Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biosciences

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Program Link:
https://vetmed.wsu.edu/education/graduate-degrees/ph-d-molecular-biosciences/
Total Graduate Faculty in Program:
30
Graduate Students in Program:
40
Students Receiving Assistantships:
40
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall —– December 1

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • 600 TOEFL (PBT) Minimum score
  • 100 TOEFL (iBT) Minimum score
  • 8 TOEFLE Essentials Minimum score
  • 7 IELTS Minimum score
  • 115 Duolingo Minimum score

Additional Degree Program Admission Requirements

  • GRE Optional

Degree Description:

Molecular Biosciences is a dynamic continuum of disciplines, which uses the approaches of chemistry, physics, and biology to understand the fundamental mechanisms of living organisms. The School of Molecular Biosciences offers many exciting opportunities for graduate students to explore the vast range of life science research. Representative disciplines include biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, structural biology, and virology.

Admission Requirements:

Students wishing to pursue graduate studies in Molecular Biosciences should have an undergraduate major in biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, biology, chemistry, or closely related fields. Applicants will need to submit the following:  the Graduate School GradCAS application, which will include a Statement of Purpose describing your qualifications, goals, and objectives in pursuing graduate research in molecular biosciences; official transcripts from all colleges attended; and three letters of recommendation.

Statement of Purpose instructions

As a Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. candidate, you will be required to complete three lab rotations during your first year before picking your lab home in mid-March.  A key aspect to a successful application is our ability to determine the research fit between you and the faculty in the department that are recruiting students.  Thus, you must answer the questions below to ensure that your application will be reviewed favorably.  You will have a chance to tailor your personal statement with specifics of why you are interested in working with the faculty you select.  It is OK to list faculty with which you wish to rotate outside of SMB and SMB affiliated faculty or include faculty that are not presently recruiting as an opportunity may open up after the application is submitted.  However, our recruiting strategy will be designed to ensure that funded investigators obtain the trainees that are necessary to complete their new or ongoing projects.

  • Please choose four (4)  faculty members that you would be interested in working with and include a brief statement regarding your research history and interests. You will have the opportunity to elaborate in your Statement of Purpose. Please navigate to our faculty page to identify faculty/Principal Investigators that are accepting students.
  • Write a Statement of Purpose (350 – 1000 words maximum) addressing the following topics and upload a PDF.
  • Describe your goals and objectives in pursuing a graduate degree in Molecular Biosciences and your current research interests.
  • Describe your previous research experience.
  • List any publications or poster presentations of your research.
  • Describe any additional information that you feel may be helpful in evaluating your record, including any teaching experience you have or any academic honors, scholarships or other relevant awards you have received.
  • If applicable, provide an explanation of any recent prolonged absence from school (a year or more).
  • The deadline for your application to the Molecular Biosciences graduate program is December 1. Late applications may be considered depending on space availability.

Student Opportunities:

Students entering into the School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB) in the College of Veterinary Medicine will pursue an interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biosciences. Entering students do rotations through three research laboratories to choose a dissertation/thesis advisor. Over 50 research laboratories are associated with the School of Molecular Biosciences (see the faculty interest page), investigating problems in diverse systems, including bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals. Graduates acquire a breadth and depth of knowledge that allows them to adapt quickly to new information and approaches developed in the rapidly changing field of molecular biosciences.

Students interested in a Ph.D. degree in the Molecular Biosciences will participate in the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (iPBS). The iPBS umbrella encompasses three participating programs: Molecular Biosciences, Neurosciences, and Immunology and Infectious Diseases programs. Students admitted to the SMB graduate program will undertake three lab rotations. Based on their rotation experiences and developing research interests, students have the option to change their Ph.D. degree goal within the three participating programs in the first semester. The iPBS offers longitudinal professional development opportunities for all Ph.D. students in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Career Opportunities:

Alumni have gone on to high-profile postdoctoral opportunities and successful careers in academic and industrial sciences, especially in the biotechnology industry. Career opportunities include positions in food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, private or government laboratories and departments, and nonprofit institutions such as clinical and hospital laboratories and research institutes. With the advent of the “biological revolution,” which will continue well into the 21st century, new opportunities with links to the worlds of public health, business, law, and government are ever expanding.

Career Placements:

Postdoctoral positions in nationally renowned laboratories at University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania Wistar Institute, Washington University in St. Lois, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Institute, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Faculty positions at tier-one research universities and outstanding undergraduate institutions such as the University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, Texas Tech, and the U.S. Naval Acadamy.
Industrial positions at Amgen, Battelle, Infections Disease Research Institute, Kemin Industries, Miltenyi Biotechnology, Myriad Genetics, PathoGenesis, and Sunesis.

Contact Information: