS MA681 Accelerated Introduction to Statistical Methods for Quantitative Research GRS MA770 Math and Stat Methods of Bioinformatics SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics SPH BS723 Introduction to Statistical Computing SPH BS730 Introduction to R SPH BS805 Intermediate Statistical Computation & Applied Regression SPH BS860 Statistical Genetics II

2.6 Directed Studies in Biology

Students are expected to complete all coursework requirements by taking existing lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses offered through BU. If there is a specific reason why a student needs to complete a directed study, they may submit a request via this form . All directed studies must be approved by the student’s advisor, the directed study faculty, the appropriate Associate Chair, and the Director of Graduate/Master’s Studies. If the directed study is approved, a Graduate Program Specialist will register the student for BI597 and confirm registration with the student.

2.7 Financial Assistance

The GRS policy is that financial aid awarded by Boston University may be used only for courses required by the degree program. It may be used for courses taken as co-requisites or prerequisites by special permission from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. It may not be used for PDP (Physical Development Program) courses, Sports Pass, subway/bus passes, library fines or late fees. For Ph.D. students, tuition for an audited course will be covered by scholarship if the course is approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. This course must be related to the dissertation research, or be considered as background or preparation for the dissertation research or topic. 900-level courses may not be audited. Financial Aid may not exceed the cost of required tuition, fees and living expenses.

Direct Deposit: All students are encouraged to set up Direct Deposit by going to the Student Link under the Work tab. Students who have not set up Direct Deposit before the first payroll run in mid-September will have to pick up their stipend checks at the Student Payroll Office, 881 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd Floor.

M.S. Students

Master’s students are expected to pay their own tuition. On occasion when teaching positions for the Department of Biology are available, Master’s students may apply within the department for a Teaching Assistantship (TA). These positions consist of a 20-hour per week commitment on average and provide $6,000 per semester paid on a weekly basis. Students involved in active research should speak to their advisor before accepting a TA position. If interested in potential TA opportunities, please send your CV – including courses taken – to the Biology Graduate Program Specialist.

In addition to potential TA positions, the following options may help assist Master’s students in financing their graduate education:

• The Student Employment Office
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Stafford Loans
• Credit Based Loans (Federal PLUS & Private)

Please contact [email protected] for questions about financial aid options for Master’s students.

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students are guaranteed 12 months a year of stipend support and tuition for 5 years provided they make satisfactory progress towards their degree and remain in good academic standing. In an extremely rare case, a student failing to meet these requirements and at risk of losing funding will be notified well in advance.

Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply for fellowships and grants at funding agencies. All eligible students should apply for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships in the Fall semester of their first or second year.

Dean’s Fellowships: These are non-service fellowships allocated to first-year Ph.D. students that do not have immediate teaching requirements. These are paid monthly on the 4th Friday of the month. Domestic students on non-service fellowships will not have taxes withheld by the University; however, students are still required to report their stipend to the IRS and pay taxes, if applicable. International students will be taxed at a rate of 14% unless their government has a tax treaty with the U.S. For more information on tax exemption for international students, refer to the Student Employment Office website.

Teaching Fellowships (TF): These provide a stipend plus full tuition and fees for up to four full courses per semester. Teaching responsibilities usually require approximately 20 hours per week. Full or partial awards may be given.

Doctoral Research Fellowships (RF): These awards are given to students who assist individual faculty with specific areas of research and the stipend is funded by faculty research grants. There are a substantial number of graduate student research positions in Biology, which are funded through faculty research grants. These Research Fellowships provide the stipend and full tuition. The supervising faculty member determines the specific duties of the Research Fellow. Consult your faculty advisor.

Biology Department Awards: Several competitive awards are available to graduate students in the Department of Biology. These include:

• The Thomas H. Kunz Award – summer stipend support for EBE Ph.D. candidates who have completed the qualifying exam, with a preference for those conducting field research in the award
• The Charles Terner Award – summer stipend support for CM or MCBB Ph.D. candidates who have completed the qualifying exam and who have made significant contributions to their
• The Brenton Lutz Award – summer stipend support for Neurobiology or GPN Ph.D. candidates who have who have completed the qualifying exam and made significant contributions to their field.
• Marion R. Kramer Scholarship – summer stipend support for female Biology Ph.D. candidates who are committed to excellence in scientific research.
• The Alden Macchi Award – support to be used to attend a conference for Biology Ph.D. candidates who have completed the qualifying exam in the fields of endocrinology and/or regulatory biology.
• Warren McLeod Fellowships – provides either a summer stipend support or a single year of support for D. candidates who have completed the qualifying exam and are conducting research in marine science.
• Dana Wright Fellowship – provides support for S. and Ph.D. students in Marine Biology. It may be used for stipend support (up to 4 months), research supplies, and/or travel expenses related to research.

Training Grants: Opportunities for support through this avenue exist. Consult your faculty advisor.

Work Study Aid: All eligible graduate students can apply for summer and academic year awards. Applications can be obtained from the Graduate School. Students receiving work-study aid will be expected to provide service to the Department (teaching) or in the laboratory of their major professor (research). Master’s candidates are eligible for federal work-study funding.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowships: Graduate students in either their first- or second-year are encouraged to apply for these prestigious three-year fellowships. NSF Fellowship applications are due in November of each year. For applications and instructions can be found here .

Department Graduate Travel Grants: Travel Grants may be available to assist students in their travel to professional scientific meetings. Students presenting papers or posters on their research will receive first consideration. [Link to awards page] Further questions should be directed to the Graduate Committee.

Other sources: Students should see their faculty advisors for other potential sources of financial support, or check the small reference library at the Associate Dean’s Office, Graduate School, Room 115. Additionally, the Proposal Development Specialist in the Biology Department maintains a database of graduate student funding opportunities.

3. MS in Biology Requirements

3. 1 Time Limits 3.2 Faculty Advisors 3.3 Course Requirements 3.4 Types of MS Degrees 3.5 GRS MS Graduation Deadlines

* Note: Individual program requirements may be more specific. 

3.1 Time Limits

Officially, Master’s degree requirements must be completed within three years from the date of first registration. However, students may apply to the Graduate School for extensions past the three-year deadline. M.S. degrees are conferred in May, August, or January, as specified in the Graduate School Bulletin .

3.2 Faculty Advisors

Each graduate student admitted to the M.S. Degree program is assigned a faculty advisor. For coursework tracks, this advisor will be your primary point of contact for course selection and for receiving an advising code. For Research or Scholarly Literature-Based paper tracks, your advisor should help with coursework advising as above, and be your primary advisor for your thesis or scholarly-paper. The appropriate Research or Scholarly Literature-Based Paper committee of the student should be formed no later than the first year of full-time graduate study.

3.3 Course Requirements

Courses will vary depending on program discipline. All Master’s students must complete at least 32 credits of graduate work (as detailed below for each type of Master’s degree in Biology). Two courses (8 credits) may be transferred to BU from another university upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and GRS.

3.4 Types of MS Degrees

MS with Coursework Track

Coursework: The student must complete 32 credits of graduate level course work. These courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student’s primary advisor. Note: starting Fall 2024, this will be the only track available via the Biology BA/MS degree. For more information about the BA/MS degree can be found here .

MS with Research Thesis Track

Coursework: The student must complete at least 32 credits of graduate level work. At least 20 of these graduate level credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). Outside of formal coursework, up to 12 of these credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701/702), Seminar courses (BI583/584) or Master’s Research in Biology (BI 595).

Research Thesis: The student must write a thesis detailing original research that was conducted under the sponsoring faculty member. The thesis will generally include the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, References, and figures and/or tables summarizing research. The thesis must be read and approved by a committee of three faculty members that includes at least two faculty members from the Biology Department; one committee member must be the faculty member who acted as the Major Professor for the student’s research. Ordinarily the student will receive written comments from all committee members that must be incorporated into a final version of the thesis. Upon satisfactory completion of revisions, the readers must sign and approve the signature page of the final version of the thesis. The thesis title must be approved by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and a properly formatted draft of the thesis must be submitted by email to [email protected] for format review at least three weeks before the thesis is due. The final reader-approved thesis must be submitted to the Electronics Thesis and Dissertations (ETD) Administrator for final approval by the graduate school before the date posted on the GRS submission calendar. The final electronic version will be reviewed by GRS, and then forwarded to the Mugar Library ETD Administrator for the final format review, before its submission to ProQuest/UMI Administrator. Additionally, a copy should be given to all committee members, the Department, and one copy should be kept by the student. An oral defense is recommended, but not required, so students should discuss this with their advisor and reach a mutual agreement. Details on thesis submission dates can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/cas/academics/ma-ms-academics/graduation-information/

MS with Scholarly Paper Track

Coursework: The student must complete 32 credits of graduate level course work. Ordinarily, these courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student’s primary scholarly literature-based paper reader (see below). At least 28 of these graduate level credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). On this track, however, up to 4 credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701/702).

Scholarly Literature-Based Paper: The student must write a scholarly literature-based paper on a selected topic in Biology. This paper will generally be a document of 30-80 pages on a selected research topic in current Biology and will usually include several chapters and extensive literature references. This paper will be written in consultation with a faculty member from the Biology Department who will serve as the primary reader. The final version of the document must be read and approved by at least two faculty members (i.e., the primary reader and one other faculty member) from the Biology Department. A final copy must be given to all committee members, the Department, and one copy should be kept by the student. The scholarly literature-based paper is not submitted to GRS.

M.S. for Ph.D. students (Two options)

• A Ph.D. student who has advanced to candidacy (as demonstrated by passing the Ph.D. qualifying exam), and has completed 32 credits of graduate level course work (not including research) may apply to the Graduate School for a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Biology. This must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies within the Biology Department. The student’s major professor will receive notification of this application process.
• A Ph.D. student who has taken, but has not advanced to candidacy based on the Ph.D. qualifying examination may still receive a Master’s degree. This student may receive a Coursework M.S. degree provided they have completed 32 credits of course work (not including research credits). Alternatively, this student may receive a Scholarly Paper or Research Thesis M.S. degree if the written portion of the qualifying examination is adapted to ensure it is of sufficiently high quality for a M.S. degree, and approved by a majority of the qualifying exam committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.

3.5 GRS MS Graduation Deadlines

Below is a table with GRS deadlines. Complete graduation information can be found here .

* August 2024 graduation dates are tentative. Please check the GRS website for the most current deadlines.

Graduation Deadlines (with Biology Program deadlines)

4. PhD in Biology Requirements

4.1 Time Limits 4.2 Teaching Requirement 4.3 Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) 4.4 Course Requirements 4.5 Laboratory Rotations (CM and Neuro only) 4.6 Research Credits 4.7 Faculty Advisory Committee 4.8 Qualifying Exam 4.9 Dissertation 4.10 GRS PhD Graduation Deadlines

4.1 Time Limits

Officially, the Ph.D. must be completed within seven years after the first registration for doctoral study. Ph.D. degrees are conferred in either May, August, or January, as specified in the Graduate School Bulletin . In addition, the Ph.D. candidacy expires after the fifth anniversary of passing the Qualifying Examination. Petitions to extend this deadline are possible at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School.

PhD Extension Petition

4.2 Teaching Requirement

The department requires a minimum of two semesters of teaching during a student’s graduate career as part of the Ph.D. degree. These semesters do not need to be completed consecutively. During the first semester of teaching, students are required to enroll in our first year seminar course, BI697. The course provides guidance and training on pedagogy and other aspects of graduate school.

4.3 Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR)

All Biology Ph.D. students are required to begin the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training during their first year, and complete it within four years of entering the program. RCR is offered through the Provost’s Office and involves online modules and a one-credit course covering topics such as proper data acquisition and management, research collaboration ethics, publication do’s and don’ts, social responsibility in research, research that involves human subjects, and research that involves animals. More information can be found on the RCR website or on the RCR Cheat Sheet .

4.4 Course Requirements

Students must complete 64 credits; at least 32 of these credits must be accrued from lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses; the remaining credits can come from research credits:

• Two semesters of Progress in Research Seminars
• One semester of grant writing
• One semester pedagogy course
• One quantitative course
• Two semesters of lab rotation credits (not required for EBE students)
• Additional required courses and electives vary depending on program discipline
• GRS BI 699 courses (for which all teaching fellows register) does not count toward these requirements; credits for this course are not tallied as part of the total credit Teaching Fellows no longer need to be registered for BI 699. This has been discontinued effective September 1, 2020.

  Note: A maximum of 8 courses (32 credits) may be transferred to BU from other institutions. At least 16 credits must come from formal courses taken at BU.

4.5 Laboratory Rotations

First-year students in the Cell & Molecular and Neurobiology programs are expected to complete three laboratory rotations during their first academic year. Students are expected to rotate in labs within Biology and each rotation lasts about eight weeks. In special cases students can request to complete a rotation with a faculty member outside of Biology, but it is subject to Associate Chair approval. After the third rotation, students provide their respective Associate Chair with a rank-ordered list of faculty mentors with whom they would like to carry out their Ph.D. dissertation research. The Associate Chairs then match students with major dissertation advisors and notify students. In some cases, students do additional rotations in order to find a laboratory for their Ph.D. research.  A guide to laboratory rotations can be found here .

4.6 Research Credits

Consult your advisor for the specific number of research credits that you should register for each semester. The following can be used as a guide however it is important to review the course credit requirements for your program and your individual academic progress and funding in consultation with your advisor:

• Only registering for research credits (not teaching) – register for 6 credits of research
• Only registering for research credits (and teaching) – register for 4 credits of research
• Registering for courses and research credits (not teaching) – register for 4 credits of research
• Registering for courses and research credits (and teaching) – register for up to 2 credits of research

4.7 Faculty Advisory Committee

All Biology graduate students are paired with a primary research advisor (major professor), who is a member of the Biology faculty and who serves as first reader on the student’s thesis. All students admitted to the CM and Neurobiology Ph.D. program are assigned a temporary faculty advisor. By the end of the second semester of the first year a permanent major advisor should be selected. In some instances, the research performed towards the student’s thesis requires co-advisors. One of these co-advisors will be designated as first reader (see Dissertation section). No later than the end of the third year, the student, in consultation with the major advisor, should have selected a committee consisting of five persons to serve as a Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC shall include the research advisor and at least two other faculty members from the Department of Biology, one of whom will serve as the Chair of the Committee for the qualifying examination. The fourth and fifth members of the Committee may be chosen from other faculty of Boston University or from other institutions upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Once each subsequent year, the student and their major professor must jointly convene the Faculty Advisory Committee to evaluate the progress of the student. It is recommended that this meeting coincide with the annual research presentation at the student seminar. The student should be prepared to present a written and/or oral report on research progress to the committee. Deficiencies in course work, research activity, etc. should be noted, and recommendations, if needed, should be made to the student and included in their annual report. Students failing to comply with these recommendations may be subject to probation and loss of financial support from the Department. Generally, the composition of the Faculty Advisory Committee remains the same for the duration of the student’s graduate program. Changes in committee membership can be made by mutual agreement among those involved, but the final dissertation committee must meet the membership requirements listed above.

4.8 Qualifying Exam

A Ph.D. student is required to complete a written and oral qualifying examination in their field of specialization and related fields as defined by the Faculty. The Faculty Advisory Committee will prepare and administer each phase of the examination. This examination must be passed within the first three years of residence at Boston University. Failure of any part of the examination constitutes failure to advance to candidacy. A student has two chances to pass the examination. A second failure generally results in dismissal of the student from the graduate program. Individual graduate programs within the Biology Department may have more specific guidelines for candidacy and the qualifying examination.

4.9 Dissertation

Responsibility for the successful completion of the dissertation lies with the candidate, who, through insight, initiative, and resourcefulness, shall make a definitive contribution to the knowledge of his or her specialized field. A timetable for the preparation and defense of the dissertation can be found at the end of this section.

Preparation and Submission of a Biology Ph.D. Dissertation Conferral of the Ph.D. degree in Biology requires the successful preparation and defense of a Ph.D. dissertation on original research conducted by the student. A precise timetable for completion of essential steps in submission of a Ph.D. dissertation can be obtained from the Graduate School website . Those steps and Biology Department requirements and guidelines are summarized briefly here.

• A student must have a Dissertation Committee that includes at least five faculty members.  This committee must include at least three full time faculty members from the Biology Department. One Biology Department member of the Dissertation Committee will be the student’s research advisor, who will generally be the first reader of the dissertation. A second member of the committee will serve as the second reader. A third Biology Department member of the committee will serve as Chair of the Dissertation Defense (see below). Neither first nor second readers may be the chair of the committee. In cases where there are research co-advisors, these faculty members will serve as first and second readers, respectively. The co-advisors and student will determine which co-advisor will serve as the first reader.
• Approximately one year prior to the proposed graduation date, a formal Dissertation Prospectus must be submitted to the Department. This document should be prepared in consultation with and with approval of the first and second thesis readers and the Director of Graduate It is recommended that the student discuss the prospectus at an annual committee meeting prior to submission, or otherwise email the committee for approval. The prospectus generally provides an outline of the major chapters and subheadings to be included in the Ph.D. dissertation. Each chapter listed in the prospectus should include an abstract that describes what problem will be investigated, what results will be shown and what conclusions will be drawn in the chapter. The abstract should then be followed by a number of points, outlining the major specific results (or lists of figures and tables) that will be presented in that chapter in the final dissertation. The formal Prospectus will generally be approximately 5 to 10 typed, double spaced pages, but no more than 20. Dissertation prospectus examples can be requested from the Graduate Program Specialist. Prospectus Approval Form
• Approximately two months before the defense, the student and the first reader should meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Biology Department Graduate Program Specialist to review the timeline and requirements for graduation.
• An Abstract of the dissertation and Schedule of Final Oral Examination form must be submitted to the Graduate Program Specialist. This Abstract (maximum of 350 words) must be approved by the first and second A schedule of the Final Oral Examination (time, place and list of Dissertation Committee members) must be submitted to the Graduate Program Specialist, along with a copy of the approved Dissertation Abstract.
• Submit draft of dissertation to [email protected] by attaching the draft to an email.  You will be notified if the format is approved. Because the formatting of the dissertation can be time consuming; it is advised that all formatting issues be resolved before you defend your dissertation. Following your defense, you should allow ample time to complete all corrections and content revisions that are required by your committee; students are advised to allow at least 3 weeks for revisions.
• Helpful Links: Videos via BUniverse Dissertation Formatting Guide Example Preliminary Pages
•  For faculty outside of BU, a “Special Service Appointment” must be filled out, including a copy of the proposed committee member’s curriculum vitae, and submitted to the Graduate Program Specialist for Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate School approval.
• At least two weeks prior to the Dissertation Defense, all work that comprises the dissertation, which is prepared as described below and approved by both readers must be distributed to all members of the Dissertation Committee. The student should prepare the dissertation in close consultation with the first and second Ordinarily the dissertation will go through several revisions by the first reader, followed by one or more revisions by second reader. The Graduate Program Specialist will email a formal announcement to the Chair of the Dissertation Committee and include important paperwork needed at the defense.
• A formal announcement of the Dissertation Seminar and Defense should be made in several ways.  It is the responsibility of the student to see that the following matters are taken care of: A booklet containing an announcement of the Dissertation Seminar and Defense, the Dissertation Abstract, and a brief CV of the candidate must be distributed to all Biology Faculty. This must be prepared by the student and can be given to the Graduate Program Specialist for printing and distribution. A template for the flyer is provided by the Graduate Program Specialist. Usually the Dissertation Seminar is also publicized by informal posters and e-mail (arranged with the Graduate Program Specialist).
• A formal Biology Department Dissertation Seminar, for which all five Dissertation Committee members are present, must be given by the Ph.D. candidate. This electronic graphics (e.g., PowerPoint) presentation on the dissertation research will ordinarily last 45- 50 minutes and is open to the This seminar is usually given immediately before the dissertation defense, but under unusual circumstances may be accommodated by prior arrangement with the Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
• The student must also pass a private Dissertation Defense in front of the Dissertation Committee (at least five members must be present) . By prior arrangement up to one committee member, who is not the chair or the first reader, can attend the final oral examination with interactive video and audio without a proxy. A proxy must be in attendance for any additional committee members who attend via audio/visual communication. The Dissertation Defense is ordinarily a time where committee members ensure that the research has been completed by and is understood by the candidate, and will voice any concerns over data or the preparation of the dissertation. The Dissertation Defense usually lasts 1-2 hours. More than one failing vote on the Dissertation Defense will constitute a failure. Because the signature of the First Reader is required on the dissertation (see below), the First Reader must be one of the committee members passing the student on the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense.
• Following the defense and when all corrections and revisions required by your committee have been completed, the final approved dissertation is submitted electronically to the ETD Administrator . Ordinarily the student receives written comments from all committee members that they are required to incorporate, in consultation with the first and second readers, into a final version of the dissertation. Upon satisfactory completion of revisions, the first and second readers must sign and approve the final version of the dissertation. The final electronic version will be reviewed by GRS, and then forwarded to the Mugar Library ETD Administrator for the final format review, before its submission to ProQuest/UMI Administrator. If the student does not want their dissertation or thesis to be available from ProQuest or the Digital Common immediately after it is submitted an embargo can be requested. For any time period (6 months, one year, or two years), you must submit a letter requesting a restriction along with the PDF of the thesis or dissertation through GRS Records. The letter must explain the compelling reason for the restriction, the time limit desired, an address where you can be contacted when the time limit expires, and the signed approval of both you and your major advisor. These letters are reviewed and if appropriate approved by the associate dean. The restriction will start from the date on the letter. Learn more on the GRS website. Please note: If either office notifies you of necessary corrections or changes, they must be made immediately. A quick response will avoid your registering for another semester, a delay in verifying the completion of your degree requirements, and the issuing of the diploma. It may take some time before the final library review is complete.
•   The student should also give final copies to the first and second readers (and, when requested, other members of the Dissertation Committee), the Graduate Program Specialist, and should retain at least one final copy for themselves. Some committee members may prefer PDF copies of the dissertation.

Organization of the Biology Ph.D. Dissertation A set of rules concerning page sizes, page numbering, etc., of the dissertation can be obtained on the Graduate School website under Dissertation Formatting Guide and Draft Submission . The Graduate School rules must be strictly followed. Below are the guidelines, which are generally applicable to Biology Ph.D. dissertations. The format of the complete dissertation document submitted at the time of the defense should  meet the specifications of the Graduate School for final submission of the dissertation as well as these guidelines that follow. In general, the dissertation is organized in one of two formats. The exact format to be followed is usually decided by the student and the first and second readers.

1. Comprehensive Dissertation

This type of dissertation normally includes, in order, the following sections: Title Page, Approval Signature Page, Acknowledgments, Abstract, Table of Contents, List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Abbreviations, several Chapters, and a comprehensive Reference List. The comprehensive dissertation should have a consistent style format in all chapters. For example, Materials & Methods from multiple papers can be combined into a single consistent Materials & Methods chapter, References should be cited consistently throughout the dissertation, and there should be a single Introduction, Discussion, and Reference List.

Chapter One usually provides a general and specific Introduction to the dissertation. This will include an overview of the importance of the work, a specific introduction to the field, and a statement of the dissertation goals.

Chapter Two usually details the Materials & Methods used in the dissertation work.

Chapter Three (and more) describes the Results obtained from the dissertation work. These chapters include figures, tables and descriptions of original work. Often these chapters have short introductions to provide a framework for the results that will follow. Figures and tables must have appropriate legends.

The final Chapter should include a specific and general Discussion of the dissertation work in light of other work in the field.

2. Partitioned Dissertation

This type of dissertation normally includes, in order, the following sections: Title Page, Approval Signature Page, Acknowledgments, Abstract, Table of Contents, List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Abbreviations, several Chapters, and a comprehensive Reference List.

Chapter One usually provides a general and specific Introduction to the dissertation. This includes an overview of the importance of the work, a specific introduction to the field, and a statement of the dissertation goals.

Chapter Two (and more) presents the Results of the dissertation research organized in a research paper format. That is, each chapter includes the following material as pertinent to the research included in the given chapter: Introduction: Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion and Specific Reference List.

The final Chapter presents a summary of the original research accomplished in the thesis work, and its relevance to the large field, and perspective for future work.

To be consistent with Graduate School rules, the partitioned dissertation must also include a comprehensive Reference List.

Specific Guidelines for Presentation of Research and Data

In all cases, details for the presentation of original data should be worked out between the student and the first and second readers. However, the following can be used as guidelines:

• Large parts of the written dissertation may be taken or adapted from material already published by the student.   However, published papers cannot be simply digitally pasted together. In addition, care must be taken to appropriately identify work done by others in such papers.
• In general, all data relevant to the dissertation should be included in the dissertation. It is usually not acceptable to list primary, relevant data as “data not shown” or refer to the student’s data published in another source.
• It is recognized that all figures within the dissertation may not be in a consistent format.  For example, figures may have been taken from published articles in journals with different format requirements. In general, it is not necessary to remake figures for the dissertation. Any work done by others, such as co-authors, must be strictly attributed to them if it needs to be included in the student’s dissertation.

Specific Guidelines for Scholarship and Citation

References must be listed and cited according to a standard and consistent journal format. The full title of each journal referenced must be included unless the reference list is preceded by a list of all journal abbreviations used.

Gilmore TD, White DW, Sarkar S & Sif S (1995) Malignant transformation of cells by the v Rel oncoprotein. In, The DNA Provirus: Howard Temin’s Scientific Legacy (Cooper GM, Greenberg Temin R & Sugden B, eds), American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, pp 109 128

White DW & Gilmore TD (1993) Temperature sensitive transforming mutants of the v rel oncogene. Journal of Virology 67: 6876 6881

White DW, Roy A & Gilmore TD (1995) The v Rel oncoprotein blocks apoptosis and proteolysis of IκB-α in transformed chicken spleen cells. Oncogene 10: 857 868

• Citations within text should provide author(s) and date, and be provided in parenthesis.  If two authors, use Doe & Smith; if more than two authors, use Doe et al. If multiple citations are given, they are to be separated by semicolons, and ordered by year. That is, the above references would be cited in the text as (Pauling, 1960; Monod et al., 1962; Smith & Borgeat, 1985; Pirani et. al., 2004). If one discusses a specific study within the text, include only the year in parentheses; for example, “Monod et al. (1962) showed that…”

4.10 GRS PhD Graduation Deadlines

5. program and research areas.

5.1 Overview 5.1 Cell & Molecular Biology (CM) 5.2 Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution (EBE) – includes Marine Biology 5.3 Neurobiology

5.1 Overview

The Department has three graduate program areas: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE, including Marine Biology); Neurobiology (Neuro); and Cell & Molecular Biology (CM). Each program area has unique strengths and suggested curricula. The department offers both Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Biology that emphasize independent research on the part of the student, and a non-research Master’s degree. Many Biology faculty members participate in inter-departmental programs that offer graduate degrees. These affiliated programs include the following: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry (MCBB); Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN); and Bioinformatics (BF).

Various Biology Department programs include faculty active in research in the areas listed below.

• Behavioral ecology and sociobiology
• Cancer biology
• Biochemistry
• Biogeochemistry
• Cell and molecular neurobiology
• Cell signaling and gene regulation
• Developmental biology
• Ecology and conservation biology
• Endocrinology and reproductive biology
• Evolutionary Biology Genetics and genomics
• Marine biology
• Microbiology
• Molecular ecology and evolution
• Neural systems and behavior
• Systems biology
• Tropical ecology

5.2 Cell & Molecular Biology (CM)

The Program in Cell & Molecular Biology offers courses and research opportunities in developmental biology, cell signaling, gene regulation, cancer biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, systems biology, and membrane structure and function. Associated programs include the interdisciplinary program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry (MCBB), and the Bioinformatics program.

Requirements for Cell & Molecular Biology (CM) Candidates in the PhD Program

*Students with strong biochemistry backgrounds can bypass this requirement (credit will still be needed from another elective course).

List of Elective Courses

Below is a list of recommended elective courses, although any Biology course can be taken as long as it is approved by the CM Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies. One course among those denoted with a “*” symbol can be taken by MS students to satisfy the cell biology requirement.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BB 522 Molecular Biology Lab (4 cr)*

Biology BI 527 Biochemistry I Laboratory (2 cr) BI 528 Biochemistry II Laboratory (2 cr) BI 545 Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (4 cr) BI 551 Biology of Stem Cells (4 cr)* BI 553 Molecular Biology II (4 cr, for MS students) BI 560 Systems Biology (4 cr)* BI 565 Functional Genomics (4 cr) BI 572 Advanced Genetics (4 cr)* BI 576 Carcinogenesis (4 cr)* BI 581/582 Seminar in Biology (various topics) (2cr/2 cr) BI 594 Topics in Biology (various topics) BI 610 Developmental Biology (4 cr)* BI 645 Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology (4 cr) BI 655 Developmental Neurobiology (4 cr) BI 681 Molecular Biology of the Neuron (4 cr)* BI 708 Systems Developmental Biology* BI 753 Advanced Molecular Biology (4 cr.)*

Chemistry CH 525 Physical Biochemistry (4 cr) CH 541 Natural Products Chemistry (4 cr) CH 612 Separation Methods in Chemistry and Biochemistry (4 cr) CH 721 Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanisms (4 cr) CH 722 Protein Chemistry (4 cr)

Engineering BF 527 Applications in Bioinformatics (4 cr) BE 561 DNA and Protein Sequence Analysis (4 cr) BE 700 Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering (var cr) BF 768 Biological Database Analysis (4 cr)

Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry (MCBB) MB 722 Advanced Biochemistry (4 cr)

School of Public Health SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)

All Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, and MCBB course descriptions may be found in the graduate bulletin available on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website at http://www.bu.edu/academics/grs/ courses. Engineering course descriptions can be found at http://www.bu.edu/bme/graduate/courses/

Grant Writing Seminar

Students take a grant writing seminar course (BI581, 2 credits). For that course, students are expected to write an NSF GRFP proposal, which is usually submitted for a deadline in mid- October to early November. Students write this proposal in consultation with the course instructor and their first rotation advisor. Students who do not meet the criteria for submitting an NSF GRFP application are also expected to write this proposal in order to develop grant writing skills.

Research Seminars

Students participate in the CM/MCBB seminar program that consists of two required weekly seminars: BI583/584, described above (meets at ~noon on Fridays) and the Biology Departmental Seminar Series (meets at ~noon on Mondays).

Lab Rotations

Students are required to register for lab rotation credits (BI791/792) and perform three laboratory rotations with Biology faculty during their first academic year (6-8 weeks each).

Examinations/Defenses

• Written Proposal: The student in consultation with the major professor submits a WRITTEN proposal of the intended dissertation research. The academic code of conduct applies, and the written document should be from the student’s own hand, not just cutting and pasting old grant proposals, papers, etc. The major professor and the examination committee may have input in the form of suggestions on content and organization, but should not directly edit the document. This proposal should include an extensive introduction complete with appropriately cited literature, a list of specific aims, and a description of the intended experiments. The proposal should be approximately 15-20 pages long, double-spaced. The written proposal must be submitted to and approved by the Chair of the qualifying examination committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled examination.
• Oral Exam: At this examination, the student gives an oral presentation of the proposal. The committee poses questions related to the intended research, background information (including basic knowledge in cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry), and the field of the work. The committee chair ensures that the questions are appropriate (e.g. not too far afield) and that each committee member has a more-or-less equal opportunity to question the student. While this proposal and oral defense is normally on the research that the student has proposed to carry out, it is not a thesis defense. There is no requirement for preliminary data and the eventual dissertation work may change considerably over time.
• Advancing to  Candidacy: The student’s Qualifying Examination Committee is responsible for grading the exam. More than one failing vote, or a failing vote by the major professor, on the qualifying examination constitutes a failure. Any student failing the Qualifying Exam has the opportunity to take it again, but at least three months must elapse before a student is allowed to retake the exam. Failure of the second examination is grounds for automatic dismissal from the Ph.D. program and the loss of further financial aid from the Biology Department, although the student may still be eligible for the M.S. degree provided that those degree requirements are met.
• Dissertation Defense: After advancing to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student and the major professor must jointly convene a Dissertation Committee, which meets at least once a year. Ph.D. students should present either a written or oral report on research progress to the thesis committee. The committee meeting date and synopsis must be included on the annual report. The Dissertation Committee consists of no less than five faculty members, at least three of whom must be members of the CM faculty. The Dissertation Committee shall consist of a Chair, a First Reader (the major advisor in CM-Biology), a Second Reader, and at least two other members (a third reader is optional). The dissertation is “defended” at the Final Dissertation Committee meeting at a time agreed on by the student and the Dissertation Committee. At least two weeks prior to the defense, all work that comprises the dissertation and the written dissertation, which meets the specification, described above and has been approved by all readers, must be distributed to the committee. At the Final Dissertation Committee meeting the committee agrees on the adequacy of the body of work and written thesis for the Ph.D. degree. Finally, there is a required public seminar, which is normally given before the defense.

Requirements for Cell & Molecular Biology (CM) M.S. Students

**See above for the list of elective courses (except BI 527), under Ph.D. requirements. Those denoted by “*“ in the list are acceptable for cell biology course. For those doing a research master’s, 12 credits of electives can come from “research” (BI 595) courses. For those doing a scholarly paper, 4 credits of electives can come from “Readings in Biology (BI 701/702)” courses.

M.S. students are not required to participate in the CM seminar program, but they are encouraged to register for BI 583/584 and attend both of the following required weekly seminars for the Ph.D. students:

• Mondays at approximately 12:20pm, Biology Departmental Seminar Series (Outside speakers for Biology and MCBB).
• Fridays at 12:20pm, CM/MCBB Student Seminar

6.3 Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution (EBE) – includes Marine Biology

The Graduate Program in Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution (EBE) trains students to address fundamental basic and applied questions related to organisms and their environments. Students investigate marine or terrestrial systems using an interdisciplinary approaches that can span multiple levels of biological organization, from genomes to ecosystems. Coursework and research opportunities include behavioral ecology and sociobiology, ecological and evolutionary genomics, evolutionary biology, molecular ecology and evolutionary biology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and biogeochemistry. A broad perspective encompassing molecular, organismal, population, community, and ecosystem levels of biological organization is emphasized.

Requirements for the Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Candidates in the Ph.D. Program

The goal of the Ph.D. program in EBE is to produce comprehensively trained professionals who excel in their individual research and possess a deep and broad understanding of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. Each degree candidate’s ability, preparation, and needs will vary; however, a general guide to the stages of the PhD program is useful for both the student and their advisor(s) to track progress.

The following guidelines have been developed as an aid to planning a student’s graduate career. Because the department guarantees financial support for five years only, students are encouraged to be cognizant of timelines for completing requirements and work efficiently and productively.

Grant writing seminar

In the first semester of the first year, students enroll in the Grant Writing Seminar (BI671 or BI581, 2 credits) that counts towards elective credit. Students prepare an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) proposal to be submitted in early November, or a proposal to be submitted to another agency appropriate to their funding eligibility. Students develop this proposal in consultation with their advisor.

Students participate in the EBE seminar program that consists of two required seminars per week. These include the EBE Chalk Talk series (BI 579/580; Wednesdays at 12:00pm) and the Biology Departmental Seminar Series (Mondays at 12:20pm).

Faculty Committees

Each student is responsible for organizing annual meetings with the faculty committee that will advise and oversee their Ph.D. program. The annual committee meeting with the committee is critically important. During these meetings the student will receive advice and guidance in their professional development and will have the undivided attention of several faculty members simultaneously.

Three committees must be established. The student’s research advisor will serve on each committee but the composition of the committees may vary (although it is recommended that students maintain the composition of their committees as much as possible). In chronological order, the first is the Advisory Committee, the second is the Qualifying Exam Committee, and the third is the Dissertation Committee. The Advisory Committee will help the student develop a plan for coursework and research in the first year. The Qualifying Exam Committee will help the student prepare for the qualifying exam and will administer the exam in the student’s fourth semester. The student must pass the exam to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree (see Qualifying Exam and Advancing to Candidacy). It is recommended that the student organize their Qualifying Exam Committee as early as possible (most students do it at the beginning of their third semester) and arrange to take courses or directed readings with the faculty members. Finally, the Dissertation Committee is the group ultimately responsible for overseeing the student’s dissertation research. The Dissertation Committee will advise the student during the course of their research and ultimately evaluate the dissertation, so it is critically important that the student keep them informed of research progress and plans through the annual committee meetings as well as one-on-one consultations with committee members.

NOTE: Faculty members are often under severe time constraints . Students should organize their committees and meetings well in advance of the dates for the qualifying exam, thesis defense, etc.

EBE Ph.D. Program

The following is an example of how a student might organize their graduate studies. The nature and schedule of research in different EBE labs varies, and students should consult closely with their advisors to develop an appropriate individualized plan for their progression through the PhD.

For Current Students Beyond Their First Year in the Ph.D. program

Students beginning their second year should establish their Qualifying Exam Committee, meet with their committee members early in the academic year, and prepare for Qualifying Exam in the spring semester. It is expected that by the end of the academic year all second year students will have passed the Qualifying Exam and be on track with the schedule outlined above.

Third-year students, if they have not already done so, should establish their Dissertation Committee immediately, develop and distribute their dissertation prospectus, and schedule a seminar and committee meeting to present and discuss the prospectus. All third-year students should have passed their Qualifying Exam and presented their dissertation prospectus by the end of the Fall semester. We also encourage third-year students to actively pursue grant funding for their dissertation work.

Students who are beyond the third year should already be well on track to complete their dissertation by the end of the fifth year. If they have not done so they should submit a dissertation prospectus to their committee members for feedback.

The Qualifying Exam and Advancing to Candidacy

• Written Exam (8 hours spread over two days and closed book): Students answer 1-2 questions provided by each member of their committees and collated by the committee Chair. The committee members individually read and grade the student’s response as pass/fail. In the case of either grade, the committee may recommend remedial or additional readings to increase a student’s knowledge in certain subject areas.
• Oral Exam (one week after the Written Exam, 2-3 hours): The oral exam is an opportunity to probe the student for more detail in the case of inadequate responses to questions on the written exam and/or to ask more general questions. At the start of this exam, the student will be asked to briefly leave the room and the faculty will discuss student performance on the written portion of the exam. Upon being invited back to the examination room, the student will present a ~15 minute presentation on their planned dissertation research with the purpose of (1) creating a collegial environment for the exam and helping students feel at ease by discussing a topic in their area of strength and (2) allowing committee members to critically evaluate the student’s proposed research and develop constructive exam questions relevant to the student’s work. Faculty will often interrupt the student during this presentation to ask questions.

Advancing to Candidacy: The student’s Qualifying Exam Committee is responsible for grading the exam. The committee will deliberate on the results of the ballot as necessary. The committee makes specific recommendations in the case of either a pass or fail vote. A pass vote enables a student to proceed with the Ph.D. program. A student failing the oral examination has the opportunity to take the exam again; at least three months must elapse before a student is allowed to retake the exam. Failure on the second exam is grounds for automatic dismissal from the Ph.D. program and the loss of any further financial aid. The student may still be eligible for the M.S. degree provided that those degree requirements are met.

Requirements for Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Students in the M.S. Program

Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research. Students are required to take a minimum of 32 credits. For those doing a research master’s, 12 credits can come from “research” (BI 595) courses. For those doing a scholarly paper, 4 credits can come from “Readings in Biology (BI 701/702)” courses. It is recommended that MS students in the Research Track in EBE take BI 671 in their first year but is not required. MS students in EBE are required to attend BI 579/580 throughout their time at Boston University and are encouraged to register for at least one semester during their first year.

List of Recommended Elective Courses

Below is a list of recommended elective courses for M.S. and Ph.D. EBE/Marine students.

Anthropology AN 552 Primate Evolution & Anatomy (4 cr) AN 553 Human Uniqueness (4 cr) AN 556 The Evolution of the Human Diet (4 cr) AN 559 Evolutionary Endocrinology (4 cr) AN 588 Project Design and Statistics in Biological Anthropology (4 cr) AN 595 Methods in Biological Anthropology (4 cr) AN 597/598 Topics in Biological Anthropology (4 cr) AN 735 The Ape Within (4 cr) AN 736 Primate Evolutionary Ecology (4 cr) AN 739 Primate Biomechanics (4 cr)

Biology BI 501 Insect Biology (4 cr) BI 504 Advanced Evolutionary Analysis (4 cr) BI 506 Phenotypic Plasticity (4 cr) BI 507 Diversity of Sex (4 cr) BI 508 Behavioral Ecology (4 cr) BI 510 Institutional Racism in Health and Science (4 cr) BI 515 Population Genetics (4 cr) BI 519 Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology (4 cr) BI 520 Sensory Physiology (4 cr) BI 530 Forest Ecology (4 cr) BI 542 Neuroethology (4 cr) BI 543 Global Ecology (4 cr) BI 550 Marine Genomics BI 563 Sensory Biology of Aquatic Animals (4 cr) BI 581 Seminar in Biology (2 cr) BI 607 Animal Behavior (4 cr) BI 610 Developmental Biology (4 cr) BI 611 Microbiome (4 cr) BI 613 Microbial Biology (4 cr) BI 614 Ornithology (4 cr) BI 623 Marine Biogeochemistry (4 cr) BI 643 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry (4 cr) BI 648 Biodiversity & Conservation Bio (4 cr) BI 675 Urban Ecology (4 cr) BI 719 Colloq. Terrestrial Biogeoscience (2 cr) BI 720 Pract. Terrestrial Biogeoscience (2 cr)

Marine Semester BI 511 Ecology of Coral Reef Fisheries (4 cr) BI 523 Marine Urban Ecology (4 cr) BI 531 Ichthyology (4 cr) BI 539 Coral Reef Dynamics (4 cr) BI 541 Coral Reef Resilience & Restoration (4 cr) BI 546 Marine Megafaunal Ecology (4 cr) BI 548 Marine Microbe Microscopy (4 cr) BI/EE 562 Tropical Seagrass Ecology (4 cr) BI 550 Marine Genomics (4 cr) BI 569 Tropical Marine Invertebrates (4 cr) BI 578 Marine GIScience (4 cr) BI/EE 591 Bio-Optical Oceanography (4 cr) BI/EE 593 Marine Physiology & Climate Change (4 cr) EE 543 Estuaries & Nearshore Systems (4 cr) EE 544 Coastal Sedimentology (4 cr) EE 557 Oceanography of Stellwagen Bank (4 cr) EE 558 Coastal Biogeochemistry (4 cr) MR5** Ecology of the Rocky Intertidal Zone (4 cr) MR 521 Quantitative Fisheries Analysis (4 cr) MR 529 Tropical Marine Fisheries (4 cr) MR 533 Scientific Diving (4 cr)

Earth & Environment ES/EE 507 Dynamical Oceanography (4 cr) EE 516 Multivariate Stats for Geographers (4 cr) EE 525 Plant Physiological Ecology (4 cr) EE 529 Modeling & Monitoring Terr. Ecosys. (4 cr) EE 656 Terr. Ecosys. & the Carbon Cycle (4 cr) EE 675 Urban Ecology (4 cr)

Public Health SPH BS 704 Intro to Biostatistics (3 cr)

Psychology and Brain Science (Brain, Behavior, and Cognition) – courses relevant to students working in behavior PS/NE 521 Animal Models in Behavioral Neuroscience PS/NE 525 – Cognitive Science

Bioinformatics ENG BF 527 Applications in Bioinformatics

5.4 Neurobiology

The Program in Neurobiology offers courses and research opportunities in areas of contemporary neurobiology, including: neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity, molecular neurobiology, neural development, sensory and sensorimotor systems, circuits underlying natural behaviors, and neurobiology of disease. The organisms under investigation include crayfish, lobster, mosquito, rat, and mouse. Biology faculty members also participate in several other interdepartmental centers and training programs, including the Center for Systems Neuroscience, the BU Neurophotonics Center, and the Ph.D. Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN).

Requirements for Neurobiology (Neuro) Candidates in the Ph.D. Program

**The elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor. It is STRONGLY recommended that at least one of the elective courses be a relevant graduate laboratory course.

Students must participate in the weekly Biology seminar program (BI 583/BI 584) that meets at 12:20 PM on Tuesdays, and a number of optional Biology departmental lectures and colloquia.

Students typically perform three laboratory rotations with Neurobiology faculty during the first academic year (6-8 weeks each; a minimum of two are required, and two of the rotations should be done in faculty labs within the Dept. of Biology).

Qualifying Examinations: Students beginning their second year should establish their Qualifying Exam Committee, meet with their committee members early in the academic year, and prepare for their Qualifying Exam. We expect that by the end of the second academic year all students will have passed their Qualifying Exam. The qualifying examination must be passed for the Ph.D. degree. Once the student has passed this exam, she/he is formally a candidate for the Ph.D. in the NEURO program. The qualifying examination consists of two parts; one, a written research proposal and two, the oral defense of this research proposal.

• Written Proposal: The student, in consultation with the research advisor and other parties, submits a WRITTEN proposal of the intended dissertation research. The academic code of conduct applies, and the written document should be from the student’s own hand, rather than assembling materials from their PI’s grant proposals, papers, etc. The major professor may provide input in the form of suggestions on content and organization, but should not directly edit the document. This proposal should be written in the general form of an NRSA F31 NIH grant proposal, (see examples at here ), and it should include a list of specific aims, an extensive introduction, rationale and approach that includes an outline of the intended experiments with optional preliminary data, complete with appropriately cited literature. The proposal should be approximately 10-15 double-spaced pages long. The written proposal must be given to and approved by the qualifying examination committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled oral examination.
• Oral Exam: At the examination, the student gives an oral presentation of the proposal, including optional preliminary results. The committee then poses questions related to their graduate coursework, intended research, background information, and the field of the work. The committee chair ensures that the questions are relevant and appropriate and that each committee member has a more-or-less equal opportunity to question the student.

While the written proposal and oral defense is normally based on research the student plans to carry out, it is not a thesis defense. Thus, the eventual dissertation work may change considerably over time.

Advancing to Candidacy: The student’s Qualifying Examination Committee is responsible for grading the exam. More than one failing vote, or a failing vote by the major professor, on the qualifying examination constitutes a failure. Any student failing the Qualifying Exam has the opportunity to take it again, but only after a period of at least three months. Failure of the second examination is grounds for automatic dismissal from the Ph.D. program and the loss of further financial aid from the Biology Department, although the student may still be eligible for the M.S. degree provided that those degree requirements are met.

Dissertation Defense: After advancing to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student and major professor must jointly convene a Dissertation Committee, which meets at least once per year. Ph.D. students should present either an oral report on research progress to the thesis committee. The committee meeting date and synopsis must be included on the annual report. The Dissertation Committee consists of no less than five faculty members, at least three of whom must be members of the Neurobiology faculty. The Dissertation Committee shall consist of a Chair, a First Reader (the major advisor in Neurobiology), a Second Reader, and at least two other members (a third reader is optional). The dissertation is “defended” at the Final Dissertation Committee meeting at a time agreed on by the student and the Dissertation Committee. At least two weeks prior to the defense, all work that comprises the dissertation and the written dissertation, which meets the specification, described above and has been approved by all readers, must be distributed to the committee. At the Final Dissertation Committee meeting the committee agrees on the adequacy of the body of work and written thesis for the Ph.D. degree. Finally, there is a required public seminar, which is normally given before the defense.

Requirements for Neurobiology (Neuro) M.S. Students

**The elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor. It is STRONGLY recommended that at least one of the elective courses be a relevant graduate laboratory course. For those doing a research master’s, 12 credits can come from research courses. For those doing a research master’s, 12 credits of electives can come from “research (BI 595)” courses. For those doing a scholarly paper, 4 credits of electives can come from “Readings in Biology (BI 701/702)” courses.

Below is a list of recommended elective courses for MS and PhD neurobiology students.

BI 520 Sensory Biology (4 cr) BI 525 Biology of Neurodegeneration (4 cr) BI 535 Translational Research in Alzheimer’s Disease (4 cr) BI 542 Neuroethology (4 cr) BI 545 Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (4 cr) BI 581 Seminar in Biology: Neurobiology of Brain Disorders (2 cr) BI 598 Neurobiology of Neural Circuits (4 cr) BI 599 Synapse (4 cr) BI 645 Neurophysiology (4 cr) BI 649 Neuro Design Lab (4 cr) BI 655 Developmental Neurobiology (4 cr) BI 681 Molecular Biology of the Neuron (4 cr) BI 741 Neural Systems (4 cr) BI 755 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience (4 cr) BI 756 Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience (4 cr)

List of Neuro Quantitative Elective Courses

Below is a list of neuro quantitative courses, although the full list of quantitative courses approved for Biology students can be found on here . All course descriptions may be found in the graduate bulletin available on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website at http://www.bu.edu/academics/grs/courses.

CN 510 Principles & Methods – Cognitive & Neural Modeling I (4 cr) CN 530 Neural & Computational Models of Vision (4 cr) BE 517 Optical Microscopy of Biological Material (4 cr) MA665 Introduction to modeling and data analysis in neuro (2 cr) MA666 Advanced modeling and data analysis in neuro (2 cr)

6. Biology Department Administrative Resources

6.1 BU Alert 6.2 BU Email Account 6.3 The Biology Media Center 6.4 Computers 6.5 Departmental Laser Printer 6.6 Email Aliases 6.7 Fax 6.8 Hear My Name 6.9 Internet 6.10 Mail 6.11 Memos and Announcements 6.12 Photocopying Procedures & Policies 6.13 Reimbursements & Travel

6.1 BU Alert

BU Alert is an emergency notification system that will help ensure rapid and reliable mass communication to students, faculty, and staff. The BU Alert system is designed to communicate with cell phones (text and voice messages), landlines, e-mail systems, and pagers during a crisis or time-sensitive situation on the Boston University Charles River and Medical campuses.

Students are required to provide an emergency number as part of their registration and can update their contact preferences on the Student Link. Questions concerning enrollment in the BU Alert program may be addressed to the Admissions Office (617-353-2300).

6.2 BU Email Account

All new students will be given a BU Google Apps account and can log in to it at www.bu.edu/webmail. You can enable this account by following the instructions on www.bu.edu/tech/support/google/enable/. If you have an existing email account that you prefer to use, you can forward your BU email using the Settings menu within BU Google Mail. Please note that all departmental communication will be sent to your BU email address.

6.3 The Biology Media Center

The Biology Media Center in room 627 of 24 Cummington Mall provides a range of media services to the department for little or no cost. Available services are flatbed scanning, slide scanning, color laser printing, di-sub printing (photo-like prints) and large format poster printing. These facilities operate on both Mac and Windows platforms in order to handle the varied media formats. Due to the popularity of the media center, there is a “reservation” policy. If you need to use the media center services, you should contact Peter Castellano via e-mail at [email protected], or telephone at 353-8736 to reserve a time to use the equipment. To facilitate the availability of these graphics resources, the associated computers are to be used only for departmental-related purposes and not for general use or e-mail.

6.4 Computers

Many students choose to bring their own personal computers into their office or labs. A lock for a laptop is highly recommended. Boston University’s Information Services & Technology (IS&T) designed and maintains a number of computer labs, both physical and virtual, including the University’s primary PC lab in the BU Common @ Mugar and the Linux Virtual Lab. Links for computing resources on campus, as well as information on where to obtain support for your personal computer can be found at www.bu.edu/tech. The College of Arts & Sciences offers a file server (casfsb.bu.edu) to all faculty, staff, and students to back up and share their data. To establish a folder on this server, go to http://www.bu.edu/casit/ click on “File Services” and follow the instructions.

6.5 Departmental Laser Printer

There are several networked printers throughout the various biology buildings. For information on how to connect to these printers, see the front office in Biology for printers in 5 Cummington Mall, or Peter Castellano for access to printers in 24 Cummington Mall. The main networked printer in 5 Cummington Mall is a “HP LaserJet 4050 Series”, located in BRB 101C. You can connect to this printer via its IP address, 128.197.80.190

6.6 Email Aliases

Once you have an email account, you will automatically be added to the all-department alias (“[email protected]”) and the graduate student alias ([email protected]) for the Biology Department as well as the alias for your specific program ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected])

The Department has a FAX machine (617-353-6340) located in BRB 101 that is available for general departmental use. FAX machines are quite simple to use; nevertheless, see Front Desk Staff for assistance if you need any help. Since FAX machines operate over telephone wires, all charges associated with its use will appear on a phone statement. The Department covers the cost of all local Fax’s. All long-distance Fax’s must be charged to your professor’s telephone code. You must make your own arrangements with your advisor about using his or her telephone code to make these calls. Your incoming FAX messages will be placed in your mailbox.

6.8 Hear My Name

Students are able to record  an eight second or less version of their name on a dedicated, public-facing URL/website link. That link can be used on email signatures  (see help)  or on public sites, such as  BU Profiles    and other BU websites. BU anticipates allowing individuals the option to link to their recorded name in the  BU Directory    in the near future. Record your name  here . 

6.9 Internet

There are limited Ethernet connections within the department for Internet access. Check with your advisor for more information about ethernet port availability in your office. Wireless on campus is available in most academic buildings, but signal strength can vary floor to floor and building to building. To join the BU wireless network, join eduroam with your user login and kerberos password. For more information on how to join the wireless network can be found here or stop by one of the IT Help centers at Mugar Library.

Graduate student mailboxes are located in the corridor outside BRB 101. They are set up alphabetically, and students will receive mail in their advisor’s mailbox. The combinations and box number assignments can be obtained from Front Desk Staff in BRB 101. The Boston University Postal Service picks up federal and interdepartmental mail from the mailroom once a day. The BU Postal Service sorts this mail into interdepartmental and U.S. Mail, so please make sure that interdepartmental mail is in manila envelopes and clearly marked. If you must use a white envelope for interdepartmental mail it should be clearly marked or it will be sorted into the US Mail and charged back to the Department. It will also take a long time for this mail to arrive at its destination as it will be sent outside the University and then returned to go once again through the BU Postal Service. This is intended for Department and University business and not for personal mail. Any personal mail must have a postage stamp affixed before being placed in this bin.

6.11 Memos and Announcements

Memos and announcements are routinely sent to graduate students via email. Also check the easel outside of BRB 101 for announcements.

6.12 Photocopying Procedures & Policies

There are copying machines within the Department available for general use. In 5 Cummington Mall, BRB 101C, there is a large Canon copier. This room can be accessed from the corridor at any time. The key that opens all common spaces also opens this room.

Please keep in mind:

• To avoid conflict with routine office staff, large copying jobs should not be carried out between 9 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday
• Faculty and staff have priority at the copying machines
• If you have questions about how to use the machines please see Front Desk Staff in BRB 101

6.13 Reimbursements & Travel

Reimbursements

All purchases (supply, computer equipment & Amazon) must be approved by your direct supervisor before purchasing. All purchases for course and research should be submitted to Tom Symancyk ( [email protected] ) for processing. All out of pocket purchases must be approved by Mary Dangora, Business Manager ( [email protected] ) before purchasing.

**Amazon purchases must be made through the University’s ARIBA system. Amazon purchases will not be reimbursed when items are paid for out of pocket.

Travel and Airfare

Please speak to your supervisor about your travel plans before making reservations. The university has strict policies and procedures regarding travel, purchasing airline tickets, and renting vehicles. Please review the BU Travel policy website at www.bu.edu/travel before traveling.

Travel Advances

The University does not allow travel advances except on a limited exception basis. University travel cards are to be requested via the Department Business Manager. These cards are usually for full time faculty and staff only. Students should ask their PI for more information regarding travel.

Travel Reimbursement

All travel reimbursements should be submitted within 10 days after the trip is completed via this form . Any questions should be directed to the Senior Financial Analyst.

**The use of a personal car can only be reimbursed for the mileage at the University mileage reimbursement rate. Receipts for gasoline purchase are accepted for car rentals or a University vehicle, but not for personal car use

Travel Services Helpful Link – www.bu.edu/travel

7. University Policies & Procedures

7.1 Childbirth and Adoption Accommodation for Full-Time PhD Students 7.2 Compliance 7.3 COVID-19 Guidance 7.4 Research Ownership 7.5 Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Guidelines

7.1 Childbirth and Adoption Accommodation for Full-Time PhD Students

Please find the official University policy here :

The childbirth and adoption accommodation policy for full-time or certified full-time Ph.D. students in good academic standing provides for extensions for academic coursework and other requirements to the primary caregiver of an infant or adopted child. It also provides for a continuation of stipend support for funded students during the accommodation period.

A GRS full-time or certified full-time Ph.D. student taking an accommodation due to the birth of a child should notify the relevant department Chair or Program Director in writing no later than30 days prior to the start of the semester during which the birth is expected using the procedures described below. In the case of adoption, notification should be made once the student becomes reasonably certain of the expected dates of adoption.

Please complete the notification form here .

7.2 Compliance

Each student, admitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, is responsible for becoming familiar with the general regulations of the Graduate School as stated in the “Policies” section of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Bulletin and with the more specific requirements stated in the individual section on each department, division, or program which may go beyond, or supplement, the Graduate School standards.

If necessary, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences staff is available to interpret or clarify any rule or regulation.

Boston University does not permit a student to enroll simultaneously in more than one graduate program either within Boston University or at another institution, unless those programs have been previously approved by the Trustees of Boston University as a combined degree program.

In order to register:

• Boston University requires all students studying on Massachusetts campuses to provide a BUAlert phone number.
• Boston University requires all students to settle their financial obligation each
• Massachusetts law requires that all full-time and many part-time students be immunized against a number of diseases in order to attend a university in the
• Boston University requires all students complete the Sexual Misconduct Prevention
• The Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law requires that all out-of-state students sign an acknowledgment that they have been informed of the (Compliance required in the Fall semester only)

Check the Student Link to ensure you have met these requirements. Students not in compliance will be unable to register for future semesters.

7.3 COVID-19 Guidance

Updated information about the University’s COVID-19 policies can be found  here .

7.4 Research Ownership

All M.S. and Ph.D. students should be aware that Boston University serves as the guardian of research conducted at Boston University, including research supported by all Government agencies and most private foundations. This has several implications.

• Patents that arise from research conducted at Boston University are the property of Boston University, as outlined in the Faculty
• Students are required to leave all original data and notebooks at Boston University upon completion of their Students may take copies of their original research data and notes.

7.5 Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Guidelines

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. Sex-based discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion. The law covers sex-based discrimination against students, faculty, and staff. The BU Policy can be found online by visiting https://www.bu.edu/policies/sexual-misconduct-title-ix-hr/

Persons seeking to file a complaint should contact:

• Danielle Cane , Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) | [email protected] | 617-353-2401
• Jessica Nagle, University Title IX Coordinator | [email protected] | 617-353-0911
• Jean Estevez, Title IX Coordinator | [email protected] | 617-358-1796
• Dean of Students Office | 617-353-4126
• Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (“SARP”) | 617-353-7277 | https://wbu.edu/eoo/sexual-misconduct-title-ix/
• Boston University Police Department | 617-353-2121

The Department of Biology expects that the learning and work environment will be free from all forms of sexual misconduct which includes sexual harassment, sex/gender discrimination, sexual assault, rape, stalking, and relationship violence. Such behavior is unacceptable, and serves as a barrier to the educational, scholarly, and research goals of the University.

• “Affiliates” as defined by Boston University includes faculty, graduate and professional students, postdoctoral fellows and associates, teaching assistants, graders and University staff and volunteers who supervise Affiliates should not instruct, evaluate, supervise (directly or indirectly) a student’s academic work or participation in University programs, housing, activities, or employment for any student with whom the affiliate has had a romantic or sexual relationship in the past or entering into a romantic or sexual relationship with any student over whom the affiliate reasonably expects to exercise supervisory authority in the future.
• All affiliates who are not students (enrolled in any and all education training programs of the University) should avoid entering into romantic or sexual relationships with undergraduate students, regardless of whether or not they exercise supervision over a particular
• Professors should avoid dating members of their laboratory (i.e., graduate students, technicians, or postdoctoral fellows). If such a relationship exists, the member of the lab should consider and/or be advised to change If the student remains in the lab, the professor must excuse him or herself as an official member of all evaluating committees (e.g., qualifying and defense committees) for the student, and can only serve as an ad hoc non- voting member of the committees. Remember that although both parties may initially consent to this relationship, it is only the professor, by virtue of their special responsibility, who is held accountable for unprofessional behavior.
• A professor dating a graduate student from another laboratory must excuse him or herself from all evaluating committees (e.g., qualifying and defense committees) for the
• Do not touch a student, technician, or postdoctoral fellow except with the universally accepted Hugs, kisses, high-fives, or slaps on different regions of the body may be acceptable in American culture, but may be interpreted in unintended ways by students of other cultures.
• When meeting alone with a student, keep your door open if
• Do not invite a student to your home when you and the student would be Try to include more than one member of the class or lab in all social occasions.
• Inappropriate sexual comments and humor and jokes about sex or gender-specific traits in classrooms, laboratory sessions, or discussion sessions are not acceptable. Inappropriate messages may be subtle and even unintentional, but nevertheless these comments compromise the learning experience of the
• When hanging material on doors or walls, be sensitive to other people’s

Boston University recognizes that sexual assault, harassment, discrimination and other forms of sexual misconduct can have a profound impact on a person’s personal, academic, and work life. The University encourages anyone coping with such a situation to seek help and support. Students who are uncertain of their options or simply need help should call the Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (“SARP”) at (617) 353-7277.

Any University employee, including student employees whose duties include supervision or teaching of other students (e.g. Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, etc.), who receives a complaint or otherwise learns about a possible incident of sexual misconduct involving a member of the Boston University community as complainant or alleged perpetrator must complete a Sexual Misconduct Report Form with the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

8. Health Resources

8.1 Student Health Services 8.2 Dental Care 8.3 Mental Health Care Information & Resources 8.4 Additional Resources

8.1 Student Health Services

881 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-3575

Center that meets student health care needs while at Boston University. Includes Primary Care, Sports Medicine, and Behavioral Medicine service by appointment or on an emergency basis, and Crisis Intervention Counselors. Department of Wellness & Prevention Services, which includes Alcohol and Other Drug evaluation and education, as well as general health education. The Athletic Training Services Department at Boston University is a part of the SHS family. SHS is here to help address immediate and ongoing health care needs.

You may use Student Health Services if you meet one of the following criteria:

• A full-time BU student, regardless of your insurance
• A student who participates in at least 9 credit
• Any student with the Student Health Insurance
• A summer student or a participant in one of the high school summer

8.2 Dental Care

Students in need of dental care are referred by Student Health Services to qualified local dentists. Students are responsible for dental charges. Students may enroll in a preventive dental plan available from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine by calling 617-638-4700. In addition, Aetna Student Health offers a Dental Discount Program to Boston University students.

8.3 Mental Health Care Information and Resources

The Department of Biology is committed to the well-being of our graduate students. All full-time graduate students, on- or off-campus, have access to mental health services provided by Behavioral Medicine through Student Health Services. However, if students are conducting work out- of-state, including research conducted internationally, and require mental health care, they need to take a few additional steps to obtain this important health care service. Generally, students should reach out Students Health Services ( https://www.bu.edu/shs/ ) for assistance in identifying out-of-state mental health providers. You will need to specify whether your out-of-state work is domestic or international.

Domestic U.S. resources –

If graduate students are conducting academic work out-of-state (domestic U.S.) the following links with additional information may be useful:

This document summarizes some national resources that are available (not necessarily to BU students, but more in general). Additionally, students can utilize the provider tool on the AETNA website identifies providers in your local area that accepts Boston University insurance.

International resources –

There is a Massachusetts state law limiting therapy while performing academic work outside of the U.S. Therefore, the above resources do not apply to those students who wish to receive new medical service or continue treatment from their regular therapist. There are two options, however, for graduate students conducting work out of the country:

• Go to geobluestudents.com
• Scroll down to box to enter the self-enrollment code: KZG-38057
• Follow instructions to pay by credit card
• Refer to the GeoBlue Student Member Guide for instructions on how to submit a claim
• An alternative option is to check the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) documentation, which allows student to submit claims for medical services The SHIP states that out-of- country claims should be submitted with medical service and payment information. It is important to note that services are considered at the in-network level of benefits. Students can submit for reimbursement through AETNA if they can secure a mental health provider out of the country.

8.4 Additional Resources

The Danielsen Institute 185 Bay State Road | 617-353-3047

The Danielsen Institute offers a variety of psychological services, including individual, group, family, and couples therapy, as well as psychological testing and assessment for adults, adolescents, and children. Many insurance plans, including Boston University’s Aetna Student Health Plan, can be used to cover a portion of applicable fees, and a sliding fee scale is also available.

The Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders (CARD) 648 Beacon Street, 6th Floor | 617-353-9610

The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) is an internationally known clinical and research center dedicated to advancing knowledge and providing care for anxiety, mood, eating, sleep, and related disorders. At CARD, expert clinical care is provided and, at the same time, research is ongoing to expand the range and style of successful treatment options for patients in need. Individuals seeking care at CARD will have the direct benefits of clinical care that is informed by previous research, and likewise will have opportunities to participate in ongoing research designed to further advance what is known about the nature and treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Fees are based on a sliding scale, and some treatment associated with research studies may be free of charge.

9. Student Life & University Resources

9.1 Graduate Student Groups 9.2 BU BUS 9.3 BU Police Department 9.4 The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism 9.5 Center for Career Development (CCD) 9.6 Chaplains 9.7 Dean of Students 9.8 Disability Services 9.9 Educational Resource Center 9.10 Environmental Health & Safety 9.11 Fitness & Recreation Center 9.12 The Howard Thurman Center 9.13 The Newbury Center 9.14 International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) 9.15 Judicial Affairs 9.16 Office of Family Resources 9.17 Office of the University Ombuds 9.18 Parking & Transportation Services 9.19 Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs (PDPA) 9.20 University Service Center 9.21 Additional Career Resources

9.1 Graduate Student Groups

Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA): An organization comprised of graduate students within the Department of Biology and MCBB programs dedicated to increasing the level of academic, scientific, and professional integration between the four program areas in the Department of Biology through academic and recreational activities. These four program areas are: Cell and Molecular Biology (CM/MCBB), Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution (EBE), Marine Biology (BUMP), Neurobiology (NEURO). [email protected]

Graduate Student Organization (GSO): The GSO is the official representative body of the graduate students in the Arts and Sciences at Boston University. http://www.bu.edu/gso/

Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE): A community to support and promote women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Through professional development seminars and workshops, social events, mentoring, and outreach, GWISE fosters interaction across disciplines at Boston University and connects graduate students to post- docs, faculty, and broader networks in Boston and beyond. GWISE is open to men and women. Groups within GWISE consist of accountability groups for thesis writing, book club, coffee groups, intramural sports, mothers’ group, yoga and WISE guys, a program to increase the participation and engagement of men in GWISE. http://www.bu.edu/gwise/

Minority and International Scientists Organization (MISO): The mission of the Minority and International Scientists Organization is to provide a supportive and enriched environment to the diverse population of Boston University scientists via various social and academic events.

oSTEM: Queer and LGBTQIAPP+ folks are an underrepresented population in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. oSTEM is a national student society, dedicated to increasing the participation of queer people in disciplines related to these STEM fields and lines of work. We aim to provide social, networking, educational, and career-building opportunities for queer students, staff, faculty, and allies in the sciences.

Underrepresented Graduate Student Organization (UGSO): The UGSO is the only university-wide group for underrepresented minority students, and is open to all students that identify underrepresented in higher education

Find more information about Graduate Student Groups at https://www.bu.edu/grad/

The Boston University Shuttle (the BUS), is an inter-campus shuttle service with 11 stops between the Charles River Campus and the BU Medical Campus. BU ID is needed to board. During the academic year, the BUS operates every 15 minutes (7AM – 10AM & 4PM – 7PM) Mondays – Thursdays, and every 20 minutes on Fridays. The BUS provides 30-minute off-peak service from 7AM until 11PM. During the summer, the BUS runs every 30 minutes between 7AM and 11PM. More information about the BUS service is available online. Evening & Weekend Shuttle provides service 7 days a week during the evening and early morning hours. The shuttle, which runs until 2:00AM Sunday-Wednesday and 4:00AM Thursday-Saturday, is intended to provide the Boston University community with convenient transportation exclusively throughout the Charles River Campus.

9.3 Boston University Police Department

32 Harry Agganis Way | 617-353-2121

Anonymous Tip Line: Text the BUPD at tip411 (847411) and type BU <space> your message The Boston University Police Department is a full-time, professional law enforcement agency that also provides a wide variety of public services, including emergency medical response, Rape Aggression Defense classes, and laptop and bicycle registration. Through the community policing program, officers are assigned to various areas of campus to work closely with the community in addressing crime and crime prevention, as well as social issues, which directly affect the quality of life at Boston University.

9.4 The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism

775 Commonwealth Avenue, Lower Level | 617-358-5575 | [email protected]

The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism (CGSA) strives to be a safe space for people of all genders and sexualities. Using a social justice framework, the CGSA aims to end gender oppression and violence, and advocates for the full equality and inclusion of women, queer and trans students. This dynamic community fosters challenging and open discourse, promotes student activism, and provides resources and education for the Boston University Community.

9.5 Center for Career Development

100 Bay State Road, 6th Floor | 617-353-3590 | [email protected]

The Center for Career Development can assist students in choosing a major, finding an internship, or preparing for their post-college job search. Services include workshops, job and internship fairs, résumé review, mock interviews, and career assessment tools.

9.6 Chaplains

735 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-3560 | [email protected]

A variety of chaplains are available to all students, regardless of religious affiliation. Appointments can be scheduled, or students can visit the chapel office on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

9.7 Dean of Students

775 Commonwealth Avenue, 3rd Floor | 617-353-4126 | [email protected]

The mission of the Dean of Students office and the Division of Student Affairs is to enhance the quality, character, and perspectives of our students. Through its many orientation, mentoring, and counseling programs, the division promotes an environment that encourages intellectual exchange and individual expression. The dean of students has an open-door policy and is available to all students by appointment.

9.8 Disability Services

19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor | 617-353-3658 | [email protected]

Disability Services provides services and support to ensure that students with disabilities are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at Boston University. Disability Services also employs students as note-takers, readers, and in other positions assisting disabled students.

9.9 Educational Resource Center

100 Bay State Road, 6th Floor | 617-353-7077 | Contact

The Educational Resource Center provides academic support programs to the University community, including peer tutoring, the Writing Center, Language Link conversation groups, and various workshops. These services are available free of charge.

9.10 Environmental Health & Safety

704 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd Floor | 617-353-4094 | [email protected]

Environmental Health & Safety provides a full range of environmental, health, and safety services to the University community. These services include, but are not limited to, fire and life safety programs and support of the University’s recycling program.

9.11 Fitness & Recreation Center | Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

915 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-2748 | [email protected]

All full-time graduate students receive free membership to the FitRec. The Fitness & Recreation Center offers a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, including an 18,000-square-foot weight and cardio room, two swimming pools, racquetball and squash courts, two multi-use gymnasiums, an elevated jogging track, a 35’ climbing wall, a Pro Shop, and the Healthy Blends Café. Physical Education, Recreation & Dance offers for-credit and non-credit classes in everything from fitness to climbing to martial arts. The department also coordinates all intramural and club sports programs.

9.12 The Howard Thurman Center

808 Commonwealth Avenue, Lower Level | 617-353-4745 | [email protected]

The Howard Thurman Center is Boston University’s center for cultural learning and collaboration. Through a variety of workshops, programs, and celebrations, the Howard Thurman Center aims to build community by eliminating barriers of divisiveness that separate individuals, groups, races, cultures, religions, and ethnicities.

9.13 The Newbury Center

755 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite B18 | 617-353-3400 | [email protected]

The Newbury Center is Boston University’s center for first-generation students with the goal of fostering the holistic success of first-generation students at Boston University. The Center supports students navigating the financial aid system, connects students to on-campus resources, and fosters a sense of belonging through mentorship programs.

9.14 International Students and Scholars Office

888 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-3565 | [email protected]

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is a resource for professional expertise on immigration and employment, and help ensure student, scholar, and institutional compliance with federal regulations. ISSO staff are available to guide students and scholars through the often complicated requirements for foreign nationals studying and working in the United States.

9.15 Judicial Affairs

25 Buick Street, Suite 150 | 617-358-0700 | [email protected]

The Judicial Affairs office and student safety programs serve as the primary administrators of the Code of Student Responsibilities and also provide information and resources to the University community regarding personal safety on and off campus.

9.16 Office of Family Resources

985 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-5954 | [email protected]

The Office of Family Resources is committed to helping families manage the challenges of work life and family life and provides many resources and services to support families of the Boston University community.

Resources and services available include:

• Referral service and resource materials for parents seeking childcare
• Information about how to find Boston University students interested in babysitting
• Educational programs co-sponsored with the Faculty/Staff Assistance Office
• School vacation programs for children in Kindergarten through fourth grade during the February and April school vacation weeks
• Recreational summer camp program for children entering Kindergarten through fourth grade during summer school vacation weeks
• Elder care resource materials

9.17 Office of the University Ombuds

19 Deerfield Street, Suite 203 | (617) 358-5960 | [email protected]

The Boston University Office of the Ombuds is an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource available to all members of the Boston University community. Confidentiality, one of the fundamental principles of the office, is essential to Ombuds practice. The Office provides a safe place to have off-the-record conversations about any kind of problem related to life at BU. Talking to the Ombuds can be a good first step to resolving problems, especially if you are concerned about confidentiality or don’t know where to turn for assistance.

9.18 Parking and Transportation Services

1019 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-353-2160 | [email protected]

Boston University Parking & Transportation office provides students, staff, and faculty information on various ways to travel in and around Boston. This office provides information on: Parking permits, parking lots and locations, parking regulations and towing, weather related emergencies, the BU Bus, rideshare, bike safety, zip car, and MBTA (the “T”) passes and transportation.

9.19 Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs (PDPA)

Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs offers an expanding professional development curriculum for Boston University doctoral students built around seven Core Capacities, and provides programming, workshops, and trainings in areas of project management, leadership, communication, self-awareness, and career development.

9.20 The University Service Center (USC)

881 Commonwealth Avenue | 617-358-1818 | [email protected]

The USC is an excellent starting point for anyone unsure of where to turn for help. The staff will point you in the right direction, or—if your concern is complex, multilayered, or involves multiple offices—help you figure out the best way to address the situation. Top of Section                   Table of Contents

9.21 Additional Career Resources

BU Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) Twitter @BUs_BEST

Supported by the National Institutes of Health, BU’s BEST facilitates biomedical career development curriculum for PhD and postdoctoral trainees in a way that explores careers both in and outside of standard academic research. BU’s BEST program is open to all biomedical graduate and postdoctoral trainees at Boston University.

Propel Careers Lauren Celano, Co-founder and CEO

Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm dedicated to networking, mentoring and career development. Propel focuses on placement into full time, project based, and internship roles in areas including research, clinical, regulatory, commercial, informatics, finance, business, development, legal, and operations. Ms. Celano is available to meet bi-weekly in BRB 117.

Connect with Jen Correia on LinkedIn to interact with our alumni community. There are over 120 alumni available for informational interviews and general networking questions.

Other useful links for job-seekers:

www.nature.com/naturejobs

www.higheredjobs.com

sciencecareers.sciencemag.us

www.bu.edu/careers

ecoevojobs.net

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• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students
• University of Denver
• College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Graduate Research

Our department's research programs in ecology, biodiversity and evolutionary biology are led by faculty experts in conservation biology, biome ecology, behavioral evolution and forest ecology. Cell and molecular biology research is focused on cell processes, protein behavior, virus behavior, membrane trafficking, forensic genetics, neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease.

Graduate students outside of the professional science master's program work in research assistantship (GRA) or teaching assistantship (GTA) positions. These positions come with an award to fully cover tuition and provide a nine-month stipend. Most students also work extensively on their thesis research in the summer with support from their faculty advisors' research grants. GRAs also act as assistants in faculty research labs.

GRA funding is provided through the faculty mentor's research grant funds. Students may apply for a GRA by contacting individual faculty in the department.

Breaking Interdisciplinary Ground

Earn your phd in biophysics.

Since its inception in 2008, the molecular and cellular biophysics PhD program has grown to include 16 faculty members across disciplines in biological sciences, physics, chemistry and biochemistry. 

Biophysics students and faculty explore groundbreaking collaborative research and gain new insight into cell function utilizing novel imaging technology and computational analysis.

Current Graduate Students

Catherine Brown Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Phil Danielson

Christian Burns Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Cedric Asensio

Stephen Gross Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Erich Kushner

Nicholas Groves Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Schuyler van Engelenburg

Anne Henry Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Anna Sher

Huxley Hoffman Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Schuyler van Engelenburg

Eva Horna Lowell Pursuing an MS Advisor: Shannon Murphy

Blake Hummer Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Cedric Asensio

Drew Maslar Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Cedric Asensio

Heather McKiernan (Mazzanti) Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Phil Danielson

Randall Mazzarino Pursuing a PhD Advisor: David Patterson

Hui Miao Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Todd Blankenship

Megan Millage Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Todd Blankenship

Taylor Minckley Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Yan Qin

Nairi Pezeshkian Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Schuyler van Engelenburg

Emily Starke Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Scott Barbee

Amelia Webb Pursuing an MS Advisor: Erich Kushner

Yi Xie Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Todd Blankenship

Chen Zhang Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Yan Qin

Jeffrey Colgren Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Scott Nichols

Bernadette Doyle Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Scott Nichols

Caitlin Francis Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Erich Kushner

Dylan Fudge Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Yan Qin

James Gallagher Pursuing an MS Advisor: Robin Tinghitella

Alexander Goetz Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Anna Sher

Alexander Goke Pursuing an MS Advisor: Patrick Martin

Claudia Hallagan Pursuing an MS Advisor: Shannon Murphy and Robin Tinghitella

Brianne Hoglin Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Robert Dores

Kelsie Hunnicut Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Erica Larson

Clara Jenck Pursuing an MS Advisor: Tom Quinn

Lilia Koza Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Dan Linseman

Whitley Lehto Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Robin Tinghitella

Claudia Pena Pursuing an MS Advisor: Dan Linseman

Srivalli Puttagunta Pursuing an MS Advisor: Dan Linseman

Alexandra Sandberg Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Dan Linseman

Brittany Sprout Pursuing an MS Advisor: Anna Sher

Daniel Swann Pursuing an MS Advisor: Patrick Martin

Brooke Washburn Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Robin Tinghitella

Emily Wilkinson Pursuing a PhD Advisor: Joe Angelson

Jacob Wilson Pursuing an MS Advisor: Shannon Murphy and Robin Tinghitella

Funding & Support

Grant Application Support

DU's Office of Sponsored Research & Programs can help you through the process of applying for research funding from federal, non-federal and internal sources.

Graduate Student Resources

The Office of Graduate Studies offers several centrally-funded awards as well as workshops and resources for students involved in research.

Email Graduate Studies at DU

Professional Development Grants

Graduate Student Professional Development Grants provide financial support for conference presentations, exhibitions and performances, thesis and dissertation-related expenses and travel fares.

Support Graduate Studies in Biological Sciences at DU

Text "BIOL" to 41444 to donate.

Start Your Application

Undergraduate applicants.

The Common App is a universal application that can be sent to many schools, including the University of Denver.

First-Year Students Transfer Students

Graduate Applicants

Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.

Graduate Application

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Graduate Academic Programs

College of Biological Sciences

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology brings together a diverse group of faculty members who are deeply intrigued by fundamental biological questions. Their research transcends traditional boundaries, spanning plants, animals, and microorganisms. The department equips undergraduates with an understanding of biological principles at the molecular and cellular levels, and also makes significant contributions to graduate education across several graduate programs. To foster interdisciplinary excellence, the department maintains two state-of-the-art research technology cores: Light Imaging Facility, which specializes in live cell imaging, and the Bio Electron Microscopy Facility, which supports research across different spatial resolutions.

Undergraduate Programs

More information about CBS majors and minors

Graduate Groups

Biological Electron Microscopy Facility

BioEM provides electron microscopy imaging services encompassing a spatial resolution scale from imacromolecular assemblies, subcellular organelles to tissues.

Light Microscopy Imaging Facility

The Light Microscopy Imaging Facility specializes in live cell imaging and super-resolution methods for a wide variety of applications.

• Summer Research Programs

Harvard offers many ways to participate in research during the summer.

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Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH)

Harvard Griffin GSAS administers the Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) program, but you may be interested in other programs at Harvard's many schools and affiliated hospitals.

Other Summer Programs

Harvard programs, harvard-amgen scholars program.

Harvard-Amgen Scholars will conduct novel biotechnology-focused research with Harvard scientists over the course of a 10-week summer internship. Interns will have the opportunity to interact closely with faculty through scholarly and pre-professional development activities including a Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series and Biotechnology Journal Club. They will also gain critical exposure to tools for effective science communication, proposal writing, and graduate school preparation, and will have opportunities to explore the Boston area through a variety of social activities and outings. Currently, enrolled undergraduates interested in pursuing a bioscience PhD or the MD/PhD are eligible to apply, especially those from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Housing on Harvard’s Cambridge campus, travel, meal allowance, and a stipend are provided. 

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP)

The Harvard Stem Cell Institute Internship Program (HIP) provides an opportunity for Harvard and non-Harvard undergraduates to gain direct experience in stem cell research while working in a Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) laboratory under the supervision of an experienced researcher. Interns participate in a mandatory stem cell seminar series and a career pathways presentation and present their summer research findings at the HIP Symposium in August. Candidates must express a strong interest in stem cell biology; previous lab experience is desirable but not required. Approximately 35 students are selected by competitive review for this 10-week internship. A stipend is provided.

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a 10-week program that introduces undergraduates to bioengineering, materials research, nanoscience, and engineering while providing a coordinated, educational, and dynamic research community that inspires them to seek a graduate degree. REU research opportunities are arranged in conjunction with the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS), the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering , as well as other Harvard-based engineering and science entities. Professional development workshops, faculty seminars on research and ethics, and community activities are integrated into the program. Students receive a stipend and housing.

Center for Astrophysics Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

Scientists from the Solar and Stellar X-Ray Group (SSXG) and the Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Group (SSP) at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) host undergraduate students from around the US. For 10 weeks, these students will participate in cutting-edge astronomical research about the sun and the heliosphere and learn the skills necessary for a successful scientific career. Projects range from data analysis to computer modeling to instrument building. Special seminars will be held to increase students' public speaking and computer programming skills. Students will learn from experience about scientific research and how to apply their academic work to real-world problems. Some time will also be devoted to exploring Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the surrounding area. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.  Stipend, housing, and travel are provided. Please visit the website for more information .

Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology

The Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology is an 11-week research program that allows students to participate in ongoing research at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts. Projects focus on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems including global warming, hurricanes, forest harvesting, and invasive organisms. Researchers come from many disciplines, and specific studies center on population and community ecology, paleoecology, land-use history, phenology, biogeochemistry, soil science, ecophysiology, and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges. Students work with mentors from Harvard and collaborating institutions. Responsibilities may include field sampling, laboratory studies, data analysis, and scientific writing. In addition, students attend seminars given by nationally known scientists and workshops on career and graduate school preparation. At the end of the summer, students present their research results by writing an abstract and presenting their findings at a student research symposium. The program provides room, board, and a competitive stipend.

Program for Research in Markets & Organizations

The Program for Research in Markets & Organizations (PRIMO) provides an opportunity for Harvard and non-Harvard undergraduates (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time at a US institution) to work closely with Harvard Business School faculty, gaining exposure to business research on a variety of cutting-edge ideas. The primary goal of the program is to build and foster a strong community of scholars committed to excellence in research as part of the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village. Students must commit to the 10-week program and are provided with Harvard campus housing, meals, and a research stipend.

Programs at Harvard Medical School 

Summer honors undergraduate research program at harvard medical school.

Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP) is a 10-week summer research program primarily for college students belonging to groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. In addition to laboratory-based research with Harvard Medical School faculty, the program includes research and career development seminars and a peer-mentoring program. Stipend, housing, and travel are provided. Administered by the Division of Medical Sciences (PhD programs office) at Harvard Medical School every year since 1991, SHURP is offered for currently enrolled undergraduates who are considering careers in biological or biomedical research sciences, who have already had at least one summer (or equivalent term-time) of experience in a research laboratory, and who have taken at least one upper-level biology course that includes molecular biology. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.

Systems Biology Summer Internship Program

The 10-week Systems Biology Summer Internship Program enables interns to work on research projects spanning many scientific fields including systems biology, biophysics, bioinformatics, genomics, applied mathematics, and computation. Participants learn a range of cutting-edge techniques in the exciting and dynamic research environment of the FAS Center for Systems Biology and the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. Participants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Individuals from underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Cell Biology Research Scholars Program

The Cell Biology Research Scholars Program provides a 10-week full-time research opportunity to undergraduate students with a passion for scientific discovery and fundamental biology. Students will be hosted by faculty investigators to work on cutting-edge research projects and participate in training workshops and mentoring activities in preparation for a productive scientific research career. A stipend is provided, but scholars are responsible for travel, housing, and meals.

Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Summer Scholars Program

The Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) Summer Scholars Program is a 10-week program designed to provide hands-on laboratory research experience to motivated undergraduates with a strong interest in pursuing graduate studies focused on molecular mechanisms in biology. The program offers students the opportunity to gain experience in hands-on laboratory research; to interact with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other summer interns; to attend weekly presentations by department members on specific research projects and cutting-edge research tools; and to improve their presentation, writing, and communication skills. Participating laboratories cover a broad range of basic and disease-oriented research topics using the analytical tools of biochemistry, molecular genetics, biophysics, chemical biology, and structural biology. A stipend is provided, but students are responsible for travel, housing, and meal accommodations.

Summer Undergraduate Program in Immunology at Harvard Medical School

The 10-week Summer Undergraduate Program in Immunology exposes undergraduate students to current topics in immunology. Students participate in a combination of weekly lectures and laboratory work with faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows from the Harvard Medical School Immunology Graduate Program. Participants from colleges in which the topic is not taught or presented in depth are especially welcome, and individuals from underrepresented minority groups are especially encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to students who are in their sophomore or junior year. A stipend is provided, but the program is unable to assist with travel, housing arrangements, or visas for students.

Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School

Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics , now entering its 15th year, is a nine-week full-time extensive research opportunity with a curriculum including didactic lectures, clinical case studies, a mentored research project, and presentation of findings. The program is for undergraduates with quantitative interests and skills who aspire to contribute to translational advances in biomedicine with a future PhD or research-oriented MD or MD/PhD. A stipend, housing, and a travel allowance are provided. If you are an undergraduate with a strong quantitative background and interested in innovation and methodological rigor in your approach to scientific inquiry in biomedicine or in the translation of computational methods to engineering/software applications in medicine, this is the summer program for you!

The Four Directions Summer Research Program

The Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP) provides an opportunity for talented Native American undergraduates to explore careers in the medical profession under the guidance and supervision of staff from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The FDSRP is an eight-week summer research opportunity offered to undergraduate and first-year medical students with a commitment to the health of Native American communities. Interns engage in basic science or translational research projects under the supervision of Harvard Medical School faculty advisors. Students also receive career development training, meet faculty from across the hospital and medical school, and participate in a variety of social networking events. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Stipend, housing, and travel are provided.

Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program

The Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program is sponsored by the Harvard Program in Neonatology for students interested in clinical aspects and research in Newborn Medicine. During the 8–12-week program, students are guided by faculty and fellow mentors from the program with the goal of providing undergraduate and medical school students with intensive clinical and laboratory research. As part of the program, the students will have the opportunity to observe newborn care in the hospital nurseries, clinics, and neonatal intensive care units. Partial funding is available for students participating in the program.

Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine

Based at Harvard Medical School, the Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine is an eight-week research-intensive experience that provides undergraduates interested in science or medicine an introduction to nephrology, and an overview of basic and clinical science. At the end of the program, students will have the opportunity to present their research at a national student symposium. Stipend and housing are provided. Research experience is preferred but not required. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.

Programs at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Summer program in biological sciences in public health.

The Summer Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health is an eight-week laboratory-based biological research program for undergraduates belonging to underrepresented groups during the summer following their sophomore or junior years. The program exposes college students to the rewards of laboratory research directed toward solving important public health problems such as infections (malaria, TB, parasites), cancer, lung diseases, multifactorial, multigenic, and common diseases of aging, diabetes, and obesity. Scientific approaches include regulation of cell growth and gene regulation, cellular metabolism, DNA modification, cellular signaling, and structure-function analyses. The overall mission of the program is to prepare qualified students for graduate-level training leading to research careers in the biological sciences.

Summer Program in Epidemiology

The Summer Program in Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health is an intensive five-week program that integrates mathematics and quantitative methods to provide students with an understanding of the skills and processes necessary to pursue a career in public health. The program recruits undergraduates belonging to underrepresented groups for graduate-level training. Areas of study include cancer prevention, infectious disease, environmental and occupational health, nutrition, and more. Students will participate in an introductory course in epidemiology and biostatistics, faculty lectures, a research project led by faculty or post-doctoral fellow, and networking opportunities. Travel, lodging, a stipend, and frequent meals are provided.

Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program

MIRT is a national program designed to encourage students to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral research providing support for undergraduate and graduate students to do health-related population-based research and training in developing countries including Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Thailand, Republic of Georgia, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and Australia. Trainees get knowledge of scientific literature associated with projects, biomedical research ethics, and cultural aspects with a focus on how these aspects affect public health issues as well as scientific and medical issues. Research opportunities are designed collaboratively with faculty in these institutions to address health and health disparities pertinent to their countries.

Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology at the Harvard School of Public Health

The Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology is an intensive six-week introduction to biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health research. Based at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, this program is designed to introduce qualified undergraduates and post-baccalaureates to the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental, and medical research, and to demonstrate the application of quantitative methods to the study of human health. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.

Programs at Harvard’s Affiliated Hospitals

Summer research trainee program at massachusetts general hospital .

The goal of the eight-week Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) is to provide underrepresented minority students with an overview of opportunities available in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Students are assigned to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) laboratories or clinical sites where they undertake original research projects and prepare presentations of their work under the mentorship of an MGH investigator. In addition to this research experience, students will attend weekly seminars, career development workshops, and networking events. The program is open to underrepresented minority students who have completed at least three years of college or who are first-year medical students; no prior research experience is necessary. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Housing, meals, and a stipend are provided.

Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

The STARS Program provides underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate and first-year medical students with a strong interest in pursuing advanced careers as research scientists, physicians, and/or healthcare professionals with an opportunity to engage in basic, clinical, and translational research projects during an eight-week summer program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Interns participate in a research project under the supervision of an HMS faculty mentor. Additional activities include "Research 101" education and training sessions, social networking opportunities, weekly roundtables with BWH Faculty and the Office for Multicultural Faculty Careers, and community health center/clinic shadowing. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Housing, travel, and a stipend are provided.

Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program introduces Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented minority populations to cancer research. Each year, CURE selects several students to participate in full-time 8–12-week summer internships. Interns are assigned individual mentors, who oversee their research and offer guidance. In addition to working on a research project, participants benefit from various program activities, such as a comprehensive orientation, scientific research, and professional development seminars, journal club discussions, networking, and social events. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a biomedical or health-related research career. Students receive a weekly stipend.

Brigham Research Institute Undergraduate Research Summer Internship Program 

The Brigham Research Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduates across the United States to gain a focused, challenging, and hands-on research experience in a basic science or clinical laboratory setting. Interns can choose from a wide variety of host labs doing exciting work in areas related to cardiovascular, immunology, musculoskeletal, neurobiology, and sex differences research. During the 10-week internship program, students can take advantage of educational and professional development offerings on the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School campuses as well as participate in a central curriculum associated with the program. Students will present their research findings in a mini research symposium at the end of their training period.

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• Graduate Programs

Biological Sciences: Ph.D., M.S., Ph.D./MBA

The Department of Biological Sciences offers master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in the fields of physiology, cancer biology, cardiovascular biology, cell and extracellular matrix biology, developmental biology, microbiology and virology, and molecular biology and genetics. Formalized concentrations have been established to provide students with customized research and career mentorship. Since many students pursuing the Ph.D. in biological sciences are interested in pursuing careers in industrial science, the Department of Biological Sciences and the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics have developed a jointly administered Ph.D. in biological sciences/MBA degree.

A dual degree in the MBA and Ph.D. in biological sciences programs is available to graduate students.

Program Concentrations:

• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Cell and Organ Systems Physiology
• Chemistry-Biology Interface

Degrees Offered

Biological Sciences–M.S.

Biological Sciences–Ph.D.

Biological Sciences–Ph.D./MBA

Application Deadlines

Note: all spring applicants must contact department prior to application..

The  2023-2024  UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1028 .

All or nearly all students receive a stipend and full tuition scholarship.

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Application and Program Dates

The dates of the 2024 program are May 27 through Aug. 3, 2024. Application will open on November 15, 2023.

Program Eligibility

Non-MIT undergraduates who meet the following requirements are eligible:

• Full-time undergraduate students at a U.S. university or college
• Current sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors
• Successfully completed introductory courses in the life sciences
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 in all STEM courses
• Must have prior research experience
• Demonstrated interest in basic research and in a career in the sciences
• Must provide all transcripts
• Available to begin the first day of program, no exceptions
• International students on F-1 visas with outstanding academic records who meet ALL of the above criteria are eligible

Program Goals

The Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (BSG-MSRP-Bio) is offered in collaboration with MIT’s Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences . The program provides a unique opportunity for students who do not have access to cutting-edge research facilities at their own institution to conduct supervised research in a fast-paced environment with state-of-the-art research facilities, and to experience first hand the academic, social, and cultural environment at MIT.

The program is designed to encourage students from low income families, first-generation college students, students from socio-economically-disadvantaged backgrounds, veterans and students with disabilities to attend graduate school and pursue a career in basic research by providing them the opportunity to conduct supervised research in an outstanding research institution, in a supportive learning environment with plenty of interaction with graduate students and faculty. Over 85% of past participants have enrolled in highly ranked graduate programs within three years of completing this summer program. A number of our summer students have been awarded Goldwater Scholarships, pre-doctoral NSF fellowships (GRFP), or Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study.

Priority will be given to students studying at non-research intensive institutions , small colleges or public universities.

MIT undergraduates are not eligible for this program. If you are an MIT undergrad, see the UROP Program website.

MSRP Alum in the News

Program Structure

During the program, students work full-time in the laboratory, participate in weekly meetings with faculty, and attend weekly academic seminars. The weekly seminars are designed to help students improve their presentation skills and to be more competitive graduate applicants, and cover topics such as applying to graduate school, giving an oral presentation, writing a research abstract, and learning about various career options available to PhD graduates. Students will also have the opportunity to attend departmental retreats, research seminars and symposia, learn about the graduate application process and meet with various MIT faculty members. The program solicits constructive and timely feedback from the students through the use of surveys.

At the end of the program students give a poster presentation on their research, submit a 5-page research summary, a one-page personal statement about their summer experience at MIT and complete a program evaluation.

All BSG-MSRP-Bio participants are eligible for application fee waivers for any MIT graduate program.

Explore MIT Bio Research

Program Features

All students accepted into the program receive:

• Campus housing in shared suites
• A weekly stipend
• Travel allowance to and from MIT (domestic travel only)
• Peer mentoring

Extracurricular activities

As part of the program, we organize social activities and weekend outings. Past activities have included:

• Visit to Biotech labs
• Tour of Boston and the Freedom Trail
• One-day trip to Martha’s Vineyard
• 4th of July barbecue
• Charles River cruise

You will also have subsidized access to MIT athletic activities.

Online Application

Application requirements.

• Online application form and CV
• 1-page personal statement
• Unofficial college transcript (submitted electronically)
• Three letters of reference from science faculty* (submitted electronically)

* At least one letter must be from a research mentor or lab supervisor. Students with no prior research experience are not eligible. You MUST include letters of reference from your most recent research experiences.

If you have additional questions about the application, contact [email protected] .

Program Funding

This summer internship program is funded in part by the MIT Department of Biology, the Department of Chemistry, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, the McGovern Institute, the Simons Center for the Social Brain, and generous gifts from private donors. Students with external funding are also encouraged to apply.

Explore Gould Fellowship

• Science Magazine: Making Your Summer Research Internship a Good One 
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Department of Biology

Graduate Studies

The application deadline for the  2024-2025  cohort is February 1, 2024. There is no application fee.

The Portland State Biology graduate program offers M.S.T, M.A., M.S, and Ph.D degree options. Admission into our program is highly competitive. Our multi-disciplinary faculty offer admitted graduate students the opportunity to conduct cutting edge research, gain professional teaching experience, and pursue an academically rigorous program which fosters professional research development. Our students graduate with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to be successful contributors to the scientific community.

Our campus is located in the heart of Downtown Portland, and our program draws top graduate students from around the world. Our research faculty expertise spans a broad range of disciplines within the field of Biology. Research is conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories and in field locations, from the glaciers of Antarctica, to the jungles of Central and South America, to the bamboo forests of central China. Regional collaborators include public, state and federal agencies as well as other regional institutions including, but not limited to, the Oregon Zoo, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI), Oregon Health & Science University, and Oregon State University.

Degree Requirements

• Biology M.A./M.S.
• Biology M.A.T./M.S.T.
• Biology Ph.D.

Graduate Thesis or Dissertation

All Biology graduate students must defend a thesis or dissertation to complete the degree program. The first part of the graduate defense is a one-hour seminar that is open to the public followed by a closed-door review of the student's research with the student and the student's graduate committee.

PDXScholar maintains a  complete list  of all theses and dissertations submitted to the University.  

How to Apply

Applications to the Biology Graduate Program must be made through the Graduate School ; please do not send any application materials directly to the Biology Department.

Applications are reviewed only for admission for fall term. There is no application fee. 

• Graduate School
• Thesis & Dissertation Info
• Grad Dates & Deadlines
• Graduate School Forms
• Joint Campus Registration
• Biology Grad Handbook
• Graduate Learning Objectives

Cultivating conservation, eco stewards: 20th anniversary for UH Hilo program

• April 9, 2024

It’s been 20 years since Don Price, then a biology professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, used funding from a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to start a new graduate program focused on preparing students for careers in conservation and environmental science.

Two decades later, students from the UH Hilo tropical conservation biology and environmental science ( TCBES ) graduate program now serve as conservation and environmental scientists and managers throughout Hawaiʻi .

“The overall mission of the proposed program is to provide recent baccalaureate graduates and those currently working in conservation biology and environmental science with graduate training that will prepare them for careers as conservation and environmental scientists and managers,” said Price in a 2004 media release .

An interdisciplinary and diversity rich program

The TCBES program has given graduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves in studies, research, and environmental and community service in interdisciplinary fields ranging from animal science, anthropology, applied engineering, to pharmacy, philosophy and psychology.

“One of the most gratifying things about teaching and mentoring TCBES students is witnessing their growth during their master’s process, and the incredible success they have had in landing jobs after, or sometimes even before, graduation,” said Becky Ostertag, a biology professor and former director of the TCBES graduate program.

Collaborative research between faculty, students and federal and state agencies is a hallmark of the program. Students follow one of two tracks; conduct a thesis or professional internship. Much of the work published by students is largely based in Hawaiian environments such as marine, tropical rainforests and urban areas.

More than 60% of students in the program are Hawaiʻi residents. The program attracts, retains and graduates many minority students, including Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiian which account for 18% of participants. Many with Native Hawaiian ancestry are leaders in a movement to weave cultural values and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) into scientific endeavors and teaching.

For more go to UH Hilo Stories .

—By Susan Enright

Related Posts:

• Fellowships awarded to UH Hilo students help to…
• UH marine scientists explore climate adaptation…
• Native Hawaiian scientists sail to Papahānaumokuākea
• previous post: UH Mānoa shines in national grad program rankings: 2 top 25, 13 top 100
• next post: UH Mānoa hits academic rankings record with 8 subjects in U.S. top 20

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National Science Foundation (NSF) Announces 2024 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Awardees

Five ccs student awardees, six honorable mentions for renowned fellowship.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the 2024 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awardees. Five current and past College of Creative Studies (CCS) students were selected for the fellowship and six current CCS students received honorable mentions. In total, there were sixteen fellowship recipients and fifteen honorable mentions from UC Santa Barbara. The College community congratulates these future trailblazers as they pursue endeavors aimed at positively impacting society! 

2024 CCS Student Awardees: 

—Mikolaj Godzik ‘23 (CCS Biology)

—Tyler Nelson Tachibana Pennebaker ‘19 (CCS Physics)

—Graham Sharp ‘23 (CCS Physics)

—Charles Nicholas Thrift ‘22 (CCS Biology)

—Ashley Yeh ‘24 (CCS Biology)

2024 CCS Student Honorable mentions:

—Ricardo Isaac Espinosa Lima ‘22 (CCS Biology)

—Vivian Hoang ‘22 (CCS Biology)

—Sriram Vish Ramamurthy ‘22 (CCS Biology)

—Luca Vito Di Raimondo Scharrer ‘22 (CCS Physics)

—Marina Ivaylova Stoilova ‘23 (CCS Biology)

—Guy Wilks ‘24 (CCS Computing) 

"The College of Creative Studies is thrilled to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our current and past students who have been awarded the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. These fellowships really highlight the creativity and dedication of our students and as these amazing scholars embark on their graduate studies, we are confident that they will make contributions that exemplify the spirit of innovation and discovery that defines us here in CCS. Congratulations!" —Timothy Sherwood, CCS Interim Dean

Experiential learning is at the center of student learning at CCS, including preparing our students for those interested in pursuing scholarly endeavors. The College recognizes the vital role that its faculty play in mentoring its curious and passionate students with 70 percent of those in STEM majors pursuing advanced degrees at the masters and doctoral levels, according to a past alumni survey. CCS Biology Faculty John Latto and Claudia Tyler lead an annual colloquium on navigating the graduate school application process, including information about the GRFP. In addition, previous recipients of the GRFP have been invited to return to campus to inspire and share their journeys with current students considering applying.

The GRFP is a distinguished fellowship program that supports outstanding graduating seniors and early-stage graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who intend on pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees and show potential for significant research achievements. As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a legacy of selecting recipients who go on to achieve significant research achievements in their academic and professional endeavors.

Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance covering tuition and fees to conduct research at any accredited U.S. institution offering graduate education. In addition, these fellows have opportunities for international research and professional development. These NSF Fellows are anticipated to become leaders in STEM research, education, and innovation. 

Again, congratulations to the 2024 awardees! CCS invites NSF GRFP recipients and others who went on to scholarly endeavors to return to the College to share their graduate experiences with current students.

UCF Graduate Programs Reach New Heights in U.S. News Rankings Through Research Excellence, Impactful Community Engagement

UCF’s emergency management program ranks No. 1 in the nation, and programs in education and public affairs climbed in U.S. News & World Report ’s Best Graduate Schools rankings.

By Mark Schlueb ’93 ’21MA | April 9, 2024

UCF is a leading metropolitan research university known for helping students unleash their potential and advancing innovation in our community and state. Led by world-class faculty members with unrivaled industry experience, UCF’s graduate programs continue to earn top national recognitions for accomplishing those goals and more.

More than 9,000 UCF students enroll in UCF’s graduate programs to advance their careers or launch new ones. And many are thriving on campus and after graduation in programs ranked among the best in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report has recognized UCF’s exceptional faculty and graduate programs in its 2024 list of Best Graduate Schools. UCF’s emergency management program ranks No. 1 in the nation, and four programs rank in the top 25. Nine graduate programs placed in the top 50 nationally, including five in public affairs, three in education and one in health. U.S. News will release rankings for the engineering and medicine categories at a later date.

“UCF’s world-class faculty excel at providing our graduate students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive as innovative leaders and creators,” says President Alexander N. Cartwright. “The U.S. News rankings demonstrate that our students graduate well-prepared to unleash their potential in individual, business, and government sectors that are growing in Florida and vital to our economy, health, and quality of life.”

UCF Grads Shape Emergency Responses Nationwide

UCF has a proven track record in emergency management. The university’s Master of Emergency and Crisis Management program — which is offered the College of Community Innovation and Education — has climbed the rankings over seven consecutive years. The homeland security program and its faculty researchers enable students to navigate increasingly complex manmade and natural disasters, while learning from past disasters to improve their preparedness and response in the future.

Graduates of the program go on to become leaders in directing and implementing emergency responses in Florida and throughout the country, including in Boston and Washington, D.C. They are saving lives, helping communities prepare as well as possible to navigate disasters, and putting into practice the lessons they learned from outstanding faculty who contribute to  national research and regional solutions related to crises .

“Our students are equipped to assist communities and organizations in every phase of emergency management — from preparedness and mitigation to response and recovery,” says  Claire Connolly Knox, professor in UCF’s School of Public Administration.

“We are thrilled to be ranked No. 1 and nationally recognized again as a leader in emergency and crisis management,” she adds. “This honor highlights the innovative and community-focused research by our faculty and continuous engagement with community partners invested in our outstanding students and alumni.”

Other highlights include:

• 12 in Education — Student Counseling and Personnel Services
• 15 in Public Affairs — Nonprofit Management, up three spots since last year
• 21 in Public Affairs — Public Management and Leadership, up five spots since last year
• 27 in Public Affairs — Public Finance and Budgeting
• 32 in Education — Curriculum and Instruction
• 41 in Health — Physical Therapy
• 42 in Best Education Schools, up four spots since last year
• 47 in Public Affairs
• 59 in Nursing — Doctor of Nursing Practice

UCF’s many strong rankings are a testament to the excellence of UCF’s faculty, who bring to the classroom extensive experience in academia, industry and research, as well as to the university’s commitment to help students unleash their potential in a culture focused on collaboration and finding solutions that benefit our society.

UCF students who have graduated from the nonprofit management program have gone on to make a big impact by helping communities in Florida and beyond. In one example, more than 12 years ago, program graduate Eric Camarillo ’16 ’19MNM launched faith-based nonprofit organization SALT Outreach Inc. in Central Florida to help provide services to the homeless, including mobile shower trailers, laundry, clothing, haircuts, mail services and help with employment. SALT has grown to more than 30 staff members who help hundreds of people every day.

“Throughout the School of Public Administration, our faculty, staff and advisory boards have worked hard to ensure we are offering students in Central Florida, across the country and around the globe a world-class, innovative education,” says Doug Goodman, professor and school director. “We are honored to be recognized as leaders in emergency management, nonprofit management, public leadership management and public finance and budgeting, fields that are critical to the health and well-being of our citizens and the success of our communities.”

The Best Graduate Education Schools category includes graduate-level educator preparation and advancement programs, such as teacher education, school counseling and psychology, educational leadership, and curriculum and instruction, all offered through the College of Community Innovation and Education. The college offers graduate students numerous opportunities to collaborate closely with expert faculty, from receiving mentorship and support in research and scholarship to engaging in robust internships and field experiences with school district, nonprofit and agency partners. Some faculty members also lead federally funded projects that offer tuition assistance and prepare students to work with students in high-need schools.

UCF’s continued rise has also drawn praise from other outlets:

• In February, U.S. News & World Report released its best online program national rankings, which placed UCF tied at No. 7 in the nation for best online bachelor’s programs. Of the 14 UCF national rankings from U.S. News , six online programs made the top 10, two made the top 15 and three were in the top 50. UCF has ranked in the top 20 overall Best Online Programs for the past seven years.
• In March, The Princeton Review and PC Gamer recognized UCF’s game design programs among the best in the world. The graduate Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy is ranked No. 1 in the world for the fourth time in five years. The undergraduate game design program, Games and Interactive Media (GaIM) in UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media, achieved its highest ranking ever, advancing to No. 5 in the world.
• Sports Business Journal named Orlando the No. 1 Best Sports Business City for event hosting, including the NBA, Orlando City and Orlando Pride Soccer, the nation’s premier tennis center, college football bowl games, the NFL Pro Bowl, U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, the Arnold Palmer Invitational — and, of course, the UCF Knights. With its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference in 2023, UCF has skyrocketed to unprecedented success as the youngest Power Four program in the country. With one of the country’s  top graduate sports business programs , UCF has also provided a pipeline of talented graduates to some of the nation’s biggest sports brands.

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Pegasus magazine.

Founded to help fuel talent for the nearby space industry , UCF continues to build its reputation as SpaceU. Here's a look at the early days of UCF's space ties and journey to new frontiers.

These are the best graduate school programs in Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World

Top graduate schools in Wisconsin landed on the latest U.S. News & World Report list ranking more than 2,000 programs across the country. U.S. News & World Report published its 2024-'25 report in April, ranking graduate programs in business, education, law and nursing, among other fields.

University of Wisconsin-Madison's the School of Education tied for first overall with Teacher's College, Columbia University, according the report. That's up from third overall and second among public universities last year.

Several of Marquette University's graduate programs moved up on the list, including the master's program in the College of Nursing, which moved up from 66 to 58.

Schools were evaluated based on expert opinion and statistical data measuring the quality of the school's faculty, research and post-graduate outcomes. You can find the full list on the U.S. News website for graduate rankings on their website www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools .

Top business graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #43

Top law graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #36 (tie)
• Marquette University: #68 (tie)

Top nursing graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• Marquette University: #58 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #82 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: #107 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh: #118
• Alverno College: #119 (tie)
• Milwaukee School of Engineering: #153-169

Top medical graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #35 (tie)

Top education graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #1 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #169 (tie)
• Marquette University: #192

Top Engineering graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #27 (tie)
• Marquette University: #142 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #177 (tie)

RELATED: Here's how Wisconsin universities ranked in the 2024 Best Colleges list

U.S. News Ranks UT Austin Computer Science Among Best in Graduate Program Rankings

The 2024-2025 rankings tout computer science at The University of Texas at Austin as among the seven best nationally.

U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings

The University of Texas at Austin continues to be one of the premier schools for graduate studies, according to U.S. News & World Report’s partial release of its most recent “Best Graduate Schools.” UT made gains in several disciplines, including computer science.

Overall, the University has 42 graduate schools and specialty programs ranked in the top 10 when combined with previous years, including a dozen in the College of Natural Sciences. The publication updates some of its specialty rankings each year and republishes the most recent rankings in other areas. Additionally, U.S. News delayed release of some rankings.

“These numbers are meaningful. Having more than 40 schools, programs and specialties ranked in the top 10 in this partial release alone, including several that are the best in the country, if not the world, is reflective of our ability to continue to attract exceptional faculty and students,” said President Jay Hartzell. “Our talent is what puts UT at the leading edge of discovery in AI and robotics, life sciences, population research, and many other disciplines that are at the forefront of solving many of the world’s most pressing problems and bettering society.”

The College of Natural Sciences has 12 programs and specialties ranked among the top 10 in the most recent ranking for a discipline, the most of any college or school at UT Austin. Computer Science (No. 7) scored top 10 rankings in all four discipline’s specialties that are ranked within departments. 

U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings, which are published separately from the magazine’s yearly ranking of undergraduate programs, are considered the gold standard of graduate and professional rankings. They are based on surveys of academic leaders and, for select programs, additional quantitative measures including placement test scores, student/faculty ratios, research expenditures and job placement success.

UT Austin graduate schools, programs and specialties within Natural Sciences that U.S. News & World Report ranked this year or last are listed below.

Chemistry – 16*

• Analytical – 4*
• Inorganic – 14*
• Organic – 20*
• Physical – 14*

Computer Science – 7

• Artificial Intelligence – 9
• Programming Language – 7
• Systems – 10

Mathematics – 13*

• Algebra / Number Theory / Algebraic Geometry – 19*
• Analysis – 8*
• Applied Math – 7*
• Topology – 8*

Physics – 13*

• Cosmology/Relativity/Gravity – 10*
• Condensed Matter – 22*

Statistics – 27* 

* Ranking not revised for 2024-25.   In the most recent life science rankings from U.S. News, UT Austin ranked in the top 25 for biological sciences, including ranking 8th in ecology/evolutionary biology; in the most recent ranking for plasma physics, UT ranked third.

Read the full UT press release

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Announcements

New Advanced Quantum Science Institute Will Bridge Basic Research and Applied Science

April 5, 2024 • by Marc Airhart

Top Prize Image in Visualizing Science Contest Captures Research Tied to the Sun

March 26, 2024 • by Steven E. Franklin

Undergraduate Researchers Help Unlock Lessons of Machine Learning and AI

March 20, 2024 • by Amelia Engstrom

Marine Biology

• College of the Environment
• University of Washington

SAFS Undergraduate Community Building Event May 1st

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences DEI committee will be hosting an event on May 1, 2024, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm  for undergraduates to build community with graduate students and postdocs in the SAFS department.

This informal event will have graduate students and postdocs stationed in the FSH building lobby with posters containing information on research opportunities, professional development, graduate school applications, and much more. Undergrads are invited to walk around and introduce themselves to the grads and postdocs and gain insight on any topics of interest. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Please see the attached flyer and  RSVP here

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙂