Hands holding a petri dish with growth in it

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—PhD

This interdisciplinary PhD program responds to a national and international need for more researchers to address problems in the areas of human health, disease treatment, and sustainable environment at a molecular level. Advanced education in biochemistry, molecular biology, and related fields is essential for creative and productive approaches to these problems. Are you ready?

Program Overview

The doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology program’s allows for specialization depending on your goals. Areas include but are not limited to algal polymers, tree genetics, gene silencing and microRNAs, human diseases including diabetes and cancer, plant- microbe interactions, nanotechnology and nanomedicine, and protein misfolding and aggregation diseases.

Delivery Options
- On-Campus: PhD

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program Details

Learn more about the biochemistry and molecular biology program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about biochemistry and molecular biology at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Research

"Using fruit flies, my doctoral research focuses on understanding how animals develop their color patterns and discover the regulatory pathways involved in complex color pattern formation in animals."

Mujeeb Shittu

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD student and 2021 Graduate School Doctoral Finishing Fellowship Recipient.

Contact

Graduate Director

Tarun K. Dam

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program. Sample areas include:

Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Biotechnology
Conservation Genetics
Genomics

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation
Résumé / Curriculum vitae (waived for Michigan Tech undergrads)
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.10 or better on a 4.0 scale
GRE not required

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Minimum Score of 85 iBT
IELTS: Recommended overall score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum of 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadlines

For Fall: February 15 for full financial consideration.

For Spring or Summer: At least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

This diverse program includes faculty from biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and integrative physiology, as well as faculty from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and the College of Engineering.

Where You'll Work

At Michigan Tech, you will work with researchers to develop tools to analyze and model complex processes and systems in the areas of human health, medicine, forestry, and agriculture. Map complete genomes, create multi-scale computer models, and use technologies such as pharmacogenomics. These are some of the projects our students contribute to.

Faculty Spotlight

Stephen Techtmann

Stephen Techtmann
Associate Professor,
Environmental Microbiology

"All of life depends on microbes, but we know so little about this unseen majority."

Microbes are essential to all of life and have amazing potential for biotechnological applications. Techtmann’s research seeks to employ genomics and bioinformatics to study environmental microbial communities to better understand their utility for biotechnological applications.

Program Faculty