Biological Sciences, PHD
Chairperson: Michelle Mynlieff, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences website
Degree Offered
Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
The biological sciences graduate program aspires to train experimental scientists capable of teaching and directing independent research by providing a broad theoretical background and an appreciation for the rigor of the scientific method. This program provides excellent training in modern biology suitable for jobs in academia, industry and government, and offers students research experiences using all areas of modern biological techniques to study molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, systems and organism functioning.
CAREER SKILLS REQUIREMENT FOR PhD STUDENTS
Marquette University is committed to preparing our students to become exemplary leaders in their chosen academic and professional fields by preparing them for careers in which they find purpose and value by engaging in Ignatian pedagogical reflection and practice. The purpose of the career skills requirement is to ensure all doctoral students have the opportunity to reflect on their desired career and to acquire essential career-related skills needed for them to pursue their chosen path.
Students enrolled in Ph.D. programs in Fall 2024 and beyond at Marquette must complete three career skills requirements. Requirements are satisfied by one or more of approved courses, workshops, or practical experiences in each category, as approved by the Graduate School. Completion of each skill will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Career Discernment
Students will be able to identify and prepare for career pathways that are consistent with their values.
Objectives:
- Understand realities of academic job market for your discipline, creating space for career imagination and understand potential career paths.
- Exploration of, and defining student’s own identity/experiences/values/strengths/gifts and how the career pathway fits with those values.
- Students will learn to identify and attain the skills and experiences necessary to obtain the career pathway they desire.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Choose 1: | ||
GRAD 8097 | Career Discernment/Career Diversity Skills (Career Development Bootcamp) | 0 |
GRAD 8097 | Career Discernment/Career Diversity Skills (Seminar Series) 1 | 0 |
GRAD 8097 | Career Discernment/Career Diversity Skills (Ph.D. Pathways) | 0 |
- 1
The Career Discernment/Career Diversity Skills Seminar Series is a series of six, 90-minute seminars that satisfies both the Career Discernment and Communication skills requirements, via GRAD 8097 and GRAD 8098, respectively. Students first enroll in GRAD 8097, offered each fall term, and then enroll in GRAD 8098, offered each spring term. Courses are taken sequentially and in combination to satisfy two of the three Ph.D. career skills requirements.
Communication
Students will be able to communicate their ideas and scholarship effectively to audiences beyond those in their discipline.
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate (e.g., research, expertise, experiences) effectively and ethically with disciplinary, cross-disciplinary, and nonacademic audiences.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and ethically within various contexts, formats, and media.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively deliver a presentation and facilitate discussion.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Choose 1: | ||
GRAD 8098 | Communication Skills (Seminar Series) 1 | 0 |
GRAD 8098 | Communication Skills (Three Minute Thesis) | 0 |
BIOL 8005 | Scientific Writing | 3 |
GRAD 8961 | Science Storytelling | 1 |
- 1
The Career Discernment/Career Diversity Skills Seminar Series is a series of six, 90-minute seminars that satisfies both the Career Discernment and Communication skills requirements, via GRAD 8097 and GRAD 8098, respectively. Students first enroll in GRAD 8097, offered each fall term, and then enroll in GRAD 8098, offered each spring term. Courses are taken sequentially and in combination to satisfy two of the three Ph.D. career skills requirements.
Establishing Healthy Professional Communities
Students will understand the importance of community building and engagement in the creation and maintenance of professional environments and how these issues are related to their relevant career pathways.
Objectives:
- Students will be aware of and able to identify various forms of bias in professional environments and will understand possible strategies to address any issues.
- Students will be able to articulate the value of universal design principles and their ethical application to their own area of studies and future professional endeavors.
- Students will be able to work productively and interact effectively with persons from varied backgrounds, experiences, values, ideas, and opinions, leading to stronger professional communities and environments.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
GRAD 8099 | Establishing Healthy Professional Communities | 0 |
Biological Sciences, PhD
Specializations: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neurophysiology, Physiology
The program of course work and research for the doctoral degree is determined in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Each student is advised to take such courses as are properly related to their academic background and research interests. All doctoral students are required to gain the equivalent of one year of teaching experience during the program.
A doctoral student must review with their advisory committee a plan for their program to meet the requirements of the degree. Degree progress will be recorded on the Academic Requirements Graduation Checklist on Checkmarq. Advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree is considered following successful completion of most of the lecture course work and after passing the qualifying exam. Following advancement to candidacy, students must submit a Dissertation Research Plan that is approved by their advisory committee.
A typical doctoral student completes a minimum required 24 credit hours of course work and 12 credit hours of dissertation work. Course work includes the required 3-credit courses BIOL 8005 Scientific Writing and BIOL 8004 Strong Inference and Experimental Design, a minimum of five 2-3 credit graduate lecture courses, 5 credits of research courses, and five 1-credit seminar courses. All students must enroll in the no-credit BIOL 6952 Department Colloquium during each term in residence.
In order to meet the residency requirement, doctoral students in the Department of Biological Sciences must be enrolled with full-time status for at least two consecutive academic years while working under the direction of their advisory committee chair and advisory committee.
The student must submit and defend a dissertation and present a public research seminar after completing all other formal requirements for the doctoral degree.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required experimental design and writing courses: | 6 | |
Strong Inference and Experimental Design | ||
Scientific Writing | ||
Lecture courses (2-3 cr. each) - Choose five courses from the following: | 10-15 | |
Experimental Molecular Biology | ||
Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
Biochemistry 2: Bioenergetics and Metabolism | ||
Advanced Ecology | ||
Tropical Ecology in Panama | ||
Molecular Evolution | ||
Exercise Physiology | ||
Immunobiology | ||
Biometry | ||
Protein Structure and Function | ||
Biochemistry and Function of Nucleic Acids | ||
Proteostasis | ||
Epigenetics | ||
Principles of Eukaryotic Genetics | ||
Imaging and Cytoskeletons | ||
Proteins in Eukaryotic Cells | ||
Cell and Molecular Biology of Early Development | ||
Advanced Physiology and Organ Systems | ||
Cellular Homeostasis | ||
Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics | ||
Microbiomes in Health and the Environment | ||
Microbial Diversity and Ecology | ||
Topics in Biology | ||
Independent Study in Biological Sciences | ||
Functional Neuroanatomy | ||
Biochemistry 1: Macromolecular Structure and Function | ||
Data Mining and Machine Learning | ||
Statistical Methods | ||
Biostatistical Methods and Models | ||
Advanced Statistics and Design 1 | ||
Required research courses: | 5 | |
Laboratory Rotations in Biology | ||
Laboratory Research in Biology | ||
Seminar courses (1 cr. each) - Choose five courses from the following: | 5 | |
Seminar in Biochemistry and Genetics | ||
Seminar in Plant Molecular Biology | ||
Seminar in Neuroscience | ||
Seminar in Cell and Developmental Biology | ||
Seminar in Physiology | ||
Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | ||
Seminar in Microbiology | ||
Required colloquium: | 0 | |
Department Colloquium (taken each term in residence) | ||
Required dissertation credits: | 12 | |
Doctoral Dissertation | ||
Total Credit Hours: | 38-43 |
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