Graduate Admissions
Prospective graduate students may apply for admission to either the MA or PhD program prior to the December 7 application deadline for fall admission. Financial support for accepted students is provided in the form of fellowships or traineeships from federal agencies such as NIH and NSF, departmental teaching fellowships, and/or University fellowships, which are available to qualified students. Generally the department does not accept new students for the spring semester, although in special circumstances this may be arranged for students in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. While late applications may be accepted, complete applications should be submitted before the December 7 deadline to receive full consideration for admissions, financial aid decisions, and invitations to visit.
Applicants should choose one Graduate Program Area —1) Cell & Molecular Biology; 2) Neurobiology; 3) Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; or 4) Marine Biology — in the “Specialization” area on the first page of the Graduate School Application. If your interests span two program areas, please indicate both. Applicants are encouraged to contact one or more faculty with whom they might wish to pursue their dissertation research. This is especially important for students interested in the EBE and Marine Biology program areas, where applicants are typically admitted to work specifically with one or more faculty members. The CM and Neurobiology program areas require laboratory rotations during which students can explore their interests, but it is often useful to contact a faculty member. Contacts with faculty may be listed on page two of the Graduate School Application.
Application Requirements and Recommended Prerequisites
Applicants to the MA or PhD programs must have completed a Bachelors degree in Biology or a relevant field and must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. A GRE Subject Test is also strongly recommended. Depending on the proposed program area, the Subject Test in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry would be appropriate.
Admission to graduate programs in the Department of Biology is competitive. We favor applicants with both strong academic records and a demonstrated aptitude for research. A thoughtful personal statement is important and should include information on your motivation for attending graduate school, any research interests you have, and your prior research experience. We also consider letters of recommendation, particularly those from individuals who can address research experience and aptitude, a very important part of your application.
Visit the GRS Academic Admissions page and the GRS Online Bulletin for more details on admission procedures and requirements. Information for international students on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and other requirements is available on the GRS Academic Admissions page and on the GRS FAQ for International Students page.
Grad Students
Stephen Amato works with Dr. Hengye Man, reseacrching the process of signaling pathways that control energy homeostasis within the neuron. Dr. Man is in both the graduate Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology program.
Katie Faust Stryjewski works with Dr. Michael Sorenson in the area of avian ecology and behavior. Dr. Sorenson is in the graduate Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution program.
Nikki Traylor-Knowles is interested in the molecular and transcriptomic aspects of wound healing in cnidarians, with a focus on corals and works with both Drs. Les Kaufman and John Finnerty. She is a part of the graduate Marine Biology program.
Benjamin H. C. Carr is analyzing the long-term dynamics of marine ecosystems in the Northwest Atlantic and works with Dr. Les Kaufman. He is a part of the graduate Marine Biology program.
Andrew Reinmann's research is focused on quantifying the role of winter climate change in carbon storage in temperate forests. He works with Dr. Pamela Templer and is a part of the graduate Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution program.
Christine M. Snyder is interested in the role of the Mef2A transcription factor and works with Dr. Frank Naya and is a part of the graduate Cell and Molecular Biology program.
Learn more about Christine and our other graduate students...
Iker Etchegaray is studying phagocytosis in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaste. He works with Dr. Kim McCall as a part of the graduate Neurobiology program.
Eva Fast has been studying the study how Wolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, get transmitted vertically through the female germline of insects. She works with Dr. Horacio Frydman as a part of the graduate Neurobiology program.