Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology - Biotechnology

The Graduate Group in Microbiology offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree program in microbiology. This Ph.D. program combines academic and experimental training in modern molecular approaches to microbiological problems. Time for completion of the program varies depending upon the student, but is typically 5 years. The goal of the Ph.D. program is for the graduate student to present a dissertation that makes an original contribution to the body of microbiological knowledge. In the process, the group strives to give the student the opportunity to develop the skills and fundamental knowledge to become an independent investigator in academia, industry, health care or government.

The designated emphasis in Biotechnology provides a very effective multidisciplinary biotechnology concentration, which includes exposure to bioethics, business and legal aspects of biotechnology as well as a 3-6 month internship in a biotechnology company or research laboratory in another college or national laboratory. Dr. Kjelstrom, the Program Coordinator assists the students in locating internships, preparation of a strong cover letter and curriculum vitae, and the development of professional skills related to the business environment.

Admission requires an undergraduate degree (B.S. or B.A.) in a biological science, which should include coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Upper division courses in biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, microbial physiology, genetics or immunology are also encouraged. Applicants for admission to MGG are required to meet the University of California minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 (or equivalent) from the institution where you have earned or will earn your bachelor's degree.
Academic records for every college-level institution you have attended or are currently attending (including community college, transfer coursework, study abroad, summer session, etc.). You may upload your transcripts in the Academic History section of the application *or* after submitting your application using your Application Status Page.
Three letters of recommendation - Instructions are provided with the online application. All letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically by the referee
In the prerequisite section of the application, please list all biology, biochemistry, and microbiology related coursework along with the received grade. Examples of course that should be listed include: biology, genetics, immunology, ecology, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, related laboratory courses, etc).
CV - Your CV/resume should help the committee better understand your specific experiences in microbiology beyond what you shared in your statement of purpose or personal history.
Applicants who have not studied at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction must obtain the minimum overall TOEFL score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis, 80 on the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT). As an alternative to the TOEFL, students may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For IELTS, the minimum overall band score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis is 7.0 on a 9-point scale. Please note these scores are the minimum necessary for submitting an application, admitted students often have a higher score.