Biology - PhD

The Department of Biology has diverse, numerous disciplines of research and training activities that span from genetic and molecular studies, through cell and physiological investigations, and finally up through evolutionary, ecological and environmental exploration and discoveries. The faculty makeup is just as diverse, with researchers investigating developmental and genetic programming events, population genetics and biostatistics, host-microbe interactions and microbial ecologies, immunological and nervous systems, molecular plant biology, ecology and bioremediation, and also invertebrate aquatic system and evolutionary biology.

Science continues to remain at the forefront of information, technology, and engineering; the Department of Biology continues this tradition by intertwining the rich multidisciplinary approaches to provide a well-rounded, but specialized research training to ensure successful, competitive careers in research enterprise.

The Department of Biology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in two major areas of concentration: 1) Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) and 2) Ecological, Environmental and Systematic Biology (EESB). CMB offers specialization in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, neurobiology, physiology, developmental biology, microbiology and bioinformatics, while EESB offers specialization in ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental biology, conservation biology, and organismal biology. Incoming graduate students may elect any area of their choice leading to either M.S. or Ph.D. degree; however, the Ph.D. program is the major focus of the departmental graduate program. The department also participates in the M.D./Ph.D. degree program jointly offered by the Graduate School and Howard University College of Medicine