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Aug 21, 2024
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Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025
Biology Ph.D.
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Candidates for the Ph.D. must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) including passing the first year Core Course, which serves as a qualifying exam with a grade of B or better, and passing two at least 3-credit graduate elective courses (one of which must be at the 6000 level, and one of which must be in BIOL or BCBP). Students must also pass a candidacy exam which consists of a written and an oral portion, and must be taken by the end of the second year of full-time study. Degree candidates also must submit a dissertation based on an original research project, present their findings in a public seminar, and defend their work in an oral examination. Additionally, all doctoral candidates are required to participate in teaching for at least one semester under the supervision of a faculty member. Seventy-two credit hours are required for the Ph.D.
Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum
Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:
- explain general principles and concepts from a variety of sub-disciplines within the broader field of biology.
- demonstrate expert knowledge of a specialized field of biology and be able to ask and answer challenging questions in that field.
- critically analyze and interpret the scientific literature and scientific presentations.
- independently design, prepare, and execute experiments, using appropriate research techniques.
- critically interpret research data and evaluate findings using appropriate statistical analyses.
- independently design and execute a research strategy aimed towards answering a pressing scientific question in the field.
- effectively communicate their scientific research and findings in a variety of written and oral formats, including the ability to prepare a manuscript of original research for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
- discuss issues related to scientific ethics and scientific misconduct and apply ethical standards to their research and professional conduct.
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