Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology
E-mail: smoose@illinois.edu
Administrative Contact: Carol Hall
286 Morrill Hall
505 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-8208
Fax: (217) 244-1224
E-mail: c-hall@life.illinois.edu
Major: Biology
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology
Graduate Degree Programs
Recognizing the enormous breadth of experimental approaches applied to modern plant biology, the Program in Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Biology with a concentration in Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology. This program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education that prepares students for successful research and teaching careers. The program offers sufficient flexibility to tailor coursework to a student's particular area of interest while providing a solid foundation in the plant sciences. Thesis research in Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology can be conducted in any of a broad range of areas, which are organized into three alternative tracks of study: (1) organismal and community plant physiology, (2) plant biochemistry and biophysics, and (3) plant development and molecular biology.
The School of Integrative Biology is the administrative home of the interdepartmental graduate program leading to a Ph.D. in Biology: with concentration in Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology. Students in these specializations are advised by biologists from a number of departments in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; the College of Engineering; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Admission
To be considered for Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology (PMPB) program, an applicant must earn a Bachelor's degree with an overall grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0), must include a brief statement of educational objectives with the formal application, and must submit three letters of recommendation. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are also mandatory. All applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score (taken within the past two years) of at least 89 (iBT), 230 (CBT) or 570 (PBT). The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is required; applicants must receive a score of at least 50.
All application materials must be received by January 15 for full consideration of fall admission. Prospective students are encouraged to contact PMPB faculty members about research opportunities in their respective programs.
The PMPB program does not accept applications to the M.S. degree program, but students seeking this option may pursue an M.S. degree through Biology, Crop Sciences, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, or Plant Biology.
Degree Requirements
The PMPB program requires completion of 32 hours of coursework exclusive of thesis research hours. This requirement is fulfilled by completing prescribed core and track requirements, along with appropriate elective courses. There is no specific foreign language requirement.
For additional details and requirements refer to the PMPB program requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| IB 420, 423 and 513 | 12 |
| Requirements of one of the three tracks | 12-16 |
| Thesis Hours Required (min/max applied toward degree): | max 32, credit in rubrics other than PBIO, BIOL or CPSC must be petitioned to apply. |
| Total Hours | 64 |
Minimum Hours of Course Work Required Overall: |
32 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |
| Each student must complete at least one semester of teaching | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements must be met (additional 32 hours min) |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in instruction is considered an important part of the graduate experience in PMPB, thus each student must complete at least one semester of teaching activity, typically as a teaching assistant.
Faculty Research Interests
The research programs of PMPB faculty are diverse, and include investigations of questions that range from the level of molecules to the whole plant and its interactions with the environment. PMPB faculty conduct studies with both model organisms and plant species of global economic importance. The details of specific faculty research interests can be viewed at www.life.illinois.edu/plantbio/pmpb/faculty.htm.
Financial Aid
Support for graduate training is available in the form of teaching or research assistantships, traineeships, and University fellowships. Prospective students may obtain application forms and relevant information for departmental study programs from the Web site of the department or program.