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Department of Biology

Professors Ann K. Corsi; Venigalla B. Rao; Pamela L. Tuma, Chair
Professor Emeritus John E. Golin; James J. Greene; J. Michael Mullins
Associate Professors John S. Choy, Ekaterina M. Nestorovich
Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Biotechnology Program and Clinical Laboratory Science Franklin Portugal
Visiting Clinical Assistant Pr Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor Rui Zhang Moore
Pre-Med Advisor and Assistant to the Chair Marion B. Ficke
Adjunct Professors Haedar Abuirqeba, Amos Dike, Seema Jejurikar, Peter Reczjek, Rakesh Upadhyay, Martha Wright

The Department of Biology offers Master of Science, M.S., and Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., degrees in biology, with emphasis in cell, microbial, and molecular biology. There has been a PhD. subplan in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, but it is not taking new students at this time. The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are also offered in clinical laboratory science. A Certificate in Biotechnology and an M.S. in Biotechnology are also offered. When applying for admission, please indicate the preferred program.

The purpose of the M.S. and Ph.D. program in biology is to prepare students for research, teaching, and administrative careers in the biological or the biomedical sciences. Courses in this program provide a foundation in biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology and virology. In addition, presentations and participation in a graduate seminar program prepare students to be effective teachers and communicators. All graduate students accepted in the doctoral program are required to do some teaching during graduate training. To fulfill thesis/dissertation requirements, a student performs experimental research under the tutelage of the faculty. Fields of research concentration currently include transcriptional regulation and development in C. elegans, membrane dynamics and trafficking in polarized cells, alcohol metabolism in liver, molecular motors, genetic engineering approaches to gene therapy and vaccine development, mechanisms of DNA packaging in bacteriophages and viruses, molecular biology of cancer and metastasis, bacterial growth self-inhibition, biosensors design, and ion-conducting nanostructures in biomedical applications, genome scale approaches to elucidating mechanisms of genomic instability (Detailed descriptions of faculty research).

The purpose of the program in Biotechnology is to provide students with technical foundations in molecular biology together with an understanding of how to conduct the business of biotechnology. Students take a selection of core requirements and elective courses. An internship in industrial or federal research, policy development, environmental action, public interest, or professional activity is a requirement.

Standard prerequisites for graduate work in biology (M.S. or Ph.D.) include two years of chemistry and two years of biology (including biochemistry and microbiology). Students are encouraged to apply for admission even if all prerequisites are not fulfilled. A student admitted to the department with a deficiency may be advised to take the required courses during the first year of graduate work.

The Department of Library and Information Science and the Department of Biology offer a joint master's program. (Contact Chair, Department of Biology for further details.)

The Department of Biology accepts both full-time and part-time graduate students. Students may enter either in the fall or spring semester. Academic progress is reviewed regularly. A failing grade or two C grades totaling 6 credits may result in termination. In addition to the thesis options described above, a non-thesis option is available at the M.S. level. Applications from women and minority students are encouraged for all programs. Financial aid is available as university scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.

The comprehensive examination is taken after the required coursework for the respective degree is completed or during the semester in which the last of the coursework is being taken. A list of completed courses and course grades must be submitted to the department chair at least one week prior to the September faculty meeting for comprehensive examinations to be taken in October and one week prior to the February meeting for comprehensive examinations to be taken in March. Students must check with the Biology office as to the exact dates of these faculty meetings. The student must also register for the comprehensive examination in Cardinal Station prior to the registration deadline.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Biology: Sub Plan—Cellular and Microbial Biology

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 725 Research Rotations (1 credit)
  • BIOL 727 Methods in Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism (3 credits)
  • Two Research seminars (BIOL 713, BIOL 714, Microbiology Seminar or BIOL 777, BIOL 778 Cell Biology Seminar—1 credit each) (2 credits)
  • Three Biology elective courses (3 credits each)
  • 6 credits for Research Guidance (thesis track) or a minimum of 3 credits for Research Problems in Biology and 3 credits for an additional elective (non-thesis track)

Master of Science in Biology: Sub Plan—Clinical Laboratory Science

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 725 Research Rotations (1 credit)
  • BIOL 727 Methods in Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism (Microbiology track) or BIOL 566 Hematology (Hematology track) (3 credits)
  • Two Research seminars (BIOL 781, BIOL 781A Specialty Research Seminar—1 credit each) (2 credits)
  • Three Biology elective courses (3 credits each)
  • 6 credits for Research Guidance (thesis track) or a minimum of 3 credits for Research Problems in Biology and 3 credits for an additional elective (non-thesis track)

Master of Science in Biotechnology

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 579 Principles and Practice of Biotechnology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 580 Entrepreneurial Biotechnology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 581 Essentials of Biotechnology Project Management (3 credits)
  • BIOL 583 Regulation of Domestic and Global Biotechnology Products (3 credits)
  • BIOL 586 Molecular Genetics and Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
  • Two Research seminars (BIOL 781, BIOL 781A Specialty Research Seminar—1 credit each) (2 credits)
  • Two Biology elective courses (3 credits each)
  • Biotechnology internship (4 credits)

Ph.D. in Biology: Sub Plan—Cellular and Microbial Biology

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 586 Molecular Genetics and Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
  • BIOL 725 Research Rotations (1 credit)
  • BIOL 727 Methods in Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism (3 credits)
  • Four Research seminars (BIOL 713, BIOL 714, Microbiology Seminar or BIOL 777, BIOL 778 Cell Biology Seminar—1 credit each) (4 credits)
  • 6 credits for Research Problems (3 credits each) and 6 credits for Research Topics (2 credits each)
  • Seven elective courses (3 credits each)

Ph.D. in Clinical Laboratory Science

  • BIOL 538 Gene Organization and Expression (3 credits)
  • BIOL 559 Cell Structure and Function (3 credits)
  • BIOL 586 Molecular Genetics and Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
  • BIOL 725 Research Rotations (1 credit)
  • BIOL 727 Methods in Biological Research (3 credits)
  • BIOL 774 Comparative Metabolism (3 credits)
  • Four Research seminars (BIOL 713, BIOL 714, Microbiology Seminar or BIOL 777, BIOL 778 Cell Biology Seminar—1 credit each) (4 credits)
  • 6 credits for Research Problems (3 credits each) and 6 credits for Research Topics (2 credits each)
  • Seven elective courses (3 credits each)