Molecular Biology, Ph.D.

Additional Information

The Ph.D. in Molecular Biology is a research-intensive degree. Prior to admission to the program, an applicant must contact a Molecular Biology department professor directly to determine if they may be interested in serving as the student’s potential adviser. Once a future graduate adviser agrees to accept a student into their lab, an applicant can start an application to the Molecular Biology Graduate program. Admissions to the program are allowed in the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

An application to the Ph.D. program should include a curriculum vitae (CV), a 2-page statement of research interests and career plans, contact information for three references, transcripts from previous institutions, and GRE scores. Those students with an M.S. degree may be excluded from the GRE score requirement. Following admission, a student will conduct a guided research project in the laboratory into which they have been accepted. The faculty research adviser is responsible for financial support of the student. A research project is expected to result in publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentations at departmental seminars and scientific meetings.

Throughout the degree program, a graduate student is guided and evaluated by their research adviser and graduate committee. A student must develop a Program of Study approved by the student’s graduate committee. Student performance is monitored by a dissertation committee that evaluates a student’s seminar presentations, research proposal, preliminary exam, written dissertation, final public seminar, and final oral defense of the dissertation. In consultation with the faculty research adviser, a student may elect to serve as a teaching assistant. Students pursing the Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology usually complete their program in approximately five years. 

Requirements for Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology

A Program of Study for the Ph.D. in Molecular Biology must include a minimum of 72 semester hours of credit at the 4000 level or above from UW or equivalent levels from another approved university. This 72-hour requirement may include graduate credits earned while working toward the master’s degree in the same area, but at least 42 hours (of the 72) must be earned in formal coursework, including the specific requirements for the program detailed below. Additional credits toward the 72-hour requirement may include additional formal course credits, Dissertation Research credits (MOLB5980 ), or MOLB5960  credits or Internship credits (MOLB5990 ).

Additional information on graduate student regulations and policies, including transfer credit and credit reserved from undergraduate courses, is located here: https://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/graduate-students/resources.html.

Specific requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology are listed below. The Program of Study is determined in consultation with the student’s graduate committee and must be on file in the Office of the Registrar before the preliminary examination can be scheduled.

• 3 credits of Advanced Biochemistry MOLB5600  with a minimum grade of B.
  • This requirement may be fulfilled if a student has already received a minimum grade of B in Advanced Biochemistry as an undergraduate or as part of a master’s program, or transfer credits for an equivalent course taken at another university (equivalency is determined by the student’s graduate committee).
• 6 credits minimum of 5000-level MOLB courses from the following list: MOLB5400 , MOLB5440 , MOLB5450 , MOLB5460 , MOLB5610 , MOLB5670 , MOLB5680 , MOLB5700 .
• 4 credits of MOLB5050  Advanced Student Seminar; 2 credits of MOLB 5050 must be taken the first semester a student enrolls in the graduate program.
• Students are required to enroll in the departmental seminar course each semester: MOLB5051  during the academic year; MOLB5052  in the summer semester.
• MOLB5980  Dissertation Research (number of credits to be determined in consultation with the student’s graduate committee).
• Other course credits as determined by the student in consultation with their graduate committee, such as MOLB5055 .