biology phd tips

10 Practical Tips for PhD in Biology + Life Sciences

“Doing a PhD in biology or any life science is a tougher task and needs extra attention, skills, expertise and patience. After all, they have to deal with ‘life’, here are some technical tips that help PhD in biology and life science in their venture.”

Biology is a field of science that deals with life, Like– plants, humans, animals and microbes. Meaning biology studies living organisms, or their part. And so the life sciences too. Major subjects of biological sciences are Botany, Zoology, microbiology or environmental sciences.

Life Sciences also deals with the same– living organisms and biological samples. Major subjects for life sciences are microbiology, biotechnology, genetics, biochemistry or cell biology. So we can say that life science is an applied branch of biology.

Working with/on biological samples is entirely a different scenario than other fields— needs some training, care, expertise and patience to work. Preliminarily, one has to have a thorough knowledge of sample handling.

So every student who is willing to go for PhD in biology/life science should have some preliminary knowledge about how to work in biological laboratories. Here are some tips– practical, useful, proven and important for doing PhD in biology and life sciences.

Trust me this will 100% help you in your endeavor. Our experts have years of experience working in biological laboratories. These are from their sides.

Stay tuned.

Related article: PhD in Biotechnology, Genomics/Genetics- Salary, Jobs and Positions.

Tips for PhD in Biology + Life Sciences

Here is the list of 10 tips for doing PhD in biology or life sciences.

Literature review— read and read

Doing research on any biological topic/ subject is like solving a puzzle. You have to seal different pieces in order to solve the puzzle. So, my friends, you have to review the literature thoroughly.

Read as much as you can, on your topic. Extract every piece of information, make notes and use it for experimentation. Keep in mind that nothing will be “served in a dish” in biology + life sciences. You have to test different techniques, processes, protocols or hypotheses.

So as you read more, you will get more clarity on the topic.

Experimentation– learn to work in a lab

Any life sciences include a huge amount of wet lab work. You have to spend a lot of time wearing a lab coat and mouth cap. However, before dealing with anything, do learn common rules, regulations and safety precautions for the biological lab.

In addition, you also have to learn how to design lab experiments. See, there are a lot of testing, trial and optimization things involved in a lab. Do learn it first. We will discuss this point in the upcoming section, in detail.

Dress properly, take care of safety first, and take care of samples, chemicals and other utilities used in the lab. Do follow your lab representation or guide’s instructions.

Safety– don’t compromise your safety

Your safety must be your priority at any cost. Don’t compromise your safety in any conditions, however, it’s better to stay away from such a condition by following some safety regulations. Here are some safety suggestions from my side to work in any biological lab.

Don’t touch or smell any biological sample.
Don’t collect, handle or process any biological samples without a lab coat, hand gloves, mask and safety glasses.
Don’t touch, test or smell any chemicals in the lab.
Don’t mix any chemicals without prior knowledge.
Don’t drink or eat in the lab.
Don’t play with fire, electricity or other dangerous instruments.
Do follow common lab safety guidelines.
Learn how to deal with hazardous, carcinogenic, dangerous and flammable chemicals.

Infection— Do aware of health hazards

PhD in biology or life science works on different biological samples. Here are some.

Biological samples usually spread infection. In addition, the chances of infection may increase up to 1000 folds when dealing with body fluids, infected samples or blood samples. Brucellosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and even HIV are common infections spread from a lab.

So again, in any condition do not compromise your health. Follow all the safety precautions and infection spread guidelines. One research suggests that >4.6 people per 1000 workers may get an infection in a biological lab.

That’s why I already have mentioned reading as much literature as possible on your topic to get knowledge on how to handle your sample type.

Contamination— take care of your sample too

Biological samples spread infection and likewise also get contaminated easily with external contaminants. The contaminated samples are of no use. Thus you have to take care of your samples too.

The common contaminants are our hands, lab working area and instruments. Do take necessary precautions for sample collection, handling and processing. Follow sample collection and storage guidelines.

In addition, follow common lab safety— wear glasses, gloves, mouth cap and lab coat. Do clean all the instruments and utilities with alcohol before the experiment. Handle samples under adequate conditions only.

Importantly, you should have an SOP or system to investigate and eliminate contamination if it occurs. Or any backup plan.

Optimization– Learn how to achieve perfection

“Optimization–” is an important word for any biology or life science student. As I said before, nothing is served ‘ready-to-use’ in biology. You have to read, extract and optimize your protocol or process. Thus,

It’s important to perform optimization to get ‘nearby’ perfection for your experiment. I understand that it might be difficult for you to understand. But what I am trying to say is that the biology fellow knows– what I mean.

5mM MgCl2 gives good overall results.
4mM MglCl2 gives decent results.
4.6mM MgCl2 gives the best results.

The point is that precision and perfection here can be achieved by performing optimization. However, once you achieve the optimization, the same protocol you can use for all of your samples.

Accuracy— your road to success

Do you know what is the most important factor in achieving success in any biological lab? Accuracy. That’s it. If you have practiced weighing each chemical accurately, you win. Trust me.

Take the examples from the previous point. You know the best results are obtained by adding 4.5mM MgCl2, but my friend. You have to, every time, weigh the exact 4.5mM. Then only the results will be achieved.

Weight each chemical accurately.
Use calibrated weight balance only.
Learn to use a micropipette.
Prepare solutions with the exact required amount.

Keep in mind that this single point is so crucial for every researcher or PhD working in biological sciences; because your guide helps you to optimize, but to achieve success, you have to do things accurately.

Expertise— you should have knowledge of what you are doing.

You should have knowledge— theoretical and practical of what you are doing. I’m talking about expertise. For example, if you have to perform microscopy, you should have knowledge of how to use it.

The expertise of a student and guide is very important for PhDs in biological sciences and life sciences. This helps to rectify the problems and solve them. If you don’t have such expertise, read more and attend training at other laboratories.

Planning– Plan for the plan that doesn’t include in the plan

Research Planning is the utmost requirement in research. It’s a random and uncertain process. So achieve some level of certainty you have to plan. Plan what to do when and how. This will help you to know what problems would occur and how much time a particular task will take.

Check out our standard plan for PhD in biology and life science in the form of a GANTT chart.

Patience– Everything will be fine in the end

Above all, the major trait one has, to succeed in the PhD (for biology and life sciences), is patience. Keep in mind, it’s proven– you have to face problems, setbacks, rejections, failure and stress. So learn to remain calm.

Develop a positive mindset. Don’t rush, don’t panic if you have any problem, and be calm and patient. Things will turn out as you want one day.

Wrapping up:

From my personal experience, I can say that doing a PhD in biology or any life sciences is a bit tougher task than other streams. Many students give up and leave their PhD. But those who have some patience, and fighting spirit may survive.

Remember, it’s a race, if you give up, you lose. If you fight you win. Never give up. Try finding solutions for any problems. Do your best for that. Everything turns out well in the end.

Dr. Tushar Chauhan is a Scientist, Blogger and Scientific-writer. He has completed PhD in Genetics. Dr. Chauhan is a PhD coach and tutor.

About The Author

Dr Tushar Chauhan

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The Life Scientists’ Guide For New PhD Students

As scientists ourselves, we know how daunting it feels when you embark upon on your first PhD. Especially right at the beginning, when everything can feel totally new and overwhelming.

Whilst 91% of the life scientists who took part in our Big Life Scientist Survey said they’re passionate about their research, only 25% said they feel there’s adequate support for early-career life scientists.

To show you just how much support there is for you in the life science community from your peers (and from us!) we’ve put together The Life Scientists’ Guide for New PhD Students.

Here, you’ll find the fantastic advice our fellow scientists have shared with us, as well as a few tips from our personal experience.

Before you get started with your PhD

If you know you want to pursue a PhD and you’re looking at your options, there are a couple of things to consider right at the beginning. These two pieces of advice might well be the most important ones, because they’re going to make your entire PhD experience less stressful and more rewarding in the long run.

Don't pursue a PhD for the wrong reasons

Dr Bryan Roth, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, has worked with many PhD students over the course of his 35 year career.

I always urge folks to study what they are passionate about. Dr Bryan Roth

Don’t follow the route of academia just because you feel like you should. You have to truly love what you’re doing and believe in the importance of the results you’re pursuing.

Adriana Humanes, a postdoc at Newcastle University, agrees: “If you’re really interested in research and love dedicating a great amount of your time to thinking, reading, and discussing your ideas, you will love being a PhD student.”

If you have doubts about your subject, or the level of commitment required to complete a PhD fills you with dread, then it might not be the best option for you right now. There’s absolutely no shame in taking a step back and having a rethink.

Find a supervisor and a project you love

Even if you’re the most dedicated scientist in the world, there’ll be times when things don’t go as planned and you doubt yourself. This is perfectly normal, and something that every postgrad experiences at some point in their career. Trust us. And this is where having an awesome supervisor will be essential.

“There will be times you will struggle with motivation towards your project, and if you have a good supervisor they will help guide you and keep you on track,” says Rachelle Balez, PhD student at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.

“However, there may also be times you are having issues with your supervisor and if you are passionate about your project, this will give you the drive and motivation to push through potentially challenging times.”

Dr Caroline Copeland, a lecturer in Neuropharmacology at the Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education at St George’s seconds the importance of finding the right supervisor for you:

When you’re going to PhD interviews, you should also be interviewing your potential supervisor in return: are they someone that you can work with?. Dr Caroline Copeland

In the early days of your PhD

So you’ve just started your PhD, and you’re probably feeling like a rabbit in the headlights. We get it, and there’s no need to panic! You’re part of one of the most supportive communities out there, and we have all got your back. Here are our top tips for getting through those first few months.

Read, read, read!

Right at the beginning of your PhD, set time aside to read as much as you can about the existing research and theory relating to the field you’re about to delve into.

Christina Murray, postdoctoral research associate at UCL, speaks directly from experience: “As I already worked in the lab I was doing my PhD in previously, I missed this step and found myself playing catch up later on with the reading. It may feel frustrating to not get straight into research, but having that background knowledge behind you will help when you are interpreting any results you get.”

It’s not just the topic you’ll want to research either. “Get familiar with the techniques you plan to use too, so that you can design your experiments appropriately,” says Dr Samantha Murray, a researcher at the University of Otago.

Establish good habits right away

The end goal of your PhD is your thesis, meaning you’ll want to do everything you can to prepare yourself along the way. If you get the right processes in place from the beginning, and start as you mean to go on, ‘future you’ will be very thankful to ‘past you’.

“Keep a tidy lab book,” says Dr Samantha Murray. “This will be so important when you come to writing your thesis. Along with this, keep thorough records of each experiment: what you did, and why, and most importantly the result! Three or four years on you will have forgotten why you changed that buffer, or that incubation time.”

Establish a great relationship with your supervisors

Your PhD supervisor will be your mentor, your champion, and your go-to when things don’t quite go as planned. That means having a great relationship with your supervisor is hugely important when it comes to determining the success of your PhD.

Lucka Bibic, a PhD student at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, stresses the importance of great communication from the beginning: “Tell them if you’d like to learn a specific technique or develop some additional skills … [and] try to get to know your supervisors. Learn how they work and how to get the most out of them.”

Our own Sam Roome seconds this, adding to remember what your supervisor’s role is: “They may appear to be a scary boffin, with an encyclopedic knowledge of every piece of supporting literature that you will ever need, and a real skill for asking you questions about your experimental design, highlighting flaws that you had never even considered, but they know what you are going through – and they want you to achieve your very best!”

Making the most of your PhD

As you get further into your PhD and gain confidence in what you’re doing, things will start to feel far less daunting (we promise!) That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges, but believe us, you’re more than capable of dealing with them.

When it feels like the stabilisers have come off and you’re getting in your flow, here’s how to keep focused and on track.

Take ownership and lead your PhD

Leading the direction of your research project is key, says Catriona Cunningham, a PhD student at the University of Manchester. She recommends taking control by suggesting what experiments you want to do, and what you want to focus on: “Your PhD is the first step to becoming an independent researcher and you have to defend your work at the end of it.”

Taking ownership and being a leader doesn’t mean you have to know it all though.

“Don’t be shy, always discuss your doubts with your supervisor and colleagues who have more experience,” says Agnese Solari, a PhD student at the University of Genova.

Get involved in the wider scientific community

In starting your life science PhD, you’re stepping into a hugely supportive community both offline and online. There are a whole host of incredible scientists out there, willing to offer advice, encouragement, and opportunities. You’ve just got to get involved.

“Become an active member of a science society and help organise workshops, community engagement events, or conferences,” says Rachelle Balez. “Not only is this a great way to network and meet new people, but it also helps diversify your skill set outside that lab and can be highly rewarding.”

Don’t underestimate the power of networking – work on your networking skills early. Dr Samantha Murray

Dr. Chinmaya Sadangi, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, says: “Networking is as important as doing science. So go ahead and attend conferences and workshops. They are the best place to network. Going to the departmental seminars is also very helpful.”

And it’s not just networking at conferences and events that will help you. Tap into online communities as well: “Read the PhD comic strips, sign up to Twitter, and surround yourself with other PhD students that are going through the same process as they might be of great support to you at some point!” says Lucka Bibic.

Stay positive, even when things don't go to plan

As anyone who’s worked as a life science researcher will tell you, you’re definitely going to experience ups and downs. Whether you make a mistake and have to start from scratch, you don’t get the results you’re after, or your project just doesn’t seem to be going to plan, keeping positive is important.

“If things are going horrendously badly in the lab remember that it is not the end of the world and negative results are still important,” Chloe Thomas, a PhD student at University of Birmingham, advises.

Don't be afraid of making mistakes, and don't give up!

Deep down, nobody likes making mistakes. Even though we all know mistakes are necessary to learn and grow. We’ve all heard the Edison quote: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Another, less well-known quote from Edison is: “Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.”

And his mistakes didn’t work out too badly for him, did they?

If you don’t want to take work/life advice from the 1800s, take Dr Deborah Kronenberg-Versteeg’s guidance instead. She’s a Junior Research Fellow at Homerton College, Cambridge who told us: “I would advise any PhD student not to be afraid to make mistakes, it is ok to do so and is part of learning.”

Brittany Berdy, a postdoctoral fellow at The Rowland Institute at Harvard is one of the most upbeat and positive scientists we know. She gave us a pep talk that every PhD needs to hear:

“Don’t get discouraged. In many cases people starting their PhD were top of their class, totally awesome students who excelled during their undergraduate years.

“All of a sudden they’re thrown into this world where everyone is incredibly smart and creative and top of their class. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder if you are in the right place, studying the right thing. And then experiments start to fail! Constantly!

Science is hard… and students find themselves doubting their own abilities, wondering if they know enough. Don’t give up – it's just part of the PhD experience. Dr Brittany Berdy

Do everything deeply

“Question deeply. Read deeply. Think deeply.” This is the advice of Dr Tim Mosca, Principal Investigator at Mosca Lab at Jefferson University, Philadelphia. By embarking on a PhD, you’re bravely going where few others have gone before you. This requires courage and thorough investigation. Always go deeper.

Dr Tim Mosca goes on to say: “The ethos that you build now will serve you for the rest of your career. Don’t just focus on one narrow area. Learn what your colleagues and fellow students are doing. If you’re a molecular person, learn systems.

“If you’re a systems person, know about development. You’ll be able to participate in, contribute to, and learn from so many more people if you know the basic concepts.”

A PhD is all about learning

This is your chance to really immerse yourself in academia. Of all the life scientists we’ve spoken to over the past few months, this is a theme that comes up time and again. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and push the boundaries of your learning.

“Don’t be afraid to be wrong, and don’t be worried about saying I don’t know,” says Hello Bio’s Director of Commercial Operations, Dr. Huw Davies.

“There will be times when you are asked something that you simply can’t answer – don’t see it as a problem, use it as a way to expand your knowledge. Most academics don’t try and trap you with a question, they want you to help them to understand why you’re performing the research you are. In my experience a question asked of me was invariably about how what I was doing could help further existing research.”

Focusing on your wellbeing

It’s easy to get consumed by your PhD. After all, it’s a huge part of your life. Remember though that you can, and absolutely should, have a life outside of your PhD. Achieving a good work/life balance is key to your success – after all, you can’t perform at your best if you’ve run yourself into the ground.

From time to time, you’ll find yourself in a different world where only your PhD project exists – but try not to spend too much time in this world as it helps to get out from time to time. Lucka Bibic

The results of our Big Life Scientist Survey support this further. 73% of life scientists we spoke to feel their ability to do their job is impacted by high levels of stress. Taking control of your stress levels and actively focusing on your wellbeing now will only serve to help you further down the line.

Celebrate the victories

It’s easy to get consumed by everything that’s not working, but remember to take time out to celebrate the incredible progress you’re making. Always remember that you’re doing something hugely worthwhile.

“It’s important to set achievable research goals and celebrate successes, no matter how small, as they happen. After all, every small success (and failure for that matter), gets you closer to the result you’re looking for,” says Lizzie Mann, a PhD student at King’s College London.

Don't be afraid to talk, and take time out

Your PhD is likely to be one of the most stressful and all consuming things you’ll ever do. As we’ve already said though, the life science community is huge, and extremely supportive. We understand the challenges you’re facing, so don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to someone.

Maintain your social life – it’s always good to have someone you can rely on to join you for a break when things go badly in the lab. Lizzie Mann

Maz from Have you Ever Wondered, agrees. She says: “Make sure you take time out regularly to de-stress, and make sure you have someone to vent to when you need to! So many people who go through PhDs will experience mental health issues at some point (myself included), so it’s super important to talk.”

Enjoy yourself!

Your PhD is going to be a BIG part of your life for the next few years. This means, you’ve really got to enjoy what you’re doing, and have fun while you’re doing it.

Remember to have fun, keep learning and to look after yourself – it can be challenging to maintain a healthy work/life balance at times. Rachelle Balez

Above all, when things get difficult, take yourself back to the reason you started all of this in the first place. And give yourself a huge pat on the back for how far you’ve come.

Additional Resources & Support

If you enjoyed reading this article, why not check out the other resources available on our blog for life scientists. We are really passionate about supporting scientists, including early-career life scientists and PhD students - with affordable reagents and biochemicals , grants , and resources to help with both personal and professional development. We know how tough it is - so we hope you find these helpful!

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Try our Molarity Calculator : a quick and easy way to calculate the mass, volume or concentration required for making a solution.

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Ten Simple Rules for Finishing Your PhD

* E-mail: [email protected]

Current address: Gene Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Affiliation Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Affiliation Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Affiliation Society for Experimental Biology (SEB), Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom

Jacopo Marino,
Melanie I. Stefan,
Sarah Blackford

Published: December 4, 2014

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003954
Reader Comments

Citation: Marino J, Stefan MI, Blackford S (2014) Ten Simple Rules for Finishing Your PhD. PLoS Comput Biol 10(12): e1003954. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003954

Editor: Philip E. Bourne, National Institutes of Health, United States of America

Copyright: © 2014 Marino et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: The authors have received no specific funding for this article.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

After years of research and with completion in sight, the final year of the PhD often represents the most challenging time of a student's career, in which the ultimate reward is the PhD honor itself. A large investment in time, energy, and motivation is needed, with many tasks to be completed; concluding experiments must be carried out, results interpreted, and a research story mapped out in preparation for writing the final thesis. All the while, administrative obligations need attention (e.g., university credits and mandatory documents), papers may need to be published, students mentored, and due consideration paid to planning for the next career move. Without some form of strategic action plan and the employment of project management skills, students run the risk of becoming overwhelmed and run down or of not meeting their final deadlines. Personal time management and stress resilience are competences that can be developed and honed during this final period of the PhD.

Here, we present ten simple rules on how to deal with time issues and conflict situations when facing the last year of a PhD in science. The rules focus on defining research goals in advance and designing a plan of action. Moreover, we discuss the importance of managing relationships with supervisors and colleagues, as well as early career planning.

Rule 1: Plan Your Last Year in Advance

Preparing a plan of action for the final year of your PhD is vital. Ideally, devised and agreed upon with your supervisor, a plan will help to optimize the time left and reduce feelings of being overwhelmed. Individuals plan in different ways; some prefer to work towards their goals in a stepwise linear fashion, whilst others are more comfortable flitting from task to task until all the jobs are done. There is no definitive way to plan, so find out what works best for you. You may decide to map out a timeline, or perhaps a mind-map is your preferred planning style. Whichever method you use, it's important that you adhere to your plan whilst allowing for some flexibility (but not distraction or procrastination).

Your time frame will vary according to the organization of your graduate school, your supervisor or advisory committee, and even your graduation date, but one year before submission of your doctoral thesis is the time when you should decide on how best to invest the last months of your research and associated activities. Having a plan of action will help to avoid time wasting, e.g., being distracted by superfluous experiments that might be interesting but are not necessary. Furthermore, from a psychological point of view, referring to a concrete plan can make you feel more secure and in control. Ideally, the supervisor and PhD student should both agree on the overall plan (with provision for the unexpected, e.g., technical issues), with intermittent reviews every few weeks to check that progress is being made. Your supervisor should also be able to advise you on the organization and writing of your thesis—for example, its structure—and the number and length of chapters to include.

Rule 2: Make Your Priorities Clear

Select the activities you want to include in your plan. What are your priorities? They are likely to include experiments that will give the thesis a conclusion or that may be necessary to publish a final paper. Mandatory administrative tasks will also need attention, and allowing time to prepare for your next career move will give you the best chance of a seamless and successful transition post-PhD. As a final year PhD candidate, you are likely to have acquired high-level competencies comparable to those of a junior postdoctoral researcher, in which case your supervisor may offer you responsibility for new projects or graduate students. Saying no to him/her can be difficult for various reasons, e.g., fear of potentially creating conflict in your relationship or causing a negative reaction or of perhaps losing the opportunity to be included in future research activities and publications. It can also be difficult to let go of a topic or project to which you are wedded or to miss out on the opportunity to help train the next generation of scientists. In such situations, referring back to your plan (Rule 1), previously agreed upon with your supervisor, should help to remind you both of your priorities and deadlines, making negotiation easier. However, should any conflict of opinion arise between you, bear in mind that finding a mutually agreeable solution is the best way forward. You can take advice from a mentor or refer to the many publications that provide approaches and tactics for effective negotiation. If the relationship between you and your supervisor is more complicated and cannot be resolved by a discussion, you may need to turn to your graduate school, your academic committee, or other senior managers in your institution, who can act to mediate the situation.

Rule 3: “The Truth Can Wait”

A research project is never really finished, so do not try to do everything before submitting. In fact, the perfect doctoral thesis does not exist; there are students with good research projects and many publications and others with more difficult and testing challenges who are still waiting for their first paper. If the project is ambitious, it might take several years to reach the final goal, and thus the thesis might only be a small part of the whole story. If the project is going well, it will open up new research questions and future directions, some of which will be beyond the scope of a PhD. At some point, you need to decide that what you have is enough for a PhD and start writing (a strategy we heard described at a dissertation-writing seminar in Cambridge as “the truth can wait”; it helps to write this on a post-it note and stick it on your computer!). Starting to write the thesis is not easy when there is a sense that more could be done to accumulate more data and a fuller story; a common mistake is to go back to the lab instead of getting started with the results chapters of the thesis. To postpone writing will cause delays and not necessarily improve the thesis whilst increasing the prospect of unfulfilled and extended deadlines. Thus, once the experiments that you have agreed on have been completed, it is really important to start writing with the data in hand.

Rule 4: Enlist Support

Finalizing experiments and writing the thesis (and even papers), as well as considering your next career transition, can be stressful and even isolating. It is a contrast to the relatively more relaxed earlier years of the PhD experience, and the writing process does not come naturally to everyone. The prospect of facing these stresses alone can make the experience even harder to bear, so it is advisable to communicate with and find support in those you trust and respect. Relying on such people during this period can help to ease the strain and enable you to achieve your final aims so that you arrive at your PhD graduation with your sanity still intact! Talking about personal feelings with selected colleagues usually helps you to realize that you are not alone, whatever difficulties and challenges you might be experiencing with your research project, supervisor, or coworkers. Sharing uncertainties and talking through issues can be constructive, helping you to understand the strategies other people use to cope with similar problems. As well as colleagues, it can also help to talk to friends and family, even though they won't be as au fait with the highly particular challenges you are experiencing. You can share your feelings and anxieties with them, but they can also act as a welcome distraction to help you to relax and take a break from thinking about the stresses of your PhD.

Support and advice can also come in the shape of courses, books, blogs, mentoring, etc. There is much published on the subject of how to write a thesis [1] . Furthermore, graduate schools, such as those in which we are based, usually offer courses to help PhD candidates improve their personal and professional skills. For example, the University of Zurich organizes courses on, amongst others, time and self-management skills, managing conflict, and academic writing and publishing [2] . The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard lists workshops and resources offered across the university on topics such as scientific writing, time management, and overcoming procrastination. In addition to relying on your supervisor, postdoctoral researchers in your group or department (or even friendly collaborators) may agree to read chapters of your thesis and comment on aspects such as content, logical flow of ideas, and the overall structure. At a later stage, you may want to engage someone to check your grammar, spelling, and reference style (this can be especially important if you are not writing in your native language). If your PhD defense includes a presentation, try to practice beforehand, preferably in front of some of your peers, and include asking for feedback and possible questions that may come up. This should make you feel more prepared and confident.

Rule 5: Get Familiar with the Software

Being familiar with software for both writing and making figures will facilitate the creation of your thesis. One of the most effective tools with which to produce a scientific document is LaTeX ( www.latex-project.org ). This software, freely available, is not as immediately understandable as other text editors, but the advantages are greater: it offers a professional layout similar to published books, it makes the insertion and management of figures easier as their position in the file does not depend on text editing, and it allows for easy typesetting of mathematical equations and referencing of articles from a bibliography database. Moreover, the text file size does not increase while inserting figures, making its handling easier. An example LaTeX package for typesetting dissertations is “classicthesis”, written by André Miede ( http://www.miede.de/index.php?page=classicthesis ). Although advantageous, LaTeX can also present disadvantages. In contrast to commonly used text editors (e.g., Microsoft Word), it does not make it easy to track changes in the manuscript, often a preferred way for supervisors to correct theses in an electronic form. Therefore, we suggest you discuss the preferred software with your supervisor when you agree upon your plan (Rule 1).

A professional design software can also speed up the creation of figures for your thesis, which can be further used for your final PhD presentation, so check whether your institution provides an introductory course to some of these software packages. Taking a one-day class can save you a lot of time later. Organize your bibliography; many excellent reference managers exist that allow you to catalogue and annotate the papers you have read and integrate them seamlessly with text processing software (e.g., Endnote or the freely available Mendeley and Readcube). Choose one that fits your needs and check whether your university provides institutional licenses (and be disciplined about adding each paper you read to it!).

Consider using version control software. This allows you to keep a log of all the changes you make to a file or directory and makes it easy to recover a previous version if something goes wrong or to merge two versions of a file. This is often used in software projects to produce, document, and improve computer code, but it can also be useful when working on a long text document, such as a dissertation. Commonly used free version control systems include git/GitHub [git, github], Subversion [svn], and Bazaar [bzr] (see Table 1 ).

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003954.t001

Most important of all is to have a backup strategy. A hard-drive crash at the wrong moment can set your work back by weeks and jeopardize the timely completion of your thesis. Institutions or departments will often have a backup system employees can make use of. This may require you to install a specific piece of software on your computer that backs up your data at regular intervals or to save your file on an institute server. Contact the information technology (IT) department at your institute to learn about your options.

Rule 6: Know Your University's Procedures and Regulations

During the course of your PhD, you will have been acquiring project management skills, such as organizing your time and resources, reviewing progress, and meeting deadlines. In order to avoid last-minute surprises, you can capitalize on and develop these skills during the final year of your PhD. Prepare a list of all the documents and certificates that you will need, even before you start writing; it will be of critical importance to include this information in your plan and priorities (Rules 1 and 2). Having a good working relationship with someone who can help you to navigate a bureaucratic process will usually be an asset and will ensure you are familiar and aware of all the rules. Considering the amount of documents and certificates that are needed for handing in a thesis, it is advantageous to introduce yourself to the institute secretary or human resources manager, as well as any other staff who can help you to deal with the administrative side of the process. Don't rely on previous documents, which may have been revised since the last person in your group graduated. Be aware of all the necessary institutional administrative requirements (e.g., credit points, research seminar attendance, publications, etc.), as well as the faculty criteria, including deadlines (as well the date of the graduation ceremony), thesis copy numbers and format, font size, binding, and supporting documents. Take time to go through the list of documents and start collecting them in a folder. Get the formatting right early on, e.g., by using a dedicated template file. With your documents in order, you are bound to feel you have the situation more under control, which can help to reduce stress and enable you to focus more closely on writing your thesis.

Rule 7: Exploit Synergies

You are doing a lot of work for your thesis, so use it to your advantage. The literature review in your introduction can also be used to write and publish a future review article, an idea that might also be welcomed by your supervisor. If you are intending to write a grant proposal for a postdoctoral fellowship on a similar research topic, you can use some of the thesis introduction and future directions as a basis for your research plan. If you are keen to gain teaching experience, you could propose a short course on your specialty area. For instance, at Harvard Medical School, senior graduate students and postdoctoral researchers can be involved in lecturing on short, specialized “nanocourses” [3] . You may also be able to deliver a specialized lecture within a class your supervisor is teaching or, ideally after you have completed the PhD, teach at a workshop or summer school.

Take advantage of opportunities to deliver a talk as an invited speaker at a conference or at another institute, for example, if you are visiting a research group or investigating possible postdoctoral options. This will give you the chance to practice your defense presentation in front of an unfamiliar audience and, at the same time, allow a potential future supervisor and colleagues to gain a more complete picture of your research interests, skills, and personality.

Rule 8: Pay Attention to Your Career

It is not always easy to decide on which career path to follow after your PhD. You have been trained primarily towards an academic research career, and so many PhD graduates choose to continue on with a postdoctoral position as their first career destination. This is perfectly acceptable, and many industrial employers look upon early-career postdoctorals favorably. However, it is worth bearing in mind that permanent tenured positions are hard to secure nowadays and competition is tough, with less than 5% of those who complete a PhD ultimately realizing an academic career [4] . For those who are determined to have an academic career, a strategic research plan is crucial; for those who are unsure, a viable alternative career plan is equally important.

Knowledge of your professional and personal skills and capabilities, personality, values, and interests, as well as how to map them onto the job market and sell them to employers, will help you to make effective career decisions and a successful transition to your next job. In addition, factors such as your personal situation and priorities, mobility, and preferred work–life balance all need to be taken into consideration before entering the complicated world of the job market. Be ready to make compromises either in your work or personal life, depending on your priorities. Take advantage of courses and professional career guidance and coaching while you are still at university, as they are usually offered free of charge. Along with books and websites, face-to-face career support can help raise your self-awareness and knowledge of the job market so you can start to decide which types of career may best suit you. Blackford's book and blog [4] contain useful material on career planning for bioscientists, with concrete examples of different career paths within and outside of academia, and further information and resources. In addition, the Science Careers portal offers an online tool [5] to create an individual development plan and explore your career options based on your skills, interests, and values. Also, take advantage of dedicated career job boards associated with specialist websites, such as that of the International Society for Computational Biology [6] .

How soon should you start job seeking? Finding a job whilst writing up your thesis can seem like an attractive prospect, but it's important to consider that applying for jobs can easily take up as much time as working a full-time job. Then, if you do secure a job, the time left for writing up your thesis, completing experiments, and wrapping up your lab work will be seriously limited. It is exceedingly hard to write a doctoral thesis in the evenings after work or on the weekends, so in case you are offered a job before you have finished the PhD, consider seriously how this might affect your work and life. On the other hand, finishing a PhD when scholarship money has been seriously reduced (or has run out) comes with a different set of challenges. Many students need to tap into their savings (if indeed they have any), drastically reduce their spending, and move out of their accommodation. Losing employment at the university can also affect health insurance, social security, and visa status. Finishing up a PhD under these additional constraints and pressures can be extremely challenging, both logistically and psychologically. To ensure that you can concentrate all your time on (and get paid for) finishing your PhD, start planning ahead one year earlier. Be aware of your university's regulations, talk to your supervisor about the funding situation (is it possible for you stay on as a postdoctoral researcher for a short period?), and know what you need to do in order to finish on time (Rule 1).

Rule 9: Network

Unofficial statistics tell us that only around 30% of jobs are advertised, so to enhance your employment prospects you would be well advised to network in order to access the hidden job market. During the final year of your PhD, and even earlier, you can build up and extend your network so that your chances of finding the job of your choice are optimized. If you are looking for research positions, your supervisor might have contacts or know about positions available in academia or industry. Reviewing your personal network further will reveal it consists of colleagues, friends, and family. You may also have a wider network of collaborators (research and industry), people associated with your research whom you have met during the course of your PhD, as well as many others. Conferences, seminars, informal gatherings, and learned societies are great places to meet the academic community face to face or to broaden your horizons. Job fairs are held at universities and sometimes during conferences, where experts from industry look for potential employees as well as sometimes provide informal advice on your curriculum vitae (CV). Try to exploit these opportunities if they come your way.

A relatively recent, and highly democratic, addition to the networking system is social media, through which it is possible to meet people online from all over the world and from all walks of life. More and more professors, researchers, students, policy makers, science “celebrities”, science communicators, industry personnel, and professionals have a presence on social media, using it primarily for work-related purposes. Researchgate, LinkedIn, and Twitter are probably the most useful platforms for networking with academia, business, and the wider world, respectively. Your online profile should be fully completed and reflect your expertise, achievements, and personality. Used to greatest effect, social media will give you access to information, jobs, and influential people—its importance to you as a PhD student cannot be overestimated.

Rule 10: Leave on Good Terms

Wrap up the work in your lab, especially if you are leaving the institute. This includes any required training of new personnel in the methods and techniques you use, having lab notes in order, making it easy for other lab members to access your protocols and data, organizing and labelling your reagents and equipment, and documenting your computer code. If someone is taking over an unfinished project from you, take time to hand it over. Discuss with your supervisor to find a solution for who will do the final experiments, how to proceed with the writing of journal manuscripts, and what should be the order of authorship. If you have started a project that you want to take with you to your new lab, discuss with your supervisor how to handle possible future publications and how to agree on material transfer. If your work resulted in patents or patentable innovations, make sure you are clear about regulations concerning patents and intellectual property, both at your PhD institution and at the institution to which you are moving. Stay in touch with your former colleagues and cultivate the contacts you have made in graduate school; they are sure to be useful during the course of your career.

Acknowledgments

Jacopo Marino is grateful to colleagues from the University of Zurich for the everyday discussions that have inspired this manuscript. Melanie I. Stefan is likewise grateful for discussions on the topic with fellow predocs (and sympathetic postdocs) at the European Bioinformatics Institute. She would also like to acknowledge advice and support from Nicolas Le Novère and Susan Jones, which helped her navigate her PhD and graduate in a timely manner. She has since learnt a lot from discussions with colleagues at the California Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, and Harvard Medical School.

1. Turabian KL (2013) A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 8th edition. Chicago (Illinois): The University of Chicago Press.
2. University of Zürich (2014) Courses for PhD candidates and postdocs. Available: http://www.grc.uzh.ch/phd-postdoc/courses-uzh_en.html . Accessed 30 October 2014.
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4. Blackford S (2013) Career planning for research bioscientists. Wiley-Blackwell. Available: http://www.biosciencecareers.org . Accessed 30 October 2014.
5. Hobin JA, Fuhrmann CN, Lindstaedt B, Clifford PS (2012) You Need a Game Plan. Science Careers Career Magazine. Available: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2012_09_07/caredit.a1200100 . Accessed 30 October 2014.
6. International Society for Computational Biology (2011) ISCB Careers. Available: https://www.iscb.org/iscb-careers . Accessed 30 October 2014.

Finally, I Wrote a Post about Grad School by Abby H. '20

"grad's cool"

April 30, 2020

in Advice ,
Life after MIT

I applied for biology Ph.D. programs this past fall and interviewed at several schools in January and February. The process was incredibly familiar ⁠ 01 tbt applying to MIT >4 years ago and yet so different from anything else I’ve done. This post contains some reflections on that, but I also recommend reading echoe’s post from a couple of years ago for those of you who are just now wrapping up undergrad app stress and need ⁠ 02 I know how you guys are something to worry about for the future.

Why did I apply to Ph.D. programs?

It’s the thing you do if you major in life sciences and want to get a good research job.

It’s ~5 years of subsidized training in a field that I appreciate. I’m not one of those people who rambles on about how fascinating biology is. If anything, when I talk about cool biology stuff, it’s an attempt to get my smarter peers interested in it so that they might bring their outside skill sets ⁠ 03 Where would the science be without the development of new techniques and instruments? to the field.

I am not someone who dreamt of being a scientist as a little girl. In elementary school, I wanted to be an artist, the kind that stands at an easel and holds a palette of oil paints and wears a beret. In middle school, and to some extent even now, I wanted to be Nardwuar. In high school, I thought I might want to be an anesthesiologist because they made good money. When I applied to MIT, I said I was interested in Course 10 (Chemical Engineering), but that was mostly because I had taken IB Chem ⁠ 04 funny enough I am a bio major despite my lowest IB score being HL Bio and gotten a 7 my junior year. I thought that numbers like that revealed where I was most competent and therefore what I should study. I didn’t even like chemistry that much. I don’t even think I liked science that much; it was just the area of the pool that “smart” people like me were encouraged ⁠ 05 My parents did not go to college. While they pushed me to pursue college, I did not get much guidance on that besides don't waste your time on a liberal arts degree and you need to go somewhere that will give you a scholarship. I'm going to graduate MIT soon with a science degree and no debt, so I guess everything went according to plan. to swim toward. Going to college did not provide me with a sudden jolt of clarity about what I wanted to do next.

Now that I’ve spent the last few years in “science,” I’m on friendly terms with it. So I applied to grad school to be trained to be a good biologist (and also because I think it would be cool to *~*~*discover*~*~* something). While standing at a lab bench all day is not something I would put at the top of the list of things I am most passionate about (I am, after all, a normal human being), it is something that I like just enough to be okay with doing it for the next five years (and maybe more). Furthermore, I am not incredibly confident in my ability to get a job right now, especially now that the economy/job market has been upended by a pandemic. ⁠ 06 Of course, I didn't know that was going to happen when I applied. This lack of confidence was largely due to unfamiliarity with being “professional” and “corporate” and “wearing blazers,” but now that I’ve dabbled in those a little as a result of Ph.D. interviews, they don’t seem as impossible. I know (and knew then) that consulting and business stuff do not suit my interests or skills, so why attempt the career fair rat race? Apply to grad school and remain a student… perpetually.

Grad school just felt/feels like the right thing to do right now.

How did you choose your schools?

I admit that I could have planned this part out a little better. At the beginning of last summer, I had no idea where I wanted to apply. There was a vague desire to find a place with decent enough name recognition that people wouldn’t be like “what’s that.” There was also some inkling of wanting to go somewhere that was slightly less traditional, such as a grad program within a medical school or at a university that doesn’t have undergrads. However, one of the biggest things I took into consideration was geography. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to the South. I have complicated feelings about the South. I knew that I wanted out of Boston ASAP. I liked the time that I spent in the Bay Area, but so does every yuppie MIT grad who moves out there. I also enjoyed the time I had spent in New York City. ⁠ 07 Where else would a girl want to spend her twenties? Additionally, I knew I could get really cheap housing there with a friend of mine. I ended up applying to four schools in NYC and two schools in the Bay Area, based off of some recommendations from my PI and the gut feeling that I got from the programs’ websites.

Additionally, I had heard that the best programs to apply to are ones that don’t enforce specialization in the beginning. Umbrella programs, with (at least initially) fluid inter-departmental boundaries, tend to accept more applicants than the specialized programs. Often in bio Ph.D. programs this takes the form of a unified Molecular Biology department with divisions like genetics, biophysics, computational, biochemistry, etc. It makes sense, if you think about it. An immunology program might only have 2 or 3 slots, but an umbrella biology program would have 10-15 or 20-30 slots to fill. I prioritized umbrella programs but applied to a couple of more niche ⁠ 08 BIO PUN ALERT stem cell programs at certain schools.

What was the application process like?

CV/Resume: A list of things you have done and are in the process of doing. I made mine and then revised it after a meeting with someone at CAPD . It had my three ⁠ 09 My current lab at MIT, the internship I had last summer, and the lab I was with in high school. Yes, I included my high school lab, because the research I did there was somewhat advanced and also because I wanted to make the research section a little longer to balance out the extracurriculars section. I was careful not to emphasize that that was research I did in high school (because really it wasn't! I was at a university working with grad students). research experiences on it and then a long list of various non-school things I do at/not at MIT. Though I have read elsewhere that grad schools generally don’t care that much about your extracurriculars, ⁠ 10 which makes me sad because I'd love to talk to faculty about college radio I still wanted the admissions committees to see what I do when I’m not being a pipette robot.
Letters of recommendation: Letters from three or four people who are familiar with you and the kind of work you are capable of doing, preferably from the field whose programs you are applying to. The most valuable letters are from research advisors. At some schools, the most competitive applicants will have letters from three different research advisors. Unfortunately, I had only been with one lab since starting at MIT, and I had stayed there the whole time. That gave me one very strong letter… and nothing else. Of course, I had done an internship in industry over the summer, but I was not sure that a letter from my supervisor there would be valuable because my advisor was not faculty at any academic institution and also because I thought I had done a bad job there. I ended up asking her anyway because I had enjoyed my time there and I didn’t have another research advisor I was comfortable asking. My high school research experience seemed irrelevant; though I liked my mentor there, I think it would have come across as a little desperate if he wrote my third letter based on what high school me was like in lab. So I was stuck without a third letter-writer until my Course 7 advisor offered to write one for me. That was a considerable weight off my shoulders, but I still wanted to get a fourth recommendation from someone for those schools where a fourth letter was allowed. I had a professor in Course 9 who had taught me in a small-ish class/complementary CI-M ⁠ 11 Communication Intensive - Major: You have to take at least two of these in your major to graduate. These classes require a significant amount of writing and presentation. write the fourth letter for me, though she had some reservations ⁠ 12 She told me that in her experience on grad admissions committees at MIT, letters from instructors were typically not very useful, but that she would write a letter anyway if I needed her to. about not being able to comment on my research experience. About a month and a half before deadline, I emailed each of my recommenders a copy of my CV, a list of the schools/programs I was planning on applying to and their deadlines, and an explanation of what I thought their perspective ⁠ 13 e.g. my current PI could speak on my research skills, my internship PI could say something about how I adapted to my new research environment in industry, my academic advisor could provide some insight into my academic improvement over the semesters he had advised me since my grades were pretty bad my freshman spring, my professor could also evaluate my academic potential and my ability to communicate could offer for my application.
GPA/Transcripts/GRE scores: The numbers part of the process. Often there are hard cutoffs here to narrow the pool. I had a 4.5/5.0 GPA by the time I applied. It took a lot of work to get it that high, but even still I was not sure it would be high enough in light of the contents of my transcript. As a small aside, whenever I brought up concerns (to certain people) about my GPA not being high enough, they would be dismissed with a “oh well they’re not going to care if you get a C in Medieval Literature lol” or “that’s actually pretty good for MIT.” The thing is, my C’s aren’t in “fluff” courses. In fact, I’ve always done well in the classes that are considered the least important by highly STEM-focused people. I have C’s in 8.02 ⁠ 14 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism and 7.03(!). ⁠ 15 Genetics I got a B in 7.016. ⁠ 16 Intro to Bio I couldn’t find anything on The Forums about this kind of situation besides a few “yeah that’s not good”s. I was convinced that those grades were going to tank me. The whole time I was writing personal statements I was worried that it was a waste of time because they wouldn’t look at my application after seeing that C in Genetics. It’s all speculation. I have no insight into what happens in those committees. It appears that that C didn’t matter all that much to the majority of schools I applied to who still invited me to campus for an interview (a big caveat here is that it’s a C at MIT , which might make the committees a bit more sympathetic). GRE scores are important sometimes, too, but I made a conscious decision not to apply to schools that required the GRE general test. Luckily for me, a lot of molecular biology Ph.D. programs have dropped that requirement in recent years. This is not true for every Ph.D. program, but maybe it will be soon. I had previously planned to write a whole rant blog post about standardized testing, but I’ll save you the click: I think the GRE is obsolete as a tool for predicting preparation for graduate studies (as do a lot of other people ); it does not make sense that an exam for entrance into graduate school a.) is best taken early on in your college years when you’re still in SAT mode and have all the math/verbal skills necessary to do well on the exam and b.) relies on formulaic essay-writing and cheap tricks to trip up and stratify test-takers who haven’t spent hundreds of dollars on test prep and aren’t accustomed to the common traps. If the GRE administrators could show me how their formulas actually apply to the work that grad school requires, I would reconsider my position. But currently it looks to me like yet another cog in the machine of social reproduction . This isn’t even coming from some bitter test-taker who got a low score. I’ve always been good at standardized tests, and the GRE was no exception. I took it and did great but came out of the exam feeling deeply unsettled by the whole racket. I hope it mysteriously vanishes and everyone gets their $160 back.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose/Research Statement/Diversity Statement: Almost but not exactly a cover letter for your application. There is not enough of a difference between personal statements and statements of purpose to get bogged down in making them conform to PrepScholar.com’s distinctions. Usually the application will provide a little more detail on what is expected in terms of content and word count. Basically, you introduce yourself and your background, why you’re applying to that program specifically/why do you think the program is a good match, what you want to do with your training, faculty you would be interested in working with, and anything else that would be relevant to a committee member who has decided to give your application a shot. I ended up tailoring each of mine to the schools fairly heavily due to big differences in program affiliations (i.e. my “why grad school here” spiel switched up a bit depending on if that specific program was connected to a medical school or hospital) and in suggested word counts (I was asked for personal statements ranging between 600 and 1500 words). As a side note, I find the “why do you think you would be a good fit here” aspect of these essays irritating. I had never gone to any of those schools to check out the campus and culture or whatever. All I had to go off of was their websites and some encouraging words from my post-doc in lab. ⁠ 17 She's been my direct mentor throughout my time in lab and we happen to both be leaving at MIT at the same time--she got a faculty position offer recently! It seemed a little ridiculous to explain how I fit into a place that I had never experienced, so I focused more heavily on discussing how my research prepared me for grad school. ⁠ 18 ironically, also something that I can't know for sure until I spend some time in grad school One school I applied to didn’t ask for a personal statement; instead they wanted a Research Statement of up to 750 words describing my most meaningful research experience (the main question, how I approached it experimentally, what results I got and how I interpreted them, what I would do next). That one was actually really hard to write because most of my research boils down to “I put the drugs on the cells and waited to see if it would kill them.” The two California schools I applied to asked for a Diversity Statement, a brief essay on my background and any obstacles I faced in pursuing my education. It’s always been hard for me to write about my ethnic background, ⁠ 19 What Does It Mean To Be Mixed so I talked about sports instead. Anyway, this part was definitely the most time-intensive part of the application process, largely because it feels so unnatural to write in that mode. I like to put jokes in my writing. I like to assume familiarity. I like “personal,” but those essays felt far too formal to leave any imprint of personality.

What were interviews like?

I was far too stressed to enjoy my interview weekends. There’s some more detail on that in my post from February. ⁠ 20 it was a much simpler time, many years ago... The schools tended to use the time as both recruitment and refinement. So they’re feeding you the finest wine ⁠ 21 you know it's good stuff when the choices are simply Red or White... who am I kidding I am just a child with no taste who will never be able to discern between good and bad and cheese while also sitting you at tables with faculty who might be judging your etiquette. I felt watched all the time. Were they taking note of how I slipped off to the bathroom for twenty minutes to avoid the third mandatory mingle session of the day? Is this current grad student evaluating whether or not they would want to be friends with me? Will I be judged for not eating this godawful chicken that’s covered in cinnamon? Why is this faculty member asking me about my favorite bands to emerge from the post-9/11 NYC music scene? Is this optional pub night with students really optional? Am I asking smart questions? Mix all of that doubt in with a couple of interviews that went awry and assignments that were due regardless of my little interviews and you’ve got E X H A U S T I O N. I was so tired that I skipped several semi-mandatory events just to rest.

me standing in front of a sign for the martha stewart center for living at mount sinai

me and Martha Stewart @ Mount Sinai

The interviews themselves weren’t even as terrifying as I was expecting. My post-doc had warned me that some faculty can be pretty ruthless in their questioning, almost as if they’re trying to make you slip up. She recommended reading at least two papers from each faculty interviewer’s lab to become familiar with their research because they could ask me about it. I did not have time to do this. On the day of my first set of interviews, I was in a room with several other applicants who were getting some last minute studying in before their interviews. I looked over and saw a girl who had printed out a faculty member’s CV and annotated it. The interviews were only thirty minutes long; I hadn’t even considered studying peoples’ CVs. And it turns out that I didn’t really need to. Most of the preparation I needed was reviewing the papers I had co-authored and writing summaries of my research. The most background research I did on any faculty was to read the research summaries on their websites.

a Sol LeWitt (the color room guy) piece @ Weill Cornell

More technically: Getting to interview is a big deal. If you make it to this stage, the school has already made a favorable preliminary judgment about you and wants to see if you would fit in well with the program in person. The faculty who interview you are chosen either by you or by an administrator matching you based on your interests. I had 3-5 interviewers for each school, 30-40 minutes each, but I have heard that some other places do wild stuff like 12 interviews at 20 minutes each, spread over 2 days. I did not do any group interviews, but then again the whole thing felt like a group interview anyway. The basic anatomy of an interview was something like this:

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself. Me: [insert short biography] Interviewer: [says something about themselves that relates to my background] Interviewer: Tell me about your current research. Me: [describes my two years of research in the Walker lab at MIT] Interviewer: [asks question about the subject] AND/OR [points out a similarity between our areas of research] Me: [attempts to answer question] AND/OR [remarks on the similarity] Interviewer: Let me tell you about my research. [tells] Interviewer: Any questions? About this or about the program? Me: 1. Why did you choose to work here? 2. How did you end up studying what you study? Interviewer: [talks about their scientific journey] Interviewer/Me: Time for next interview! Thanks for talking to me!

It wasn’t too bad unless the interviewer got persistent about a question that I didn’t really know the answer to. It’s hard to defend a project that is not wholly yours; however, I can see how “um that’s just how my post-doc does it” is an unsatisfying reply. The whiplash of going from one nice and successful interview to the next scary and unproductive interview is something that left a bad taste in my mouth at one school in particular. My worst interview was with an older faculty member who wasn’t very conversational. He asked what I wanted to do after my Ph.D. and I confidently ⁠ 22 There has long been a kind of stigma attached to Ph.D. students who sell out and go into non-academic fields; this was at an institution that repeatedly stressed to us that it wasn't like that there and that faculty have friendly ties to industry. told him “probably industry.” He told me that I should reconsider because academia would be best. No smile or sarcastic intonation. Just “you’re wrong.” I found myself struggling to come up with questions to ask him because he wouldn’t give any more detail than was explicitly asked of him. I asked him if he got many Ph.D. rotation students in his lab and he said “No, not American ones. They usually leave.” I asked him why he chose to work at that school and he said “Because they offered for me to be the director of [sub-program not specified here for the sake of anonymity].” I have no idea why this guy was interviewing prospective students. The other interviewers I had were very similar to my MIT interviewer from back in December 2015: interested in having a conversation.

the skyline from UCSF's stem cell building

the view from the stem cell building at UCSF (architecturally a very interesting structure)

I also feel the need to add that because I applied to a couple of smaller programs, I ended up going to faculty members’ actual homes for dinner. At some places, these dinners would be before the interviews; other places would schedule them the same day or the day after. In all cases, the faculty would say that the dinners were not meant to be part of the interview process, but I can’t help but think they inform their decision in a major way. Can’t make small talk with the other applicants? You’re probably not a good fit. Showing visible signs of exhaustion after a full day of travel and recruitment programming? Doesn’t look good. I’m not a very conversational person, so this is kind of stuff is one of my circles of hell.

a fishbird in a creek on berkeley campus

a cool bird @ Berkeley

What happens next?

One or two weeks after interviews, you get a decision. I like that part better than undergrad admissions; the turnaround time on those is understandable yet unbearable. I also liked that I could generally get a read on whether or not my interviews went well enough for me to be admitted, so I knew what decision to expect. It’s a weird kind of intuition that you just don’t get out of the black box of college admission decisions. Around the same time ⁠ 23 Yet another way that this part is different from undergrad admissions: all the interview invites get sent out weeks or sometimes a month before the rejection emails. So if it's February and everyone at The Grad Cafe got their invites the first week of January, you know that you're not getting that invite. that I was getting these decisions, a couple of schools finally got back to me to let me know that Regretfully We Cannot Offer You Admission . It felt a lot like last summer when I was several weeks into my internship and got an email out of the blue from some random company Regretfully Informing You That We Cannot Offer You A Position and Join Our Job Network To Apply For Other Postings .

How did you choose where to go?

I asked this question to most of my faculty interviewers. They gave great answers, but one of them was honest enough to say “Well, there isn’t exactly a surplus of academic jobs currently, so getting an offer from a place like this was great. I learned to love it after I got here.” Now that I’m done with the process, I feel a similar way. I didn’t apply to so many places that it would be a tough to narrow it down. I also didn’t apply anywhere that I couldn’t see myself going, so any choice I made (if I had any choice to make at all) would probably be a good one. A girl at a couple of my interviews applied to twelve top programs and had gotten interview invites from nearly all of them. I have no idea where she’s going to end up, but her choice was almost definitely much harder than mine.

After interviewing at my first school, I was convinced that I would probably get in and enroll and be plenty satisfied there, to the point of almost cancelling the other interviews. Good thing I didn’t: I’ve officially committed to the very last school I interviewed at. I’ll be starting my Ph.D. at Berkeley this fall.

The blogs always stress how important “fit” and “the people” are when it comes to making these difficult decisions. I think the technical term “vibes” encompasses both of those and is the best description of what guided my choice. I enjoyed interviewing at Berkeley, even though I had already mentally committed to a school in New York. After I spent some time there, I just knew.

Lightning Round!

Not every discipline is like biology when it comes to grad school best practices. I can only sign off on the above so far as it relates specifically to my experience applying to bio-related programs. Med school is very different. Your experience may be very different.

I shouldn’t have applied to stem cell programs. I don’t have any stem cell background really; I just think they’re neat. ⁠ 24 This is not a good reason to give your interviewers. It would have been better to have stuck to applying to the larger programs.

Maybe I regret not going the M.D./Ph.D. route. I’m the kind of person who reads Wikipedia pages on rare diseases and looks at medical oddities for fun. The human body is disgusting and awe-inspiring, and M.D./Ph.D. programs provide you with an extensive background on what these assemblages of flesh do. They’re also subsidized. ⁠ 25 The thought of six figures of medical school debt terrifies me. There’s a reason they’re highly selective.

Observations?

I’ve run the numbers on three data points and found that faculty who work in mitochondrial biology are great interviewers.
A lot of bio grad programs have some ethically dubious billionaire names tied to them.
It’s weird how schools will play up their strengths by comparing themselves to other schools. At the medical school-affiliated programs I applied to, there was heavy emphasis on how great it is for translational research to have a hospital on campus. At Berkeley (which conspicuously lacks a medical school), the virtues of basic science ⁠ 26 I am reminded of a Concourse freshman seminar in which the discussion question was something like why do we pursue knowledge. Most people answered the same way: to solve problems in the world. I, of course, had to come up with something different and not basic, so even though I am largely of the mindset that yes, we learn so we can solve, I said that sometimes the goal of knowledge is simply to know more, to understand better. The TA liked my incredibly profound and unique answer, one that surely no one else has ever thought of ever. And yes, everyone on the bus stood up and clapped for me, including Obama, who was listening the whole time. were lauded as a major strength; projects do not necessarily need to be translational as long as they expand our understanding of The Science.
More research advisors = more connections = more people who have a buddy at the school you’re interested in who might be willing to talk to you about the school. As much as I hate the economy of connections, it’s real and it could make a world of difference for you.
If you like to have a lot of choices, apply to a lot of programs. I applied to six, which is on the low end; I ultimately got offers from two of those after interviewing at four. You can’t really predict what your rejected:interviewed:accepted ratio will be, so don’t die trying.
Don’t email potential research advisors out of the blue unless you have been referred to them by someone who knows them. I have been given a lot of conflicting advice on this subject. Someone will probably email me telling me this is bad advice. On forums for Ph.D. programs in other areas, ⁠ 27 mostly humanities I have seen things like “I will not accept a student unless they reached out to me before applying.” The biology faculty I have discussed this with, however, generally agree that they have too many emails to read in a day to be dealing with inquiries from over-eager undergrads. ⁠ 28 This is not a contradiction of the above point about reaching out to people your PI knows. Those emails are good to send. The emails that I'm talking about here are more along the lines of Here Is My CV. I Liked Your Lab Website. Should I Apply? which is usually met with either no response or a quick idk apply and see what happens. You are a stranger, after all. That faculty member may not even be a part of the admissions committee. It’s really discouraging to type up a long email to someone only to have them reply with a couple of links to the grad admissions FAQs for their school.
It is perfectly fine to take time off after undergrad before applying to grad school. Plenty of people do Master’s programs, research tech positions/postbacs, or something entirely different before applying to Ph.D. programs. Some programs actually prefer ⁠ 29 It makes sense if you think about the kind of investment that the school is putting into you. Who would be more likely to drop out of the program: someone who has done two years of full-time, independent research already or some kid applying as a senior in college who has never worked full-time in research? that you have done a Master’s before applying. For a while, I considered getting a technician job for a year or two before applying. Most of the people I talked to on these interview weekends were working or finishing up Master’s degrees. I am too debt-averse to consider applying to Master’s programs when I know I want to do a Ph.D. anyway, so I went ahead and applied as an undergrad.
On the subject of finances, it’s always a good idea to save up any money you can. Application fees can add up. The interview weekends are typically paid for, but often the payment comes in the form of a reimbursement check that gets sent to you a month afterward. You will likely have to front a lot of the costs yourself. Even now, I’m dreading the amount of money I will spend on moving expenses and apartment deposits, but I’ve been saving all along, so it won’t be too much of a shock.

That was a lot of anecdotal information, but I hope it is (will be) helpful to one of you dear readers (someday).

Post Tagged

#grad school
tbt applying to MIT >4 years ago ⁠ back to text ↑
I know how you guys are ⁠ back to text ↑
Where would the science be without the development of new techniques and instruments? ⁠ back to text ↑
funny enough I am a bio major despite my lowest IB score being HL Bio ⁠ back to text ↑
My parents did not go to college. While they pushed me to pursue college, I did not get much guidance on that besides don't waste your time on a liberal arts degree and you need to go somewhere that will give you a scholarship . I'm going to graduate MIT soon with a science degree and no debt, so I guess everything went according to plan. ⁠ back to text ↑
Of course, I didn't know that was going to happen when I applied. ⁠ back to text ↑
Where else would a girl want to spend her twenties? ⁠ back to text ↑
BIO PUN ALERT ⁠ back to text ↑
My current lab at MIT, the internship I had last summer, and the lab I was with in high school. Yes, I included my high school lab, because the research I did there was somewhat advanced and also because I wanted to make the research section a little longer to balance out the extracurriculars section. I was careful not to emphasize that that was research I did in high school (because really it wasn't! I was at a university working with grad students). ⁠ back to text ↑
which makes me sad because I'd love to talk to faculty about college radio ⁠ back to text ↑
Communication Intensive - Major: You have to take at least two of these in your major to graduate. These classes require a significant amount of writing and presentation. ⁠ back to text ↑
She told me that in her experience on grad admissions committees at MIT, letters from instructors were typically not very useful, but that she would write a letter anyway if I needed her to. ⁠ back to text ↑
e.g. my current PI could speak on my research skills, my internship PI could say something about how I adapted to my new research environment in industry, my academic advisor could provide some insight into my academic improvement over the semesters he had advised me since my grades were pretty bad my freshman spring, my professor could also evaluate my academic potential and my ability to communicate ⁠ back to text ↑
Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism ⁠ back to text ↑
Genetics ⁠ back to text ↑
Intro to Bio ⁠ back to text ↑
She's been my direct mentor throughout my time in lab and we happen to both be leaving at MIT at the same time--she got a faculty position offer recently! ⁠ back to text ↑
ironically, also something that I can't know for sure until I spend some time in grad school ⁠ back to text ↑
What Does It Mean To Be Mixed ⁠ back to text ↑
it was a much simpler time, many years ago... ⁠ back to text ↑
you know it's good stuff when the choices are simply Red or White... who am I kidding I am just a child with no taste who will never be able to discern between good and bad ⁠ back to text ↑
There has long been a kind of stigma attached to Ph.D. students who sell out and go into non-academic fields; this was at an institution that repeatedly stressed to us that it wasn't like that there and that faculty have friendly ties to industry. ⁠ back to text ↑
Yet another way that this part is different from undergrad admissions: all the interview invites get sent out weeks or sometimes a month before the rejection emails. So if it's February and everyone at The Grad Cafe got their invites the first week of January, you know that you're not getting that invite. ⁠ back to text ↑
This is not a good reason to give your interviewers. ⁠ back to text ↑
The thought of six figures of medical school debt terrifies me. ⁠ back to text ↑
I am reminded of a Concourse freshman seminar in which the discussion question was something like why do we pursue knowledge. Most people answered the same way: to solve problems in the world. I, of course, had to come up with something different and not basic, so even though I am largely of the mindset that yes, we learn so we can solve, I said that sometimes the goal of knowledge is simply to know more, to understand better. The TA liked my incredibly profound and unique answer, one that surely no one else has ever thought of ever. And yes, everyone on the bus stood up and clapped for me, including Obama, who was listening the whole time. ⁠ back to text ↑
mostly humanities ⁠ back to text ↑
This is not a contradiction of the above point about reaching out to people your PI knows. Those emails are good to send. The emails that I'm talking about here are more along the lines of Here Is My CV. I Liked Your Lab Website. Should I Apply? which is usually met with either no response or a quick i dk apply and see what happens . You are a stranger, after all. ⁠ back to text ↑
It makes sense if you think about the kind of investment that the school is putting into you. Who would be more likely to drop out of the program: someone who has done two years of full-time, independent research already or some kid applying as a senior in college who has never worked full-time in research? ⁠ back to text ↑

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Doing a PhD in Biology

A PhD in Biological Sciences aims to train researchers on the evolution and sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as training for their future incorporation in universities, research institutions and management centres, both private and public administration.

A PhD in Biology usually focuses on the study of living things, their nature, origin, evolution and interactions with each other and their environment. It may also involve the study of plant and animal behaviour, structure, function and relationships to each other and the environment.

Browse available Biology PhD Projects

A next-generation genetic technology to identify biotechnologically-valuable enzymes and transporters, development of fluorescent organic molecules for application in super-resolution imaging techniques, ubiquitin-dependent signalling pathways in ageing, speciation in facultatively sexual species, energy dissipation in human soft tissue during impacts, what is it like to undertake a phd in biology.

As a Biological Sciences PhD student, your day to day activities will revolve around:

Generating new scientific and technical knowledge in the Biological Sciences through original work. They will be able to handle and apply methodologies to solve research problems in the different areas of biological knowledge, with particular emphasis on the fields of biodiversity and molecular biology.
Developing new technologies to solve problems, detect needs and opportunities inherent to their area of research. In particular, know and use contemporary statistical approaches.
Formulating, managing and leading research projects, working in teams and interdisciplinary networks. As a result, they will be able to devise and implement working hypotheses, describe and interpret experimental results and critically analyse the findings presented in scientific publications.
Managing new information and communication technologies that allow you to efficiently disseminate research and results in specialised journals, specialised circles and the social community to participate satisfactorily in higher and postgraduate education through the experience acquired in the academic activities of your doctorate.
Advising undergraduate and postgraduate students on your research work.

Research Areas

One of the most significant factors in choosing a PhD project is what your supervisor is interested/expert in. Not every aspect of biology will suit every supervisor: however, there are many ways this can be decided. The largest factor in determining what area to research can be down to your supervisor’s previous interests and his/her research background.

You may also look at research areas based on job opportunities in the future or other practical applications for your findings, such as developing new drugs, vaccines, treatments etc. But these decisions will all depend on whether you are happy with the type of work that your supervisor wants you to do and, more important, whether it’s a research interest your passionate about.

As a biological sciences doctorate examines biological processes at interdisciplinary levels and encompasses various disciplines ranging from organisms to genes to evolution, there are many sub-disciplines that PhD research projects could centre around. Some of these include:

Bioinformatics ,
Cell biology,
Evolutionary biology,
Molecular biology,
Molecular microbiology etc.

Entry Requirements and Application Process

A PhD in biology requires a good knowledge of mathematics, statistics and biology. Besides independent research, a PhD will entail advanced training in biology and developing skills in analytical thinking.

The typical entry requirements for a PhD in biology is a strong Masters degree (minimum of 2:1) in a relevant field of study. For example:

BSc (Hons) in Biology, Genetics, Zoology, Biochemistry etc.
BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science or Marine Biology.
BVMS/BVM&S/BSc(Hons) Veterinary Science.
LLB Law Degree with significant subject knowledge of biology.

If you are an international student, you may need to demonstrate your proficiency and knowledge in the English language. This is done through the English language requirements of an IELTS/TOEFL score or a recognised English proficiency test.

Typical Applicant Profile

To be admitted into a PhD programme, applicants will be expected to demonstrate:

Ability for critical and reflective thinking that leads to the posing of problems and their resolution with impact in the area of health sciences.
Ability to train human resources in the area of genomic medicine.
Competence in research, teaching, extension and outreach activities.
Attitude and aptitude to form multidisciplinary workgroups.
Leadership for the consolidation of research lines.
Management and handling of financial resources for research.
The observance of professional ethical guidelines that contribute to sustainable development.

Average Length of Programme

The duration of a PhD can be up to five years, depending on which university you attend, the funding provided by the university (if any) and your own commitment to finishing it. The minimum time to undertake a PhD depends on the degree you are studying for, however, four years is usually the norm.

What Can You Do with A PhD in Biology?

A PhD in biology allows postgraduate research students to pursue a wide range of careers, primarily due to many transferable skills developed and the range of training received. Students can work in academia, which involves lecturing, laboratory research and academic publication. Lab research positions typically involve working in a team to study living organisms/bio-systems and applying this knowledge to answer specific questions.

Other career paths you could pursue are becoming a microbiologist, pharmacologist, biochemist, biotechnologist, biologist or medical research scientist.

Tuition Fees

On average, tuition fees for a PhD in a biological subject cost approximately £3,000 per year for UK students. International students will pay more in the range of £10,000 to £20,000 depending on their chosen university. Your tuition fees will vary depending on whether you are studying part-time or full-time and as to how much lab work is involved.

Funding Opportunities

The majority of PhD funding will come from the Department/University in the form of PhD studentships. However, depending on your research activity, some funding may also be available from other sources, such as:

Postgraduate study programmes funded by charities and academic foundations.
Applying for grants from various government organisations such as the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council ( BBSRC ), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). These are usually known as Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs).
Applying for funding opportunities offered by large companies, pharmaceutical companies, research bodies and medical bodies.

If you are successful with securing funding, you could expect to receive around £17-19k per year for your project’s duration. This covers both your tuition fees and your living expenses, such as accommodation costs, utility bills etc. Deadlines for funding will depend on the specific opportunity; therefore, it is best to start your search as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of succeeding.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Ph.D. Program

The training for a Ph.D. in Biology is focused on helping students achieve their goals of being a successful research scientist and teacher, at the highest level. Students work closely with an established advisor and meet regularly with a committee of faculty members to facilitate their progress. The Biology Ph.D. program is part of the larger Biosciences community at Stanford, which includes doctorate programs in the basic science departments at Stanford Medical School.

There are two tracks within the Biology Ph.D. program:

Cell, Molecular and Organismal Biology
Ecology and Evolution

(Previously a part of the Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station is now a part of the Oceans Department within Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability )

All tracks are focused on excellence in research and teaching in their respective areas; where there are differences between the tracks, they are indicated in the links below.

Requirements & Forms

Dissertation defense, cellular and molecular biology training program, stanford biology ph.d. preview program, career development resources.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology

The PhD in Biology is a research degree requiring graduate-level coursework, completion of a dissertation, and two semesters of participation in teaching (usually as a teaching fellow in laboratory or discussion sections of lecture courses led by Biology faculty). For most students, obtaining this degree typically involves five or more years of full-time study.

A summary of Biology PhD student expectations by year can be found here . Full details can be found in the Graduate Program Guide .

The Biology Department guarantees support for five years for all PhD students, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program.

How to Apply Frequently Asked Questions

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate academic mastery in one of three areas of Biology: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

2. Attain research expertise , including grant writing experience, and complete original research that advances a specific field of study within one of three broad subject areas represented in the department: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

3. Attain teaching experience and expertise in one of three broad areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.

4. Attain the skills and qualifications needed for employment in an academic, government, or private sector position related to the life sciences.

Coursework Requirements

Students must complete 64 credits with a minimum grade point average of 3.0; at least 32 of these credits must be accrued from lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course credits. See the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) Transfer of Credits policy for more details.

2 semesters of Progress in Research Seminars (2 credits each):

Cell & Molecular Biology: BI 583 & BI 584 (CM section)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology: BI 579 & BI 580

Neurobiology: BI 583 & BI 584 (NEURO section)

1 semester grant-writing course (2 credits):

Cell & Molecular Biology: BI 581

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology: BI 671

Neurobiology: BI 581

1 semester pedagogy course (1 credit): All Biology PhD students take BI 697
1 quantitative course (3–4 credits): from a list of recommended courses .
Additional courses vary by specific track below:

Cell & Molecular Biology

1. GRS BI 791/GRS BI 792 Graduate Rotation Credits (2 credits each/4 credits total)

2. GRS BI 753 Advanced Molecular Biology (4 credits)

3. GRS MB 721 Graduate Biochemistry (4 credits)

4. GRS BI 735 Advanced Cell Biology (4 credits)

5. Two electives (8 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

6. Research credits (remaining credits)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology

1. Six electives (24 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

2. Research credits (remaining credits)

Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology PhD candidate coursework is highly variable. Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research. Students are required to take a minimum of 32 credits of coursework. The remainder of the credits should be research.

Neurobiology

2. GRS BI 755 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience (4 credits)

3. GRS BI 741 Neural Systems: Functional Circuit Analysis (4 credits)

4. Four electives (16 credits, 500-level and above), see the Graduate Program Guide for recommendations

5. Research credits (remaining credits)

Teaching Requirement

The department requires a minimum of two semesters of teaching as part of the Doctor of Philosophy program. During the first semester of teaching, students are required to enroll in our first-year seminar course, GRS BI 697 A Bridge to Knowledge . The course provides guidance and training on pedagogy and other aspects of graduate school.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination must be completed no later than six semesters after matriculation. In most graduate curricula in the department, this consists of a research proposal—often in the form of a grant application—which the student submits to their committee and subsequently defends in an oral presentation. In the Cell & Molecular Biology and Ecology, Behavior, Evolution & Marine Biology curricula , this is preceded by a comprehensive written examination testing the student’s general background from coursework.

Dissertation & Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Biology Department Chair. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree . The results of the dissertation must be presented at a department colloquium.

Graduation Timeline

Forms and additional information about PhD graduation can be found on the GRS website .

9 – 12 months before proposed graduation date

Dissertation Prospectus & approval form due to Graduate Program Specialist for departmental review and submission to GRS

Semester prior to your intended graduation cycle

Intent to Graduate Form completed online

About 2 months before dissertation defense

Meet with Graduate Program Specialist, Director of Graduate Studies, and Faculty Advisor to review requirements for defense
Arrange for Special Service Appointments if committee members are not BU faculty
Send first draft of dissertation to readers

Once defense date is confirmed with committee

Reserve room(s) for public seminar and defense

At least three weeks prior to dissertation defense

Schedule of Final Oral Exam with Abstract Approval due to GRS
Properly formatted draft of dissertation submitted as PDF to [email protected]

At least two weeks prior to dissertation defense

Send dissertation to all committee members

At least one week prior to dissertation defense

Send program information to Graduate Program Specialist

See the Graduate Program Guide for final dates to submit dissertation to ETD

Submit final dissertation to ETD (online submission)
Complete electronic signature page and forward confirmation to Graduate Program Specialist along with a copy of your submitted dissertation

MS Degree (En Route to PhD)

Option one: A PhD student who has advanced to candidacy (as demonstrated by passing the PhD qualifying exam), and has completed 32 credits of graduate-level coursework (not including research) may apply to the Graduate School for an MS degree in Biology. This must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies within the Biology Department. The student’s major professor will receive notification of this application process.

Option two: A PhD student who has taken, but has not advanced to candidacy based on the PhD qualifying examination, may still receive an MS degree. This student may receive a Coursework MS degree provided they have completed 32 credits of coursework (not including research credits). Alternatively, this student may receive a Scholarly Paper or Research Thesis MS degree if the written portion of the qualifying examination is adapted to ensure it is of sufficiently high quality for a MS degree, and approved by a majority of the qualifying exam committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Interdisciplinary Study Options

Biology PhD students have the option to participate in the Boston University Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (BU URBAN), the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program Understanding the Brain: Neurophotonics (NSF NRT UtB: Neurophotonics), and the Biogeoscience Advanced Graduate Certificate Program . These programs require separate applications in addition to the standard Biology PhD application; those interested in BU URBAN are encouraged pre-apply .

Time Limits

Officially, the PhD must be completed within seven years after the first registration for doctoral study. PhD degrees are conferred in either May, August, or January, as specified on the GRS website . In addition, the PhD candidacy expires after the fifth anniversary of passing the Qualifying Examination. Petitions to extend this deadline are possible at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School, and can be obtained from the Office of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

The Biology Department guarantees support for five years for all PhD students, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program. PhD students are encouraged to apply for fellowships and grants at funding agencies. All domestic students should apply for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships in the Fall semester of their first or second year.

Travel Grants may be available to assist students in their travel to professional scientific meetings; students presenting papers or posters on their research will receive first consideration.

Common Types of Funding:

Dean’s Fellowships: These are non-service fellowships allocated to first-year PhD students that do not have immediate teaching requirements.

Teaching Fellowships: These provide a stipend plus full tuition and fees for up to four full courses per semester plus a 2-credit teaching course. Teaching responsibilities usually require approximately 20 hours per week. Full or partial awards may be given.

Doctoral Research Fellowships: These awards are given to students who assist individual faculty with specific areas of research. These Research Fellowships provide a stipend and full tuition. The supervising faculty member determines the specific duties of the Research Fellow.

In addition to the above funding sources, several competitive Department awards and fellowships are available to graduate students in the Department of Biology.

Secondary Menu

Ph.d. application process.

We admit students in the fall semester, with the goal of providing a collegial, intimate, and intellectually vibrant learning environment. Your application will be viewed by several professors in our department, including faculty knowledgeable in your area of interest. We use a holistic selection process, valuing your experiences and interests.

Each year we matriculate ten to twelve new candidates to our doctoral program. You can apply to our Ph.D. program through the Duke Graduate School. See the Graduate School website for procedures and deadlines.

Application Fee

The Graduate School provides a limited number of application fee waivers to promote a diverse applicant pool. All fee waiver requests are reviewed by the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development in the Office of Graduate Student Affairs. Please contact Dean Alan Kendrick ( [email protected] ) for instructions when applying.

In addition, all U.S. applicants from under-represented groups and anyone with a demonstrated financial need are encouraged to contact the Co-Director of Graduate Studies, William Morris ( [email protected] ). The Biology Department will help defray the cost of the application fee.

Application Instructions and Tips

To give your application its best shot, we strongly recommend that you reach out to potential mentors and advisors prior to submitting your application. Simply send them an e-mail! Clearly indicate which lab(s) you are interested in in your application and statement of purpose. This helps us ensure that your application will get reviewed by everyone you might be interested in working with.

For some extra tips on how to write the best possible graduate school application, check out this article by Science Magazine .

Before applying to Biology, please be sure it is the department of the labs you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in Dr. Jane Doe’s lab, but she is in Duke’s Department of Neurobiology, and you apply to Duke Biology, your application will get misdirected. If in doubt, please ask us directly: [email protected]

We recognize that every application is more than just the sum of quantitative measures like GPAs, and have implemented a holistic review process that takes into account not only your academic credentials, but your profile as a whole. Applicants to the Duke Biology Ph.D. program will be evaluated on the basis of the following information provided in your application:

Your Statement of Purpose
Your research experience
Your letters of recommendation
The match of your research interests to the expertise of faculty in the department
Your performance in the courses you have taken that prepared you for graduate study

Statement of Purpose

Tell us about your previous research experience, work ethic and perseverance toward goals, your preparedness and motivation for graduate study, your academic plans, including some of the research questions you would like to address in your graduate studies, and future career aspirations. In your statement, it is very important to mention which faculty members you are interested in working with, as common interests are considered.

You are encouraged to include examples of educational, cultural, or other life opportunities or challenges you have experienced, and how these are likely to contribute to your overall success in our graduate program and beyond.

The Duke Graduate School requires that you submit your undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) with your application. Duke does not have a cut-off point for UGPA when considering applicants. The Biology Graduate Admissions Committee will examine how your academic background, including the courses you have taken previously and your performance in those courses, and not your GPA or the institutions at which you have previously studied, have prepared you for graduate study. Every application gets reviewed in a holistic way in which all parts of the application package are considered in making a decision.

Both the general GRE and the GRE Biology subject test are optional for applicants to the Duke Biology Ph.D. program. Not having taken these tests will in no way disadvantage your application.

Applications are due November 30 . The Biology Graduate Admissions Committee will contact those applicants who qualify for on-site interviews (applicants already in the US) or Skype interviews (international applicants) by mid-January. We invite select candidates to visit the Duke campus for one of two planned weekends in February to meet our faculty and graduate students. Final decisions are made in March.

Duke Biology’s Mission Statement
AJED Annual and Semester Reports
AJED Meeting Notes
Biology Cultural Association (BCA)
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee (IDEA)
Learning from Baboons: Dr. Susan Alberts
Extremophiles and Systems Biology: Dr. Amy Schmid
How Cells Manage Stress: Dr. Gustavo Silva
Predator-Prey Interactions in a Changing World: Dr. Jean Philippe Gibert
Exploring the Extracellular Matrix: Dr. David Sherwood
Cell Division's Missing Link: Dr. Masayuki Onishi
Listening in to Birdsong: Dr. Steve Nowicki
Biogeochemistry as Ecosystem Accounting: Dr. Emily Bernhardt
Building a Dynamic Nervous System: Dr. Pelin Volkan
Investigating a Key Plant Hormone: Dr. Lucia Strader
Imagining Visual Ecology: Dr. Sönke Johnsen
Outreach Opportunities Across the Triangle
Job Opportunities
Location & Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning Outcomes
Major Requirements
Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics
Animal Behavior
Biochemistry
Cell & Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Marine Biology
Neurobiology
Pharmacology
Plant Biology
Minor Requirements
Biology IDM
List of Biology Advisors
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Ph.D. Program

The philosophy of the PhD program, along with the Affiliated Ph.D. Program with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, is to provide world-class research training in the basic biological sciences to equip a diverse group of trainees for a variety of scientific careers ranging from academia and industry to education, communication, or policy. Core principles of the program are to be student centered and attuned to the goals of the trainee.

The core curriculum focuses on development of core competencies and transferable skills in critical thinking, communication, and leadership. The first year prepares students for the core of the PhD program, the development of intellectual independence and creativity through original thesis research, guided by a thesis advisor and committee. Students have a high degree of flexibility in choice of thesis advisor through the rotation program. Throughout the program, there is strong emphasis on engaged mentoring through regular committee meetings, annual reports and Individual Development Plans.

As a central hub of the thriving San Diego biosciences community, the program maintains strong partnerships with other campus units and programs through joint faculty appointments, organized research units, and research collaborations, enabling a wide range of interdisciplinary opportunities . The mission is to conduct leading edge research in the basic biological sciences. Major areas of emphasis currently include structural biology, cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, immunology, microbiology, virology, plant biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Research in the School has emphasized studies using model organisms or in vitro mechanistic approaches, with human studies and clinical research concentrated in other departments or in the Health Sciences. Current and future areas of growth include quantitative biology, data science, and the biological consequences of climate change.

Rigor, reproducibility, and responsibility as hallmarks of high-quality science
Commitment to quality mentorships, student mental health, and well-being
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as integral to program admissions and retention
Open science practices valuing multiple research outputs and holistic assessment of scholarly excellence
Communication and outreach as key aspects of scientific training

As a doctoral program embedded in a large undergraduate instructional unit, our approach incorporates substantial training in teaching methodology and best practices. Our philosophy remains that teaching and research are interdependent facets of engaged scholarship.

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The Biology Graduate Program represents many areas of biology, and interactions with a diverse group of colleagues provide opportunities to broaden every student’s thinking and make connections between different fields and scientific approaches. Areas of research include microbiology, cell biology, development, physiology, neuroscience, animal behavior, plant biology, genetics, computational biology, evolution, ecology and biodiversity.

Each entering graduate student has the freedom to pursue topics ranging from the behavior of molecules to that of cells, organisms, genomes, and ecosystems. We encourage students to get broad exposure through lab rotations with any faculty member in the Biology Graduate Group. As students focus on more specific research interests, they tailor their graduate education accordingly, choosing courses from different departments and schools at Penn as appropriate.

Students complete most of their course work and lab rotations in the first year and then start their thesis research in the second year while completing their teaching requirement and preparing for their candidacy exams. Students are then fully focused on thesis research by the end of the second year. Students still have the option of taking additional courses in advanced years in order to enhance their graduate research.

For more information: http://www.bio.upenn.edu/graduate/

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

The total course units for graduation in this program is 13.5.

See the website for a list of electives: http://www.bio.upenn.edu/graduate/handbook/academic-topics/course-requirements

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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PhD in Biology

The PhD program in Biology is a research-intensive program that also has a strong focus on teaching, designed to produce top scientists and educators with a broad base of knowledge to tackle the most important biological problems of today. This is accomplished through research training, graduate-level courses, seminars, and teaching experience. Entering students are assigned an advisory committee of three faculty members who work with the student to plan a suitable program based on the student's experience and interests.

PhD students in Biology receive full tuition support for six years, a competitive stipend, health coverage, and receive extensive training in pedagogy, outreach, and communication that prepares them for careers in academia, biotechnology, education, and policy. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two semesters. Most students complete the requirement for teaching experience in the first year by assisting in the introductory undergraduate biology courses for two semesters.

During the first year, students become familiar with research opportunities in the department by doing short research rotations with various faculty members. This experience in expected to lead to the selection of a research focus for the PhD thesis, and it also sets the stage for cross-disciplinary approaches to the thesis topic that is pursued.

First- and second-year students usually take some graduate courses that are selected in consultation with the advisory committee, in addition to one required course: either Biology 243: Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology; Biology 244: Topics in Evolutionary Ecology; or Biology 246: Topics in Physiology and Animal Behavior.

The department faculty are educators as well as researchers, and the graduate students benefit from this expertise. Graduate students serving as teaching assistants have the opportunity to take a course on teaching and pedagogy to improve their skills, or to become involved with upper level courses in their area of expertise. In addition, we offer a one-month summer program for PhD students interested in contributing to course design and honing their teaching skills via GIFT, the Graduate Institute For Teaching .

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Browse the six concentration areas below for recommended programs of study and relevant courses:

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Graduate credit for a course requires a grade of B- (B minus) or better. A list of biology department undergraduate and graduate courses can be found by selecting the Courses button from the top bar.

Throughout the year, graduate students benefit from a variety of seminars on current research that are presented by faculty, fellow graduate students, and invited speakers.

Graduate School Statement of Purpose Tips

Not sure what the statement of purpose in the BE PhD application is supposed to look like? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s break it down.

The two most important questions to answer in your personal statement are:

What have I done during my time as an undergraduate and afterward to prepare myself for being a Biological Engineering PhD Student?
How do I show I am a good fit for the BE program specifically at MIT?

Let’s start with some tips on addressing the first point – your past experiences and preparation for a PhD program:

Your personal statement should describe your most important previous research experience(s) in depth. For those who have worked in several labs, discuss only those experiences which were the most relevant to your scientific journey. For those who have only worked in one lab, do not panic, that is completely okay! Either way, just make sure to describe both what you accomplished during your research and what you learned in the process. What you learned in the process should emphasize either transferable technical skills you picked up, such as writing well-organized code, or research “soft skills” that you gained, such as working independently or collaboratively. Frequent approaches to talking about previous research with a compelling narrative include discussing a challenge you overcame and what you took away from it, discussing a moment of failure and how you moved forward, or discussing a moment that brought you joy to be doing research. You can spend multiple paragraphs addressing previous research. Also, feel free to mention if any patents or publications came out of your work (and it’s completely fine if not).
If your transcript does not include both fundamental biology and quantitative coursework, discuss how you have demonstrated competency in the missing area. It is usually best to leave your coursework to your transcript unless there are one or two advanced courses you feel had a large impact on your research interests. However, if you haven’t had any fundamental biology courses (like biochemistry or cellular biology), describe ways (e.g. online courses, reading, or research) that you have gained an understanding of how biological systems operate. Similarly, if your transcript does not include courses with significant quantitative components (such as ODEs, introductory programming, probability and statistics, or thermodynamics), discuss how you’ve supplemented your coursework with quantitative material.

Okay now for the trickier part. How do you show you are a good fit for Biological Engineering specifically at MIT? Here are some tips:

Your personal statement should show that your goals align with the MIT BE mission to further knowledge at the interface of biology and engineering. The MIT Biological Engineering graduate admissions committee wishes to know how you plan to fuse an understanding of how biological systems work (especially at the molecular and cellular levels) with engineering approaches (such as mathematical modeling, computation, and/or hands-on design) in order to measure, model, manipulate, make, or quantitatively analyze biological systems in novel ways for societal benefit.
Your personal statement should describe your research interests moving forward, and should discuss how they tie into the research people in the department currently do. It is recommended you specifically mention at least two (preferably three) professors with whom you would be interested in working. Rather than saying you are “generally interested in biological engineering,” discuss specific examples of subdisciplines (or even sub-subdisciplines) you would like to work in, such as “mammalian synthetic biology,” “cancer immunotherapy,” or “neurological drug delivery.” Make sure to describe why you are interested in these subdisciplines. It is often helpful to give examples of specific scientific questions you would like to answer or engineering challenges you would like to work on. Tying these ideas to work currently being done in the department/program will make them much more impactful. These interests may easily change while you are in the program, but it is still important to show you have identified and reflected upon the research directions you most likely want to pursue. Additionally, not all the faculty members you mention must be doing exactly what you are interested in so long as you can explain how your research interests fit with theirs.

Finally, here are a few miscellaneous tips to polish it off:

Your personal statement should emphasize how your previous experiences will help you achieve the scientific goals you’ve described. Basically, when you read back over your statement, it should be clear how what you’ve done in the past makes you qualified to do what you want in the future. It’s okay if you still have many skills you need to pick up on the way! That’s expected. It’s also okay if you don’t want to do the same thing in grad school as you did in/after undergrad (that’s extremely common). Just make sure to at some point explain how what you previously worked on makes you a good candidate for researching the kind of things you want in the future. This could include technical skills (e.g. you now want to apply machine learning to immunology rather than neuroscience) or soft skills (e.g. your comfort with independently designing experimental protocols will be helpful for making new methods for performing cellular measurements). Sentences addressing this point can be peppered throughout the narrative, or you can section off a paragraph for it, but make sure it goes in a logical place.
At the end, your personal statement should very briefly discuss long-term career goals and research visions. There is no right answer, and there are no expectations that you would know now, but best guesses are helpful. This can just be one to two sentences. And you don’t have to say that you want to be a professor unless that is something you think you might want to do!
Your personal statement should be no more than 2 pages (single-spaced). Them’s the rules.

Additional Resources:

Get more tips on personal statements from the BE Comm Lab here .
Tips for CVs/Resumes and templates .
Don’t forget to prep for interviews .

Blog post written by BE graduate students Dylan Hirsch, Molly Parsons, and the Graduate Student DEI recruitment working group.

Posted Sept 2021.

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CAREER GUIDE
09 December 2020

Top tips for cell biologists eyeing a move to industry careers

Nikki Forrester 0

Nikki Forrester is a science journalist in Davis, West Virginia.

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Photo showing technician checking genetically engineered mosquitoes developed by the biotechnology firm Oxitec

A technician checks genetically engineered mosquitoes developed by the biotechnology firm Oxitec in Abingdon, UK. Credit: Andre Penner/AP/Shutterstock

Cell biologists have a variety of skills that make them well suited for careers in biotechnology, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, but it can be challenging to make the leap from academia to industry. Five cell biologists who achieved that goal offer tips on how to craft applications, prepare for interviews and navigate new research environments. Their advice is varied, but one thing they all make clear is that the academic world prepares scientists for industry more than they realize.

LIEKE VAN GIJTENBEEK: Invest in your application letter

Lieke van Gijtenbeek is a research scientist at Chr. Hansen in Hørsholm, Denmark.

Photo of researcher Lieke van Gijtenbeek

Researcher Lieke van Gijtenbeek included recommendation letters in her job application. Credit: Anne de Jong

During my PhD at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, I studied bacteria that are commonly used in the production of cheese and milk. Even though I wasn’t doing research directly for industry, it was of interest to people working in commercial dairies. I got in touch with several Danish companies in the dairy industry through conferences and department meetings. Many of my colleagues had established industrial collaborations, so I had a chance to sit in on some of their meetings and get to know the industrial partners involved. I was impressed by how those companies are structured and organized. I stayed in touch with them throughout my postdoc at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and followed them on the professional-networking site LinkedIn to keep an eye out for relevant job advertisements.

A short time into my postdoc, Chr. Hansen, a global biosciences company in Hørsholm, Denmark, posted an opening for a research scientist in its bacterial physiology department that I felt qualified for and that overlapped with my academic interests.

Nature Career Guide: Cell biology

Before applying for the job at Chr. Hansen, which is focused on the food, pharma and agricultural industries, I reached out to a friend who works for the US chemical company DuPont. He had an 80–90% invitation rate for industry jobs he had applied for, so I asked him to share his application letter with me. I followed its structure by addressing each requested qualification in the job description, explaining what skills I could provide and giving an example of how I met that qualification. I avoided elaborating on my scientific achievements too much, because the letter shouldn’t repeat information listed in my CV.

As well as explaining why I was qualified, I discussed other talents I could bring to the company apart from my research experience, such as my creativity, perseverance and problem-solving skills. It’s important to demonstrate how you and your interests align with the company. I included names of people I knew at Chr. Hansen in my letter to show I was already connected to the company, which also helped.

Along with my application letter and CV, I provided a document that included the first pages of my scientific publications, a list of awards I had received and a collection of recommendation letters. This supplement gave the hiring committee an opportunity to briefly see what I had accomplished during my academic career. I spent at least a full day drafting my letter and putting my application together. I approached it in the same way I write scientific papers — it had to be perfect.

MATTIA POLETTO: Don’t be afraid to take the plunge

Mattia Poletto is an R&D Group Lead at Oxitec in Abingdon, UK.

Group leader Mattia Poletto at Oxitec, UK. Credit: Mark Lord Photography

Three years into my postdoc on DNA repair at the University of Oxford, UK, I found out my supervisor, Grigory Dianov, was going to retire, and I had to decide whether to keep pursuing an academic career or move to industry. That was a really difficult decision, because I had always wanted to become a principal investigator and I didn’t know whether moving into industry was going to affect that dream. After considering multiple factors, such as the financial stability an industrial career offers, I decided to start applying to private-sector positions.

In 2017, I was hired as a senior scientist at Oxitec, a UK-based company developing techniques to control insects that transmit diseases and destroy crops. We do this by inserting genes or pieces of DNA into the insects, to modulate their ability to survive in the environment. Now, as a group leader, I give directions to a team that works on mosquitoes that transmit malaria, instead of working on my own single project in the lab.

A recruiter’s guide to cell-biology jobs

When you are a PhD or a postdoc, you often work on your own and perceive your project as one of the most important things in your life. In industry, you work as part of a team, so it’s helpful to look at the bigger picture and focus on what it will take for the company to succeed. Be prepared to deal with uncertainty and change: it’s possible that the project you’re working on will end because funding runs out or the company switches priorities. A good group leader will explain why the change is happening and how it fits into the company’s overall direction.

It also helps to be ready to run literature reviews efficiently. You will probably be required to quickly learn new things that might fall outside your immediate area of expertise.

Daily record-keeping is paramount. Tidy lab books and thorough study reports are an essential part of lab life in industry. Your peers will have to read your lab notes and reports and pick up your work seamlessly, often at short notice. I also recommend keeping lab protocols from your master’s or PhD studies, because you never know what will come in handy in the future.

It also helps not to think of industry as a bottomless pit of money — resources can be limited and, if they are, you have to learn how to make do with what is available. It always pays to know more than one solution to a given problem. This is something I look for when evaluating candidates for jobs. For example, if a DNA-amplification reaction does not work, a candidate who knows 20 ways to fix it is amazing. But even better is a candidate who is able to work through half of those potential solutions and test only the one or two that are most likely to fix the problem in the shortest time.

DANIELLE TWUM: Show companies you can talk like them

Danielle Twum is a molecular science liaison at Caris Life Sciences in Dallas, Texas.

Scientist Danielle Twum used specific keywords on her LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters. Credit: Danielle Twum

While I was a PhD student at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, a hospital for cancer research and treatment in Buffalo, New York, I searched online for what I could do after earning a PhD if I didn’t want to be a postdoc. One of the results that popped up was a field applications scientist: working for a company by reaching out to potential customers and providing support for existing ones who are using equipment, reagents or supplies. Towards the end of my studies, I decided that I wanted a break from cancer research and a job that would excite me about cell biology again. A field applications scientist sounded like it might be a good fit.

I updated my profile on LinkedIn to make myself more attractive for industry positions by adding my bench work and science-communication skills. I also updated the short description under my name with words related to the cell-biology work I do, such as precision medicine and cancer immunology. Recruiters use LinkedIn by looking at keywords, research experience and what you’ve done outside the lab — so I knew that was a good place to start.

My first job after graduate school was as a field applications scientist at Levitas Bio, a biotech company in San Francisco, California. I liked talking to customers about how to design and troubleshoot their experiments, but I didn’t enjoy the sales component of the job, which involved reaching out to potential customers and trying to convince them to test our system. I felt that sales wasn’t my strength. I stayed there for a little over a year before two recruiters contacted me about potential jobs. One position was for a field applications scientist at a different company, and the other was for a molecular science liaison at Caris Life Sciences headquartered in Irving, Texas.

As a molecular science liaison, I would be independent from the sales side of the company and would provide support for doctors about the scientific literature and methodology of the tests and diagnostics the company conducted: essentially providing information to medical professionals about the company’s molecular-testing services. In my case, the recruiter explained what the role would involve and sent me the job requirements. To figure out what various industry roles involve, you can also find someone on LinkedIn who does the role you are interested in, message them professionally and ask for an informational interview. Most people I know will gladly talk to you about their work. I ended up applying and going through the interview process with both companies at the same time.

For the Caris Life Sciences role, I had to give a presentation and answer questions about the biomarkers Caris targeted, which are characteristics of a person’s DNA, RNA or proteins that can provide information about which cancer therapies might be most appropriate for treating someone. I also had to discuss how these biomarkers were used in the testing services offered by the company, as if I were already a molecular science liaison. The other company asked me to give a presentation on my career trajectory up to this point and present on one of its products. To prepare, I dug up previous company presentations on the product online and formatted my slides in a similar way, which really impressed one of the senior recruiting managers.

If you’re prepping for an interview, read up on the company as much as possible. If the company has any posters on its website from previous scientific conferences, review them. If it includes seminars, watch them. Look at how their employees deliver talks. When you are interviewing, use the same catchphrases. Show them you can talk like them, because each company has its own vocabulary.

I’d suggest that people in academia who are considering this career path start gaining communication experience away from the bench. As well as giving talks at conferences, try participating in the Three Minute Thesis competition, for example, in which you communicate your research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes without using jargon. Or apply for a TEDx talk and have fun with it.

Most companies are looking for well-rounded applicants, and most of those will have strong backgrounds in research. So gaining science communication and outreach experiences outside the lab helps you to stand out.

RANDALL RIBAUDO: Build collaborations early

Randall Ribaudo is co-founder and chief executive of Human Workflows and SciPhD.com in Rockville, Maryland .

Since 2009, I’ve used my experience working in academia and industry to build a career helping researchers to get into industry positions. Before that, I worked as a principal investigator at the US National Cancer Institute from 1993 to 1997, then was recruited by a small biotech company called Molecular Applications Group in Palo Alto, California, that sold a molecular modelling software I used in my research. As an application specialist who has knowledge and expertise on the company’s software, I accompanied a salesperson on visits to biotech and pharma companies to provide information and answer questions about the software product.

While working with scientists who had jobs in industry, I started to recognize that they differ from academic scientists in terms of their business and social behaviours. Scientists in industry understand the strategic vision of the company they work for and how their work contributes to that vision. They also understand the social dynamics of how to effectively work in a team, manage projects, negotiate and network.

I suggest that scientists looking to move into industry get involved in a collaboration or find other ways to develop their corporate skills. Ask your principal investigator if you can be responsible for negotiating contracts with vendors for the consumables you use in the lab. This also gives you an opportunity to build your network: vendors can connect you to people in industry. And even if you don’t want to work for those companies, it’s helpful to hear from employees about their experiences. Another way to build your network is through informational interviews, where you’re not applying for a job, but informally asking about what it’s like to work at a particular company. You can learn about someone’s work–life balance, how much money they make, what excites them about their job and what pressures they face.

When you’re ready to apply for jobs, carefully research the specific field of cell biology that is being done at the company where you are applying. Know the literature and understand how your deep knowledge of a particular field will directly apply and benefit the company. By doing this, you demonstrate not only your scientific identity, but also your business identity by showing that you understand the strategic vision of the company.

ESTELA CRUVINEL: Maintain a passion for learning

Estela Cruvinel is an investigator and manager at PluriCell Biotech in São Paulo, Brazil.

Researcher Estela Cruvinel is honing her project-management skills through online courses. Credit: Rafael Fontana Pinto

I used stem cells to study Angelman and Prader–Willi syndromes, which are rare neurodevelopment conditions caused by a deletion in chromosome 15, during my master’s and PhD at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. In 2008, while I was a master’s student, I met stem-cell biologist Marcos Valadares, who worked in the lab next door. We shared cell cultures and I would offer to help with his projects. I also kept the cell-culture room clean, stayed organized and treated other researchers well. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I must have made a good impression during these daily activities.

In 2013, Valadares co-founded PluriCell Biotech, which now develops cell-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases. In 2015, I was hired as a researcher for PluriCell in São Paulo. Because I’m a relatively shy person, networking isn’t easy for me. But this experience helped me to realize that networking isn’t just about meeting renowned scientists, it’s also about connecting with your co-workers and lab mates.

In academia, cell biologists usually become experts in a few cellular types, but they also develop knowledge that is useful for cell culture and analysis in an industry setting, such as how to scale up experiments.

Because there were only three of us at the company when I started, I was able to gain a lot of knowledge about industry in a short time because I had to do a lot of work outside my core research responsibilities. For instance, I learnt how to work with budgets and hire technicians and junior researchers. As a project manager, I am learning how to work with people more effectively by seeking out training on the topic: I’m taking online courses and am dedicating time to reading material on managing projects effectively.

Thankfully, when I’m facing a challenge, I’m usually not the first person to have experienced it: there’s plenty of information out there to find through online universities and libraries.

Nature 588 , S157-S160 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03468-x

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

This article is part of Nature Career Guide: Cell biology , an editorially independent supplement. Advertisers have no influence over the content.

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Dec 8, 2020

Preparing for a PhD interview (Molecular Cell Biology)

By Annie Shaw

You’ve made it through the application process (a challenge in itself) and you get the email that says you’ve been invited for an interview. I bet, like I was this time last year, you’re feeling a mixture of surprise, excitement and nerves all in one! So here are a few tips to help you feel a bit more relaxed about the interview process, speaking from my experience applying for a DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease at the Dunn School of Pathology.

It’s common for lab-based PhD interviews to revolve around a short presentation that you will give, discussing some kind of research that you have carried out. Don’t panic though, if the interviewers want this, they will tell you in your invitation! The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate that you know how research works, understand what you did during your work and the reasons behind it, and can communicate this effectively. The actual results are less important than the discussion that develops, so don’t worry if you think the project you have to present didn’t get “good” results.

While it may be daunting having to walk into a room and present your work to a panel of interviewers, it actually makes preparing for the interview easier. Firstly, you are able to practice the presentation as many times as you like, which can help to calm your nerves as you’ll know exactly what you want to say when you get in there. Secondly, you will be the one specifying the topic of discussion, based on what you include in your presentation. This means you can try to think of what questions the interviewers may ask about your work and prepare some ideas beforehand. A good way to do this would be to practice your presentation to a staff member at your current institution, allowing them to ask questions throughout. This will help you to not only to see what kind of things the interviewers might think when they listen to your presentation, but will also provide you with practice at answering questions about your work when put on the spot.

While this discussion will take up the majority of the formal interview, you may also be asked about any part of your application that the interviewers would like more information about. For this reason, it’s really important to make sure you’re happy to expand on and discuss anything you put in your application. Finally, in normal times, you may be given a tour of the labs and a chance to discuss the project with the supervisor alone. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, whether that’s about the project, the department, or anything else you can think of, so definitely take advantage of it!

Just remember that an interview is a great learning experience, whether you’re successful or not, and they’re never as scary as you think they’ll be!

The Application Process
Post-graduates

Graduate Programs

Prospective Students

Ph.D. Programs

The Department of Biology & Biochemistry offers Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and in Biology. The Ph.D. program in Biology has two degree tracks: the Cell and Molecular Biology degree track, and the Ecology and Evolution degree track.

Biochemistry

Faculty and graduate student research focuses on biochemical processes at the subcellular and macro-molecular levels and encompasses a variety of fields and methodologies. Areas of study include macromolecular structure and function as elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance; X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic techniques; enzyme reaction mechanisms; genomics; computational methods in molecular biology; computational biochemistry/biophysics; computer-aided drug design; signal transduction; neurochemistry; ion channel structure and function; the role of RNA in molecular evolution; the structure and function of virulence factors; and biotechnology.

View requirements

Cell and Molecular Biology

The faculty and students in this program share common interests in understanding the molecular mechanisms which drive both fundamental cellular processes and the developmental processes of morphogenesis, cell differentiation and gene regulation. The strength of the program is the diversity of the biological systems under study, which stimulates extensive exchange and collaboration between the various groups. Faculty expertise spans the disciplines of cell and developmental biology, molecular biology, physiology, microbiology, neuroscience, immunology, and genetics.

Ecology and Evolution

This program blends knowledge and methodology from diverse biological disciplines to better understand ecological and evolutionary processes operating at multiple scales—from molecules to individuals to societies to communities. Current research programs include experimental evolution, evolution of development, evolutionary genetics, behavioral ecology, community ecology and evolutionary bioinformatics in systems ranging from bacteria to ants, from protists to grasses. Faculty conduct studies in natural habitats including the Colorado plateau, and coastal salt marshes, and in artificial systems such as petri dishes and theoretical models.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Biology & Biochemistry believes that high-quality graduate studies require a commitment to high-quality research. As a result, our graduate students receive financial support sufficient to provide a modest standard of living that enables them to make a full-time commitment to their graduate training. Some of the types of financial support available to students are listed below. Additional financial assistance may also be available from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the University of Houston Graduate School .

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

TAs are the main source of support for first-year students but are available in subsequent years for students not supported by grant funds. TAs will be provided a salary of $2,194.66/month (U.S. $26,335.92 per year). This level of support is sufficient for international students to obtain an F1 visa.

Research Assistantships (RAs)

RAs are the main source of support for students after their first year in the program. RA support is provided through grants to the lab the student joins to conduct graduate research. RA support is currently $2,194.66/month (U.S. $26,335.92 per year).

Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF)

Students supported as TAs or RAs are eligible for tuition fellowships to cover their mandatory tuition and fees. These fellowships provide the students with approximately $20,000/year to pay for mandatory tuition and fees. See more information on eligibility criteria .

Non-resident Tuition Waiver

Out-of-state students and international students employed as TAs or RAs receive a waiver of the additional tuition charged to non-residents.

Presidential Fellowship

All applications submitted for admission to the Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Program are reviewed by our Graduate Recruiting and Admissions Committee. This committee is comprised of a group of faculty from each division of the department. Once admitted to the program, accepted applicants are further evaluated for the Presidential Fellowship. The criteria for evaluation are as follows:

Appropriate academic coursework in the major
Outstanding grades in previous university coursework
Demonstrated research ability or potential for research excellence.

If awarded, the student receives $2,000/per year for the first two years. This fellowship is in addition to the monthly stipend and Graduate Tuition Fellowship given to all students admitted to our graduate program. Students must meet minimum full-time enrollment (9 hours) and a cumulative 3.00 GPA to maintain the fellowship each semester it is held.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to outstanding students enrolled in our graduate program. The maximum award is $2,000/year. Recipients must be Texas residents and citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students apply annually on the UH Foundation website.

Medical Insurance

In addition to their stipend, graduate students employed as TAs or RAs receive $150/month for health insurance. For more information about the student health insurance plan endorsed by and designed especially for the University of Houston, please see Student Health Insurance .

Cost of Living

Houston has a relatively low cost of living compared to most major U.S. cities and many low-cost apartments and houses are available.

Admission Requirements

The minimum entrance criteria for doctoral graduate studies in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry are as follows:

Completion of a baccalaureate degree (B.S.) with a major in Biology, Biochemistry, or an equivalent discipline. You can apply to our programs before you complete your degree, provided you graduate before you enter the program. ( NOTE: A prior M.S. is not a requirement to apply to our Ph.D. programs.)
Grade Point Average ≥ 3.0 / 4.0 (overall or for the last 60 hours of coursework completed).
The GRE is no longer required by our Ph.D. programs . If you decide to submit GRE scores, UH's Institutional Code is 6870.
Informative, coherent and well-written statement of purpose .
Three strong letters of recommendation .
English Language Proficiency Requirement. All applicants, regardless of citizenship status, must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria: a) Bachelor's degree (or higher) earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or at an institution at which English is the medium of instruction in the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Turks and Caicos, and English-speaking Canadian provinces. b) TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score required is 79 for the internet-based test. The minimum TOEFL score for the new revised paper-based exam is: Reading 20, Listening 20, and Writing 20. TOEFL scores must be received directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). UH's Institutional Code is 6870. c) IELTS. The minimum IELTS score required is an overall score of 6.5. The testing agency should mail the official results directly to UH. No electronic IELTS are accepted. d) Duolingo. A minimum score of 105 is required.

Use the online application to submit all your documents electronically. Your references will be automatically contacted to submit their letters of recommendation. Please follow the instructions on the UH Graduate School Application page.

Tips for Applying

What we look for.

We seek to admit students who show a strong record of academic achievement and a high level of motivation and interest. Your record of academic achievement and ability is conveyed by your transcripts, GPA, and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, as well as your letters of recommendation. Your level of motivation and interest is conveyed by your personal statement and letters of recommendation. We will evaluate your application on the basis of your transcripts, test scores (GRE scores for everyone, TOEFL/IELTS scores for foreign students), your personal statement, and the letters of recommendation.

Transcripts and GPA

Successful applicants to our program generally have GPA's of 3.00 or higher. However, a student with a high GPA and a transcript with lots of non-rigorous courses may not be viewed as favorably as a student with a somewhat lower GPA who has taken courses that are essential preparation for graduate work (such as Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology, etc.). It is not essential to have all of these" foundation" courses before you start graduate school, but if you do not have most of them, you will not be well prepared for graduate school.

The GRE provides information regarding your overall academic ability. You are more likely to do well on the GRE if you prepare for the exam. Preparation guides and practice tests are available at most college bookstores.

Your school may provide assistance in preparing for the GRE; check with your career or academic counseling office.

TOEFL/IELTS

This exam is required for all applicants who have not obtained a prior university degree from an institution where English is the medium of instruction (see list of exempt countries and English Language Proficiency Requirements ). These scores must be officially reported to the University before we can admit you to the program or offer financial support.

Statement of Purpose

Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us why you want to join our graduate program and what your long-term goals and interests are. You do not have to know exactly what you want to do, or what scientific questions you want to pursue, but you should tell us what excites your interest or curiosity. Be specific. Your statement is also a chance to discuss any aspect of your application (such as academic history) that you feel warrants further explanation.

If there is a reason for your low GPA (a bad semester due to personal difficulties, for instance), you can provide a brief explanation in your personal statement. High GRE scores can make up for a low GPA, and a high GPA can balance out low GRE scores. In some cases, research experience and strong letters of recommendation can make up for low grades and low GRE scores.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need 3–4 letters of recommendation. Most or all should be from your professors, and the letters should come from people who know you personally as well as your academic performance. Make sure your letter writers know your academic record, reasons for wanting to go to graduate school, and long-term goals.

Contacting Faculty

You can contact individual faculty members in our department whose research is of interest to you, either before or after sending your application. Faculty interests and contact information are available on this Faculty Profiles webpage.

Find more information about the application process on the How to Apply page on the NSM website.

Open for Applications: June 1
Early Deadline: September 1 (apply by this deadline to guarantee full consideration)
Late Deadline: November 1
Open for Applications: October 1
Early Deadline: January 1 (apply by this deadline to guarantee full consideration)
Late Deadline: April 1

For More Information

Contact: Rosezelia Jackson 713-743-2633 [email protected]

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Center for Computational Biology

Computational Biology PhD

The main objective of the Computational Biology PhD is to train the next generation of scientists who are both passionate about exploring the interface of computation and biology, and committed to functioning at a high level in both computational and biological fields.

The program emphasizes multidisciplinary competency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transdisciplinary research, and offers an integrated and customizable curriculum that consists of two semesters of didactic course work tailored to each student’s background and interests, research rotations with faculty mentors spanning computational biology’s core disciplines, and dissertation research jointly supervised by computational and biological faculty mentors.

The Computational Biology Graduate Group facilitates student immersion into UC Berkeley’s vibrant computational biology research community. Currently, the Group includes over 46 faculty from across 14 departments of the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Resources, and the School of Public Health. Many of these faculty are available as potential dissertation research advisors for Computational Biology PhD students, with more available for participation on doctoral committees.

The First Year

The time to degree (normative time) of the Computational Biology PhD is five years. The first year of the program emphasizes gaining competency in computational biology, the biological sciences, and the computational sciences (broadly construed). Since student backgrounds will vary widely, each student will work with faculty and student advisory committees to develop a program of study tailored to their background and interests. Specifically, all first-year students must:

Perform three rotations with Core faculty (one rotation with a non-Core faculty is acceptable with advance approval)
Complete course work requirements (see below)
Complete a course in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Attend the computational biology seminar series
Complete experimental training (see below)

Laboratory Rotations

Entering students are required to complete three laboratory rotations during their first year in the program to seek out a Dissertation Advisor under whose supervision dissertation research will be conducted. Students should rotate with at least one computational Core faculty member and one experimental Core faculty member. Click here to view rotation policy.

Course Work & Additional Requirements

Students must complete the following coursework in the first three (up to four) semesters. Courses must be taken for a grade and a grade of B or higher is required for a course to count towards degree progress:

Fall and Spring semester of CMPBIO 293, Doctoral Seminar in Computational Biology
A Responsible Conduct of Research course, most likely through the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.
STAT 201A & STAT 201B : Intro to Probability and Statistics at an Advanced Level. Note: Students who are offered admission and are not prepared to complete STAT 201A and 201B will be required to complete STAT 134 or PH 142 first.
CS61A : The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. Note: students with the equivalent background can replace this requirement with a more advanced CS course of their choosing.
3 elective courses relevant to the field of Computational Biology , one of which must be at the graduate level (see below for details).
Attend the computational biology invited speaker seminar series. A schedule is circulated to all students by email and is available on the Center website. Starting with the 2023 entering class, CCB PhD students must enroll in CMPBIO 275: Computational Biology Seminar , which provides credit for this seminar series.
1) completion of a laboratory course at Berkeley with a minimum grade of B,
2) completion of a rotation in an experimental lab (w/ an experimental project), with a positive evaluation from the PI,
a biological sciences undergraduate major with at least two upper division laboratory-based courses,
a semester or equivalent of supervised undergraduate experimental laboratory-based research at a university,
or previous paid or volunteer/internship work in an industry-based experimental laboratory.

Students are expected to develop a course plan for their program requirements and to consult with the Head Graduate Advisor before the Spring semester of their first year for formal approval (signature required). The course plan will take into account the student’s undergraduate training areas and goals for PhD research areas.

Satisfactory completion of first year requirements will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester of the first year. If requirements are satisfied, students will formally choose a Dissertation advisor from among the core faculty with whom they rotated and begin dissertation research.

Waivers: Students may request waivers for the specific courses STAT 201A, STAT 201B, and CS61A. In all cases of waivers, the student must take alternative courses in related areas so as to have six additional courses, as described above. For waiving out of STAT 201A/B, students can demonstrate they have completed the equivalent by passing a proctored assessment exam on Campus. For waiving out CS61A, the Head Graduate Advisor will evaluate student’s previous coursework based on the previous course’s syllabus and other course materials to determine equivalency.

Electives: Of the three electives, students are required to choose one course in each of the two following cluster areas:

Cluster A (Biological Science) : These courses are defined as those for which the learning goals are primarily related to biology. This includes courses covering topics in molecular biology, genetics, evolution, environmental science, experimental methods, and human health. This category may also cover courses whose focus is on learning how to use bioinformatic tools to understand experimental data.
Cluster B (Computational Sciences): These courses are defined as those for which the learning goals involve computing, inference, or mathematical modeling, broadly defined. This includes courses on algorithms, computing languages or structures, mathematical or probabilistic concepts, and statistics. This category would include courses whose focus is on biological applications of such topics.

In the below link we give some relevant such courses, but students can take courses beyond this list; for courses not on this list, the Head Graduate Advisor will determine to which cluster a course can be credited. For classes that have significant overlap between these two clusters, the department which offers the course may influence the decision of the HGA as to whether the course should be assigned to cluster A or B.

See below for some suggested courses in these categories:

Suggested Coursework Options

Second Year & Beyond

At the beginning of the fall of the second year, students begin full-time dissertation research in earnest under the supervision of their Dissertation advisor. It is anticipated that it will take students three (up to four) semesters to complete the 6 course requirement. Students are required to continue to participate annually in the computational biology seminar series.

Qualifying Examination

Students are expected to take and pass an oral Qualifying Examination (QE) by the end of the spring semester (June 15th) of their second year of graduate study. Students must present a written dissertation proposal to the QE committee no fewer than four weeks prior to the oral QE. The write-up should follow the format of an NIH-style grant proposal (i.e., it should include an abstract, background and significance, specific aims to be addressed (~3), and a research plan for addressing the aims) and must thoroughly discuss plans for research to be conducted in the dissertation lab. Click here for more details on the guidelines and format for the QE. Click here to view the rules for the composition of the committee and the form for declaring your committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

After successfully completing the QE, students will Advance to Candidacy. At this time, students select the members of their dissertation committee and submit this committee for approval to the Graduate Division. Students should endeavor to include a member whose research represents a complementary yet distinct area from that of the dissertation advisor (ie, biological vs computational, experimental vs theoretical) and that will be integrated in the student’s dissertation research. Click here to view the rules for the composition of the committee and the form for declaring your committee.

Meetings with the Dissertation Committee

After Advancing to Candidacy, students are expected to meet with their Dissertation Committee at least once each year.

Teaching Requirements

Computational Biology PhD students are required to teach at least two semesters (starting with Fall 2019 class), but may teach more. The requirement can be modified if the student has funding that does not allow teaching. Starting with the Fall 2019 class: At least one of those courses should require that you teach a section. Berkeley Connect or CMPBIO 293 can count towards one of the required semesters.

The Dissertation

Dissertation projects will represent scholarly, independent and novel research that contributes new knowledge to Computational Biology by integrating knowledge and methodologies from both the biological and computational sciences. Students must submit their dissertation by the May Graduate Division filing deadline (see Graduate Division for date) of their fifth–and final–year.

Special Requirements

Students will be required to present their research either orally or via a poster at the annual retreat beginning in their second year.

Financial Support

The Computational Biology Graduate Group provides a competitive stipend (the stipend for 2023-24 is $43,363) as well as full payment of fees and non-resident tuition (which includes health care). Students maintaining satisfactory academic progress are provided full funding for five to five and a half years. The program supports students in the first year, while the PI/mentor provides support from the second year on. A portion of this support is in the form of salary from teaching assistance as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) in allied departments, such as Molecular and Cell Biology, Integrative Biology, Plant and Microbial Biology, Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science. Teaching is part of the training of the program and most students will not teach more than two semesters, unless by choice.

Due to cost constraints, the program admits few international students; the average is two per year. Those admitted are also given full financial support (as noted above): stipend, fees and tuition.

Students are also strongly encouraged to apply for extramural fellowships for the proposal writing experience. There are a number of extramural fellowships that Berkeley students apply for that current applicants may find appealing. Please note that the NSF now only allows two submissions – once as an undergrad and once in grad school. The NSF funds students with potential, as opposed to specific research projects, so do not be concerned that you don’t know your grad school plans yet – just put together a good proposal! Although we make admissions offers before the fellowships results are released, all eligible students should take advantage of both opportunities to apply, as it’s a great opportunity and a great addition to a CV.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (app deadlines in Oct)
Hertz Foundation Fellowship (app deadline Oct)
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (app deadline in mid-Fall)
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (Krell Institute) (app deadline in Jan)

CCB no longer requires the GRE for admission (neither general, nor subject). The GRE will not be seen by the review committee, even if sent to Berkeley.

PLEASE NOTE: The application deadline is Wednesday, November 30 , 2023, 8:59 PST/11:59 EST

If you would like to learn more about our program, you can watch informational YouTube videos from the past two UC Berkeley Graduate Diversity Admissions Fairs: 2021 recording & 2020 recording .

We invite applications from students with distinguished academic records, strong foundations in the basic biological, physical and computational sciences, as well as significant computer programming and research experience. Admission for the Computational Biology PhD is for the fall semester only, and Computational Biology does not offer a Master’s degree.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have, but please be sure to read this entire page first, as many of your questions will be answered below or on the Tips tab.

IMPORTANT : Please note that it is not possible to select a specific PhD advisor until the end of the first year in the program, so contacting individual faculty about openings in their laboratories will not increase your chances of being accepted into the program. You will have an opportunity to discuss your interests with relevant faculty if you are invited to interview in February.

Undergraduate Preparation

Minimum requirements for admission to graduate study:

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
Minimum GPA of 3.0.
Undergraduate preparation reflecting a balance of training in computational biology’s core disciplines (biology, computer science, statistics/mathematics), for example, a single interdisciplinary major, such as computational biology or bioinformatics; a major in a core discipline and a combination of interdisciplinary course work and research experiences; or a double major in core disciplines.
Basic research experience and aptitude are key considerations for admission, so evidence of research experience and letters of recommendation from faculty mentors attesting to the applicant’s research experience are of particular interest.
GRE – NOT required or used for review .
TOEFL scores for international students (see below for details).

Application Requirements

ALL materials, including letters, are due November 30, 2023 (8:59 PST). More information is provided and required as part of the online application, so please create an account and review the application before emailing with questions (and please set up an account well before the deadline):

A completed graduate application: The online application opens in early or mid-September and is located on the Graduate Division website . Paper applications are not accepted. Please create your account and review the application well ahead of the submit date , as it will take time to complete and requests information not listed here.
A nonrefundable application fee: The fee must be paid using a major credit card and is not refundable. For US citizens and permanent residents, the fee is $135; US citizens and permanent residents may request a fee waiver as part of the online application. For all other students (international) the fee is $155 (no waivers, no exceptions). Graduate Admissions manages the fee, not the program, so please contact them with questions.
Three letters of recommendation, minimum (up to five are accepted): Letters of recommendation must be submitted online as part of the Graduate Division’s application process. Letters are also due November 30, so please inform your recommenders of this deadline and give them sufficient advance notice. It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your letters of recommendation (sending prompts, as necessary) in the online system.
Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all relevant transcripts, uploaded as part of the online application (see application for details). Scanned copies of official transcripts are strongly preferred, as transcripts must include applicant and institution name and degree goal and should be easy for the reviewers to read (print-outs from online personal schedules can be hard to read and transcripts without your name and the institution name cannot be used for review). Do not send via mail official transcripts to Grad Division or Computational Biology, they will be discarded.
Essays: Follow links to view descriptions of what these essays should include ( Statement of Purpose [2-3 pages], Personal Statement [1-2 pages]). Also review Tips tab for formatting advice.
(Highly recommended) Applicants should consider applying for extramural funding, such as NSF Fellowships. These are amazing opportunities and the application processes are great preparation for graduate studies. Please see Financial Support tab.
Read and follow all of the “Application Tips” listed on the last tab. This ensures that everything goes smoothly and you make a good impression on the faculty reviewing your file.

The GRE general test is not required. GRE subject tests are not required. GRE scores will not be a determining factor for application review and admission, and will NOT be seen by the CCB admissions committee. While we do not encourage anyone to take the exam, in case you decide to apply to a different program at Berkeley that does require them: the UC Berkeley school code is 4833; department codes are unnecessary. As long as the scores are sent to UC Berkeley, they will be received by any program you apply to on campus.

TOEFL/IELTS

Adequate proficiency in English must be demonstrated by those applicants applying from countries where English is not the official language. There are two standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL minimum passing scores are 90 for the Internet-based test (IBT) , and 570 for the paper-based format (PBT) . The TOEFL may be waived if an international student has completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better while in residence at a U.S. university (transcript will be required). Please click here for more information .

Application Deadlines

The Application Deadline is 8:59 pm Pacific Standard Time, November 30, 2023 . The application will lock at 9pm PST, precisely. All materials must be received by the deadline. While rec letters can continue to be submitted and received after the deadline, the committee meets in early December and will review incomplete applications. TOEFL tests should be taken by or before the deadline, but self-reported scores are acceptable for review while the official scores are being processed. All submitted applications will be reviewed, even if materials are missing, but it may impact the evaluation of the application.

It is your responsibility to ensure and verify that your application materials are submitted in a timely manner. Please be sure to hit the submit button when you have completed the application and to monitor the status of your letters of recommendation (sending prompts, as necessary). Please include the statement of purpose and personal statement in the online application. While you can upload a CV, please DO NOT upload entire publications or papers. Please DO NOT send paper résumés, separate folders of information, or articles via mail. They will be discarded unread.

The Computational Biology Interview Visit dates will be: February 25-27, 2024

Top applicants who are being considered for admission will be invited to visit campus for interviews with faculty. Invitations will be made by early January. Students are expected to stay for the entire event, arriving in Berkeley by 5:30pm on the first day and leaving the evening of the final day. In the application, you must provide the names of between 7-10 faculty from the Computational Biology website with whom you are interested in conducting research or performing rotations. This helps route your application to our reviewers and facilitates the interview scheduling process. An invitation is not a guarantee of admission.

International students may be interviewed virtually, as flights are often prohibitively expensive.

Tips for the Application Process

Uploaded Documents: Be sure to put your name and type of essay on your essays ( Statement of Purpose [2-3 pages], Personal Statement [1-2 pages]) as a header or before the text, whether you use the text box or upload a PDF or Word doc. There is no minimum length on either essay, but 3 pages maximum is suggested. The Statement of Purpose should describe your research and educational background and aspirations. The Personal Statement can include personal achievements not necessarily related to research, barriers you’ve had to overcome, mentoring and volunteering activities, things that make you unique and demonstrate the qualities you will bring to the program.

Letters of Recommendation: should be from persons who have supervised your research or academic work and who can evaluate your intellectual ability, creativity, leadership potential and promise for productive scholarship. If lab supervision was provided by a postdoc or graduate student, the letter should carry the signature or support of the faculty member in charge of the research project. Note: the application can be submitted before all of the recommenders have completed their letters. It is your responsibility to keep track of your recommender’s progress through the online system. Be sure to send reminders if your recommenders do not submit their letters.

Extramural fellowships: it is to your benefit to apply for fellowships as they may facilitate entry into the lab of your choice, are a great addition to your CV and often provide higher stipends. Do not allow concerns about coming up with a research proposal before joining a lab prevent you from applying. The fellowships are looking for research potential and proposal writing skills and will not hold you to specific research projects once you have started graduate school.

Calculating GPA: Schools can differ in how they assign grades and calculate grade point averages, so it may be difficult for this office to offer advice. The best resource for calculating the GPA for your school is to check the back of the official transcripts where a guide is often provided or use an online tool. There are free online GPA conversion tools that can be found via an internet search.

Faculty Contact/Interests: Please be sure to list faculty that interest you as part of the online application. You are not required to contact any faculty in advance, nor will it assist with admission, but are welcome to if you wish to learn more about their research.

Submitting the application: To avoid the possibility of computer problems on either side, it is NOT advisable to wait until the last day to start and/or submit your application. It is not unusual for the application system to have difficulties during times of heavy traffic. However, there is no need to submit the application too early. No application will be reviewed before the deadline.

Visits: We only arrange one campus visit for recruitment purposes. If you are interested in visiting the campus and meeting with faculty before the application deadline, you are welcome to do so on your own time (we will be unable to assist).

Name: Please double check that you have entered your first and last names in the correct fields. This is our first impression of you as a candidate, so you do want to get your name correct! Be sure to put your name on any documents that you upload (Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement).

California Residency: You are not considered a resident if you hope to enter our program in the Fall, but have never lived in California before or are here on a visa. So, please do not mark “resident” on the application in anticipation of admission. You must have lived in California previously, and be a US citizen or Permanent Resident, to be a resident.

Faculty Leadership Head Graduate Advisor and Chair for the PhD & DE John Huelsenbeck ( [email protected] )

Associate Head Graduate Advisor for PhD & DE Liana Lareau ( [email protected] )

Equity Advisor Rasmus Nielsen ( [email protected] )

Director of CCB Elizabeth Purdom ( [email protected] )

Core PhD & DE Faculty ( link )

Staff support Student Services Advisor (GSAO): Kate Chase ( [email protected] )

Link to external website (http://www.berkeley.edu)

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May 20, 2024

Research and teaching awards presented at Division of Biology's annual awards ceremony

Submitted by Kathrin Schrick

The Division of Biology hosted its annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on May 3. The division is home to approximately 57 graduate students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in biology or microbiology.

Two graduate students received awards for outstanding oral presentations at the 49th annual Graduate Student Research Forum in the Hale Library on April 1. David Hayes received the James E. Ackert Award for his presentation on "Mosquito-Associated Fungi Produce Larvicidal Compounds of Mosquito Control Potential." Bianca Morejon Viteri received the H. Henley Haymaker Award for her presentation on "How Mosquitoes Maintain Immune Balance to Survive Infections." The awards are named after two former professors from the department of zoology, which predated the Division of Biology. Ackert served as a former dean of the Graduate School.

Three other Division of Biology graduate students received awards for excellence in research, and one student was honored with a teaching award.

Sidney Noble received the Chris Edler Award for Outstanding Research on Konza, named after a former graduate student in the Division of Biology. Noble was instrumental in establishing a long-term experiment to study the influence of bison on woody encroachment and plant communities on the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Noble also conducted comparative fieldwork on the effects of bison grazing in other North American prairie systems including the Badlands National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in South Dakota and North Dakota, respectively. Noble will complete his doctoral degree very soon, and he has accepted a position as a botanist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Idaho.

Bilal Ahmad received the L. Evans Roth Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Cellular, Molecular or Developmental Biology, named after the first director of the Division of Biology. Ahmad's research on developmental regulators of the plant epidermis has uncovered evolutionarily conserved protein motifs that mediate nuclear localization and chromatin remodeling. In each case, Ahmad identified the interacting proteins and molecular mechanism involved in regulating gene expression. Ahmad plans to finalize his doctoral research by the end of the year.

Sarah Herzog received the John C. Frazier Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research in Plant Science, named after a professor in the department of plant pathology and botany prior to the inception of the Division of Biology. Herzog's research examines impacts of a changing climate on North American native herbaceous plant populations. Herzog particularly focuses on how rare plants will respond to a changing climate. Herzog is planning to complete her doctoral research by the end of the year.

Anna Kazarina was honored with the Michael Scott Watkins Teaching Award, in memory of a former graduate student in the Division of Biology. Kazarina has taught laboratory sections for General Microbiology for the past four years, and she served as a course material developer last year. She was also a guest lecturer for Biology of Fungi and Host-Microbiome Metagenomics for multiple years. Kazarina earned the Teaching and Learning Center Professional Development Certificate, and expanded her teaching pedagogy through Teaching University STEM and Principles of College Teaching. Kazarina's students describe her as an outstanding educator and mentor who sincerely cares about her students with a teaching style that fosters active engagement. Kazarina's graduate research project is in the area of microbial ecology and impacts on plant-host growth, and she plans to complete her doctoral degree in microbiology within the next year.

At the end of the awards ceremony, the Biology Graduate Student Association honored Zak Ratajczak, assistant professor of biology, with the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award. Ratajczak leads a research program in grassland ecology and resilience, and he teaches Resilience Theory and Application, a popular graduate seminar.

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K-State highlights ongoing engagement from two years of presidential community visits
K-State breaks ground on Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation
K-State's National Agricultural Biosecurity Center recently hosted Foreign Animal Disease tabletop exercise
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Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2024

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UPMC Summer Rotational Internship, where I shadowed various medical specialties

Charmi Patel

Sophia kovatsis.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Working with Associate Professor of Biology Michael Roberts on the genetic mechanisms of acute myeloid leukemia has prepared me to better understand how cancer works on a molecular level. Student-faculty research at Dickinson has been a large part of my experience, allowing me to learn in a hands-on manner and connect with professionals in the field at the annual AACR meeting where we present our research.

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Restorative Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Thorndale, Pa., physical therapy aide.
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UPMC Community General Osteopathic Hospital with Dr. Thomas Pineo, intern.

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Department of Environmental Protection Borough of Laboratories (DEP BOL) in Harrisburg, Pa., organic chemistry intern.

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Published May 17, 2024

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Employee recognition brunch.

Multiple outstanding fully-funded PhD positions available in Biological Sciences at GenEvo in Germany

Offer Description

Thinking of doing a PhD at the interface of Molecular & Evolutionary Biology ?

The Research Training Group 2526 "Gene Regulation in Evolution“ (GenEvo) , which is funded by the DFG (German Research Foundation), is offering projects on all levels of organismic complexity, from changes in genes and proteins to the evolution of symbiotic and parasitic behavior. As a GenEvo PhD student, you will join a community of passionate scientists who are applying a broad spectrum of methods on model and non-model organisms.

GenEvo brings together scientists from evolutionary and molecular biology. It aims to solve a number of recent research questions and to train a new , interdisciplinary generation of PhD students in subjects that are rarely taught in combination : evolutionary inference, epigenetics, gene regulation, omics techniques and bioinformatics.

The PhD students get training and guidance in both research fields to ensure an optimal collaboration within the RTG for best results and personal development.

For detailed information about each PhD program, including specific requirements and other important details, we recommend visiting the following links:

1. Mechanistic insights into the evolution of circadian gene regulation

2. Co-option of cilia proteins in gene regulation

3. Geometric epigenetic adaptation

4. Epigenetics and sex chromosomes through the lens of evolution

5. Sex- and caste determination during development in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes

6. The role of small RNAs in transgenerational plasticity of a clonal plant upon herbivory

7. Molecular manipulation of host phenotype via regulatory interference

8. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of division of labor in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus

9. Gene regulation and evolution of dormant states in bees

Job Information

Organisation/Company: PhD Programme "Gene Regulation in Evolution"
Department: Institute of Molecular Biology
Research Field: Biological sciences
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country: Germany
Application Deadline: 15 Jul 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Berlin)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

What we offer:

Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a vividly international environment, with English as our working language
Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
Access to state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
14 funded PhD positions (employment contract)
A lively community of34 PhD students supported by 28 Principle Investigators
Collaboration with the International PhD Programme (IPP) at IMB with more than 200 PhD students from 40 different countries

Within the programme the Faculty of Biology of Mainz University (JGU) and the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) collaborate — both modern research institutions located on the bustling campus of Mainz University in Germany. With a population of 210,000, of which about 40,000 are students, the city of Mainz is charming and open-minded and within easy reach of cosmopolitan Frankfurt and its international airport , the Rhine valley region with its castles, vineyards, and nature reserves , and the equally picturesque cities of Wiesbaden and Heidelberg.

Requirements:

Are you an ambitious, young scientist looking to push the boundaries of research while interacting with colleagues from multiple disciplines and cultures ? Then joining GenEvo is your opportunity to give your scientific career a flying start!

All you need is:

Master or equivalent
Motivation to contribute to the forefront of science in molecular and evolutionary biology
Interactive personality & good command of English
2 letters of reference

The deadline for applications is 15 July 2024. Interviews will take place on 9-10 September 2024. Starting date will be 1 January 2025.

For more details on the projects offered and how to apply via our online form, please visit https://www.genevo-rtg.de/application

Additional Information

Website for additional job details: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/application

Work Location(s)

Organisation/Company: PhD Programme "Gene Regulation in Evolution"
Country: Germany
City: Mainz
Postal Code: 55128
Street: Ackermannweg 4
Where to apply: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/application

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: EURAXESS WORLDWIDE

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2024 Toogun Award winner recognized for exceptional research

Six students sit on a white staircase in front of a blue sky.

Established in 2015, the Oyetunji A. Toogun Memorial Award for Excellence in Research is an annual award named in honor of Tunji Toogun, a PhD student in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology who passed away in 2007. The annual award recognizes CDB graduate students for their exceptional research accomplishments. The 2024 recipient of the Toogun Award is Hailun Zhu, a doctoral student working with Dr. Xin Li.

Tell us a little bit about your research at Illinois.

Our lab uses Drosophila — the common fruit fly — to study neurobiology. My project has focused on neural progenitors and their temporal patterning. These neural progenitors sequentially express different temporal transcription factors, or TTFs, and I’ve been working to understand their transcriptional regulation . Understanding the transcriptional regulation mechanisms involved in neural progenitors acquiring temporal identities could offer insights useful for reprogramming in cell replacement therapies.

The Toogun award recognizes CDB students with outstanding accomplishments who show great enthusiasm for research. What was your reaction to winning the 2024 award?

I was surprised to learn that Dr. Li had nominated me for the award; I was actually notified about it on the same day I finished the final version of my thesis. This experience has encouraged me to pursue a career in academia; after my postdoc, I hope to be a university faculty member.

Do you have advice for future School of MCB PhD students?

As researchers, we generate ideas by reading lots of papers. It’s easy to corner yourself by only reading things that are directly related to your research, but finding literature outside of that narrow scope can give you a broader view of where your project stands in the larger field of biology. And that can help generate better ideas overall.

What legacy do you hope to leave at Illinois?

I think the research I’ve conducted here can lay a good foundation for future graduate students or postdocs to further examine the regulation process. I’ve been working on a cascade of TTFs, and hopefully future students can build on what I’ve learned.

What’s next?

In June, I'll be relocating to Stanford University, where I'll start a postdoc in the lab of Dr. Kang Shen. His lab uses C. elegans as the model organism to study neurobiology. In Dr. Li’s lab, I've been concentrating on neural progenitors that give rise to neurons. Now, I will focus on understanding how mature neurons function and communicate with each other to form neural circuits.

Biomedical Sciences student receives Hawkeye Excellence Award

Nicole Boodhoo, a May 2024 graduate with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, was selected as the 2023-2024 recipient of the Tom Rocklin Meet the Challenge Award in the category of Excel. Nicole was recognized for this award at the Hawkeye Excellence Awards Recognition Ceremony held on April 25, 2024, at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) Main Lounge. The purpose of the Meet The Challenge Awards is to recognize undergraduate students who exemplify the values promoted by The IOWA Challenge through their actions within the University of Iowa and surrounding communities. Each year one winner is selected for recognition in each of the five IOWA Challenge areas: Excel, Stretch, Engage, Choose, and Serve. Winners receive a $500 award sponsored by the UI Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Life.

For more information on the Meet The Challenge Awards, click on the link above.

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Offer Description. Thinking of doing a PhD at the interface of Molecular & Evolutionary Biology?. The Research Training Group 2526 "Gene Regulation in Evolution" (GenEvo), which is funded by the DFG (German Research Foundation), is offering projects on all levels of organismic complexity, from changes in genes and proteins to the evolution of symbiotic and parasitic behavior.
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Established in 2015, the Oyetunji A. Toogun Memorial Award for Excellence in Research is an annual award named in honor of Tunji Toogun, a PhD student in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology who passed away in 2007. The annual award recognizes CDB graduate students for their exceptional research accomplishments.
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Nicole Boodhoo, a May 2024 graduate with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, was selected as the 2023-2024 recipient of the Tom Rocklin Meet the Challenge Award in the category of Excel.Nicole was recognized for this award at the Hawkeye Excellence Awards Recognition Ceremony held on April 25, 2024, at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) Main Lounge.

10 Practical Tips for PhD in Biology + Life Sciences

Tips for PhD in Biology + Life Sciences

Literature review— read and read

Experimentation– learn to work in a lab

Safety– don’t compromise your safety

Infection— Do aware of health hazards

Contamination— take care of your sample too

Optimization– Learn how to achieve perfection

Accuracy— your road to success

Expertise— you should have knowledge of what you are doing.

Planning– Plan for the plan that doesn’t include in the plan

Patience– Everything will be fine in the end

Wrapping up:

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About The Author

Dr Tushar Chauhan

10 Tips To Prepare PhD Thesis Defense Presentation

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Recent posts

Ten Simple Rules for Finishing Your PhD

Introduction

Rule 1: Plan Your Last Year in Advance

Rule 2: Make Your Priorities Clear

Rule 3: “The Truth Can Wait”

Rule 4: Enlist Support

Rule 5: Get Familiar with the Software

Rule 6: Know Your University's Procedures and Regulations

Rule 7: Exploit Synergies

Rule 8: Pay Attention to Your Career

Rule 9: Network

Rule 10: Leave on Good Terms

Acknowledgments

Finally, I Wrote a Post about Grad School by Abby H. '20

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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Tips

The two most important questions to answer in your personal statement are:

Let’s start with some tips on addressing the first point – your past experiences and preparation for a PhD program:

Okay now for the trickier part. How do you show you are a good fit for Biological Engineering specifically at MIT? Here are some tips:

Finally, here are a few miscellaneous tips to polish it off:

Additional Resources:

Top tips for cell biologists eyeing a move to industry careers

LIEKE VAN GIJTENBEEK: Invest in your application letter

MATTIA POLETTO: Don’t be afraid to take the plunge

DANIELLE TWUM: Show companies you can talk like them

RANDALL RIBAUDO: Build collaborations early

ESTELA CRUVINEL: Maintain a passion for learning