Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development

Faculty of the Division of Genetics, Genomics and Development (GGD) explore the fundamental mechanisms of genetics, evolution, and development using genetic, molecular, biochemical, computational, and genomic approaches. Interests include the basic mechanisms of transcription, RNA processing, and translation, and their control, structure, function, and evolution of gene regulatory networks, origin and evolution of animal signaling and patterning mechanisms in development, replication, structure, dynamics, and evolution of genomes, embryonic pattern formation and morphogenesis, including the control of cell fate, regulatory mechanisms at the genomic level, including sex determination and dosage compensation genetic and genomic diversity and variation within natural and artificial populations. GGD research groups take advantage of a wide variety of organisms to address these issues, including both established model systems (e.g., yeast, nematodes, frult flies, zebrafish), and new genome-enabled emerging models (e.g., sea squirts, sea anemones, frogs, choanoflagellates). The Division is home to the Center for Integrative Genomics and participates in the campus-wide Computational Biology Initiative. It also has close ties with major genome sequencing initiatives including the Drosophilia genome project and numerous animal and fungal genome projects at the nearby DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI) in Walnut Creek and elsewhere, as well as associated research at the Gump Field Station in Moorea, French Polynesia.

The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

A bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution,
A grade point average of B or better (3.0),
If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 on a 9-point scale (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these), and
Sufficient undergraduate training to do graduate work in the given field.
The admission committee employs a holistic approach to assessing the merits of each application. This means that we review all facets of an application in order to determine a candidate's overall potential and fit with our program. In particular, the Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement are very important aspects of your application. Strong undergraduate preparation for this program would include at least one year each of: calculus, physics, and general biology, two to three semesters of chemistry (general, organic and physical chemistry), additional advanced coursework in such areas as biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology and/or neurobiology, experience of working in a research laboratory while an undergraduate . Letters of recommendation should be from persons who have supervised your research or academic work and who can evaluate your intellectual ability, creativity, leadership potential and promise for productive scholarship.