Division of Biological Sciences
Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry
Program Description
Graduate offerings in the Division of Biological Sciences include M.S. and Ph.D. programs in:
1) Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry
2) Organismal Biology and Ecology
3) Systems Ecology; see links for descriptions of each of these programs.
Division faculty participate in the Wildlife Biology graduate program which is administratively housed in the School of Forestry. Division faculty also participate in a new program called Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics.
Research emphases, expertise and course work in the Division of Biological Sciences span the full range of the biological sciences from the molecular to the ecosystem. Broad areas of emphasis include avian biology, biochemistry, conservation biology, ecology and behavior, evolutionary and population genetics, microbiology (including medical and environmental microbiology), microbial ecology, molecular biology and others. Significant opportunities for integration across biological disciplines exist and are facilitated by the inclusion of all biological fields in a single administrative unit. Approximately 40 faculty and 70 graduate students work in the division, which also provides course work and research experience to undergraduate students in biology, microbiology, medical technology and wildlife biology.
The Division of Biological Sciences is one of the leading research units at the university. Faculty in the division generate more than $11 million in external funding each year from a variety of sources. These funds support strong and unusually productive research and graduate education programs. Many faculty in the division are national or international leaders in their fields. Details about the research interests and programs of individual faculty are available on the division's web page. Laboratory, office and support facilities are located in the Health Sciences, Charles H. Clapp, Natural Sciences Bio Research Labs, Skaggs, and Interdisciplinary buildings as well as field sites and field stations; specialized facilities are described along with each graduate program.
| Program |
Degree Offered |
| Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry |
M.S.; Ph.D. |
| Organismal Biology and Ecology |
M.S.; Ph.D. |
| Systems Ecology |
M.S.; Ph.D. |
| Wildlife Biology |
M.S. |
Financial Assistance
For additional information about financial assistance, see the Financial Information section on this web site.
Nearly all graduate students enter the Division's graduate programs with financial support in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships or fellowships. Students accepted into one of the graduate programs are automatically considered for teaching assistantship support. All awards of teaching assistantships are competitive and are based on program admission criteria (see program descriptions). Research assistantships are available through individual faculty members and their availability varies. Students are admitted to the organismal biology and ecology program only with financial support in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships or fellowships. Students in a graduate program may apply or be nominated for a variety of University or other fellowship programs available on a competitive basis.
Teaching Assistantships
Graduate students in these positions assist faculty with course instruction through leading laboratory or discussion sections. Teaching assistants are assigned according to their suitability of background in the courses for which teaching assistants are needed. In addition to their salaries, teaching assistants receive a partial waiver of registration, incidental and non-resident incidental fees. A separate application form is not necessary to apply for teaching assistantships; the applicant to the program only need indicate interest on the general admission application. Teaching assistants are required to register for 9 credits each semester.
Program information last updated 9/12
