frequently asked questions
department of biology
Graduate Program
How many applications are received by the Biology Graduate Group
each year?
For the upcoming academic year (2006-07), 145 applications
were received and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Over
the past
5 years, an average of 120 applications were submitted each year.
Of these applications, how many were offered admissions and how
many students matriculated?
For fall 2006, the Biology Graduate Group made 23 offers to
students. The average
incoming
class is 10 students.
What are the average GRE scores for admitted applicants and matriculated
students?
For 2006, admitted applicants received average scores of Verbal
587/76, Quantitative 760/82, and Writing 4.64/55.
What is the total enrollment in the Biology Graduate Group Program?
As of 9/1/2006, there are 62 students enrolled in the Biology
Graduate Program. Of these students, 62% are women, and 57% are
from various countries
around the world, including Turkey, China, Czech Republic, Canada,
Brazil, Uruguay, Vietnam, and India. All of our students study
on a full-time basis.
What are the degree requirements for students entering the Biology
Graduate Program?
The Biology Graduate Program offers a doctoral degree only. Requirements
for the PhD include:
- 20 course units, including seminars and lab rotations
- 1 year of teaching
- bioethics workshop
- pass of qualifying
exam (2nd year)
- pass of preliminary
exam (prior to dissertation)
- oral presentation of dissertation
- written thesis
For a list of required courses, please visit the following web
pages:
There are no language requirements. Students are able to transfer in 8
courses taken
at the graduate
level.
For
information
regarding
the Transfer of Credit policy, visit web page, http://www.bio.upenn.edu/programs/graduate/manual/2002-03/academic/credit_transfer.html.
What are the advising procedures for students in the Biology Graduate
Program?
While on coursework, all graduate students meet with an Advising
Committee or their faculty advisor twice a year to discuss course
registration, research, and lab rotations. Upon reaching dissertation
status, a student meets with their Thesis Advisor as necessary,
and with their Thesis Committee at least once a year.
What are the evaluating procedures for the graduate students?
Beyond
advising, the Biology Graduate Group stresses a close interpersonal
relationship between faculty and students. Students
undertake lab rotations starting their first year, working
with faculty and other students to gain experience with different
research
projects and acquaint themselves with different laboratories
and faculty. The teaching requirement allows students to gain
valuable exerience in preparation for an academic career. In
both lab rotations and teaching experience, faculty will mentor
the students during the semester and provide evaluations of
lab work
and teaching
skills
at the
end of each
semester.
What are the research opportunities provided to students in the
Biology Graduate Program?
Though based in the Biology
Department in the School of Arts and Sciences, the Biology Graduate
Group is comprised of faculty from other departments and affiliated
academic institutions, such as the Medical School, Wistar Institute,
Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Academy of Natural Sciences. Thus,
the students have a wide range of research opportunities within
the program.
Research is started early, in the
first year. Students can choose from a diverse array of microorganisms,
plants or
animals
to
study.
Research topics can include genetics, molecular biology,
cell and developmental biology,
immunology,
neurobiology,
behavior and ethnology, ecology, population biology and evolution.
Our list
of recent dissertations topics provides evidence of the variety
and scope of the research projects undertaken by the students
in the Biology Graduate Group.
How are graduate students supported while pursuing their degree?
All Biology graduate students are fully supported either
by teaching assistantships, training grants, or research fellowships.
Students earn a stipend ($24,000 for academic year 2006-2007),
health insurance, and tuition benefits. Funding is guaranteed for
the first five years as long as a student remains in good academic
standing and research is progressing at a satisfactory pace.
A majority
of
Biology Graduate students do obtain funding beyond this point.
How long does it take to complete a doctoral degree in Penn's
Biology Graduate Program?
The time span to earn the Doctorate of Philosophy averages
6 years. The first two to three years, depending upon transfer
of credits, are spent taking courses with lab rotations counted
as one course unit. Students
funded by teaching assistantships are expected to take 7 courses
per
year (3 fall, 3 spring, 1 summer). Students
funded
by training grants or research fellowships take 8 courses per
year (4 fall, 4 spring). Thesis research can take an additional
2 to 4 years, depending upon the project, methodology, and results.
What facilities are provided to the graduate students in the Biology
Department?
Students have access to a wide range of facilities housed
in four buildings, Leidy Lab, Kaplan Wing, Mudd Building and
Goddard Labs.
The new Lynch Life Sciences Building has just been recently opened.
This building has brought Penn to the forefront in research
facilities.
Facilities found in the Biology buildings include an animal
facilities, aquariums for both zebra fish and larger
species, plant growth rooms with controlled environments, a greenhouse,
advance microscopy and image analysis laboratory with a TCS laser-scanning
confocal microsope and digital cameras connected to light- and
stereomicroscopes, and a digital imaging facility with the capacity
to analyze flourescent and chemiluminescent films, print photographs
and scan onto 35 mm film and perform other imaging tasks.
Students also have access to the Morris Arboretum of the University
of Pennsylvania located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.
This public garden has 70 acres set aside for plant evaluation
and field research studies.
Ecology students can utilize the various facilities on campus
as well as the resources of the Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia, Stroud Water Research Laboratory, Benedict Estaurine
Laboratory in Maryland as well as the surrounding ecosystems from
deciduous forests to the beaches of New Jersey.
What research is currently being undertaken in the Biology Department?
Research is currently being done in a number of biological
fields, including cell and developmental biology, neurobiology,
plant sciences and microbial biology,
genetics, molecular biology, ecology, evolution, biodiversity,
genomics, and bioinformatics. Detailed information can be found
at the Biology Department research
web
page.
Faculty publications are listed on each individual's web page.
Click here for a list of faculty
and links to their web pages.
Many of the faculty in
the Biology Department at Penn have been acknowledged
for their scientific accomplishments. Click here for the latest
news in the Biology Department.
Student research information can be found on the student
profile web page.
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Graduate Program