Doctor of Philosophy in 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 Minimum score
  • 100 TOEFLI Minimum score

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 application, which will include a personal statement describing your qualifications, goals, and objectives in pursuing graduate research in molecular biosciences; official transcripts from all colleges attended; and three letters of recommendation.

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: