Biosciences

• Faculty
• Course Work
• Graduate Program
• Biosciences, Ph.D.
• Admission Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Concentration in Neuroscience
• Concentration in Functional Genomics
• Concentration in Bioethics
• Concentration in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology
• Concentration in Astrobiology

Faculty

Adamkewicz, Ascoli, Barreto, Birchard, Blackwell, Bradley, Brindle, Born, Butler, Chandhoke, Christensen, Chrosniak, Coss, Davies, DeJong, Dworzecka, Emerson, Ernst, Fletcher, Flinn, Foster, Fryxell, Geller, Gillevet, Given, Gluckman, Grant, Greffenstette, Harbour, Isbister, Jamison, Jonas, Kafatos, Kelso, Lawrey, Lebovitz, Litchfield, McKenney, Morowitz, Olds, Rockwood, Royt, Sauer, Schiff, Shaffer, Skog, Sleigh-Ritzer, Smith (coordinator), So, Soyfer, Talbot, Torzilli, Vaisman, Willett, Williams

Course Work

The Biosciences Program offers all course work designated BIOS in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Graduate Program

Biosciences, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in biosciences is an interdisciplinary program with concentrations in neuroscience, functional genomics, bioethics, astrobiology, and systematics and evolutionary biology. The program draws on faculty from eight departments, the Krasnow Institute, and the School of Computational Sciences.

The Ph.D in biosciences is designed to train students as research scientists for careers in private industry and academia. It integrates advances in basic knowledge with technological and computational skills required for addressing complex problems in the biosciences. Faculty partner with The National Institutes of Health; Biotechnology firms, INOVA Hospital System; NASA; The Carnegie Institution; The Smithsonian and The Kennedy Institute of Ethics. Students are expected to complete research internships.

The academic component is a three-tiered structure. The first provides a set of four core courses designed to advance research skills across all disciplines. This is followed by four-five core courses in the selected concentration and elective courses. The first two levels are designed to be completed in approximately two years including the comprehensive exam which propels the student to candidacy status. The third level focuses on research and culminates in a dissertation.

Admission Requirements

In addition to materials required of all applicants for graduate study, the following is also required.

1. A minimum 3.25 GPA in previous coursework, with significant training in the biological sciences

2. Three letters of recommendations from faculty members or individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant's academic or professional capabilities

3. A statement of purpose consistent with the research interests of at least one faculty member in the program

4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the past five years prior to the date of application submission

5. An interview may be required

For full consideration for fall admission, applications should be submitted by March 1. Under unusual circumstances, applications may be considered for spring admission.

Strong candidates who lack prerequisites may be admitted provisionally. Such students will be required to complete missing prerequisites and earn a 3.25 GPA in the core courses.

Students who have not taken a course in basic biochemistry will be required to complete one prior to BIOS 701.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Ph.D. in biosciences must complete a minimum of 72 graduate credits.

1. Core courses: 12 credits in BIOS 701, 702, 703, 704

2. Concentration: 12­16 credits required courses for one concentration (see below)

3. Elective

4. Qualifying exam

5. Dissertation proposal and research 12­24 credits in 998, 999

Upon admission to the program, each student is assigned an advisor from the bioscience faculty. The advisor may be changed by mutual consent of student and advisor or by petition to the program director and the dean. With the advisor, students adopt an individual program that focuses on a specific area of research.

By the end of the fourth semester of course work, the student assembles a dissertation committee of four graduate faculty members with representation from at least two academic departments. The committee and the concentration director approve the program of study.

Upon near completion of course requirements, students take a qualifying examination with a written and an oral component. At the discretion of the committee, the written qualifying examination may be retaken once in an instance the student's performance was deemed below satisfaction. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and all other coursework, students will be recommended for advancement to candidacy by the committee and concentration coordinator.

After advancement to candidacy, students are eligible to enroll in dissertation (998, 999). Students must present their dissertation results to their graduate committee and in a seminar and defend the dissertation publicly.

For students entering the doctoral program with a master's of science degree, the number of credits required may be reduced by a maximum of 30 with the approval of the advisor and the concentration director. Graduate credits taken previously and not used toward another degree may be transferred, subject to the approval of the advisor, concentration director, and the dean.

Concentration in Neuroscience

This concentration prepares students for significant contributions in an academic or research setting. Major emphases on modeling, functioning of small neuronal ensembles, neurochemistry, addiction, and behavioral neuroscience.

Requirements

1. 12 credits in BIOS 721, 722 (PSYC 702), 723, 724 (PSYC 531)

Concentration in Functional Genomics

This concentration prepares students for significant contributions in an academic or industrial career. Areas of emphasis include microarray analysis, cancer genomics, molecular studies of the mechanisms of toxicology and mutagenesis, and biotechnology.

Requirements

All students must take the following 15 graduate credits as their concentration courses:

1. 15 credits in BIOS 740, 741, 742, 743, and 744

Concentration in Bioethics

This concentration provides students with an emphasis on the pragmatic implications of bioscience research, development, and application. It draws from law, ethics, management, policy, and science.

Requirements

All students must take the following 15 graduate credits as their concentration courses:

1. 15 credits in BIOS 780, 781, 782, 783, 880

Concentration in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology

The concentration in systematics and evolutionary biology emphasizes modern molecular approaches that take advantage of the recent growth in genomics and bioinformatics. Modern systematics uses structural, chemical, and genetic information to construct phylogenetic trees that portray links to other organisms by descent from common ancestors.

Requirements

All students must take the following 13­16 graduate credits as their concentration courses:

1. 1­3 credits in BIOS 760

2. 12 credits in BIOS 762, 765, 767

Concentration in Astrobiology

The concentration in astrobiology studies the origin and evolution of life and the distribution of life in the universe. Students in this concentration specialize in either the biological or the physical aspects of astrobiology.

To be admitted to this concentration, students must have a background in astronomy, calculus, microbiology, organic chemistry, and a general proficiency with computers. Stu dents who are deficient in any of these areas may be accepted provisionally into the concentration until they have acquired the necessary background.

Requirements

All students must take the following 15 graduate credits as their concentration courses

1. 15 credits in BIOS 710 (ASTR 710), 711, 787, 788, and 713