phd in plant biotechnology

• Cornell University Home
• College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Home

School of Integrative Plant Science

PhD Field of Plant Biology

Revealing fundamental principles of plant biology and evolution.

Graduate study in Cornell's Integrative School of Plant Science is organized into five Graduate Fields providing unparalleled opportunities to connect disciplines, creatively solve problems, and integrate complex systems, preparing graduates for diverse careers and futures as leaders in science and society.

Programs in the Field of Plant Biology range from the molecular/genetic investigation of fundamental plant processes and mathematical modeling of plant development to study of plant diversity and evolution. Most of the faculty advisors in the Field of Plant Biology are affiliated with the Section of Plant Biology in the School of Integrative Plant Science. The Graduate Field of Plant Biology encompasses a broad range of topics.

Grand Challenge Fellowships

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) is offering four two-year fellowships to graduate students for research tackling our  Grand Challenges .

• Fellowships are for August 2024 admission.
• Application deadline is December 1, 2023.  (November 15, 2023 for Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology.)
• More information.

Apply to the Graduate Field of Plant Biology

• Apply (Cornell Graduate School Application)
• Graduate Field of Plant Biology application information

Development, organelle biology, evolution and diversity, or systems biology - our students are making breakthroughs in many important research areas of plant biology

Program metrics, demographics and outcomes

Select the graduate field of interest from the pull-down menu on the linked page

• PhD program statistics
• Career outcomes

Karin Jantz Graduate Field Coordinator 233 Emerson Hall Phone: 607-255-4075 Email: kpg2 [at] cornell.edu (kpg2[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Adrienne Roeder Director of Graduate Studies 239 Weill Hall Phone: 607-255-4467 Email: ahr75 [at] cornell.edu (ahr75[at]cornell[dot]edu)

More information about graduate study in Plant Biology

See these links for information specific to MS/PhD studies in the Field of Plant Biology

• Faculty in the Field of Plant Biology
• More about the SIPS Section of Plant Biology
• Recent theses in the Field of Plant Biology
• Meet our Plant Biology graduate students
• Plant Biology field requirements
• Plant biology student life

Learn more about graduate study in SIPS

Five interrelated Graduate Fields are associated with the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) with many resources common to all

• Financial Support
• NSF Research Traineeship
• Schmittau-Novak Small Grants Program
• SIPS People
• Campuses and Facilities
• SIPS Graduate Student Council

• Events Calendar
• News and Newsletters
• Department History
• Employee Resources Site
• PMB Intranet
• Mission & Values
• Undergraduate
• Plant Biology Graduate Programs
• Microbiology Graduate Programs
• Master of Microbial Biotechnology
• Scholarships and Fellowships
• Career Opportunities
• Clubs and Programs
• Alumni Mentoring Program
• Research Areas
• Research Facilities
• Student Research Opportunities
• International Programs
• N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative
• Graduate Students
• Researchers and Postdocs
• Adjunct Faculty
• Associate Faculty – NC State
• Visiting Scholar
• Give Now 

Ph.D. in Plant Biology

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest degree we offer in the plant biology graduate program.

Our goal is to produce independent research scientists who will contribute fundamental knowledge to the world or who will become leaders in government and industry laboratories.

• Degree Requirements 
• Advisory Committee 
• Teaching Requirement 
• Graduate Plan of Work 
• Annual Report 
• Preliminary Exam, Dissertation and Defense 
• Ph.D. Timeline 
• Transferring Between Programs 

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

• Seventy-two (72) semester hours (14-15 hours must be from the required courses for all plant biology students).
• One (1) additional plant biology course at the 500-level or higher. Other courses must be approved on the Graduate Plan of Work (GPOW).
• Earn a minimum 3.0 GPA overall on graduate coursework at NC State.
• Must be continuously enrolled and complete all degree requirements within ten (10) calendar years beginning with the date a student starts courses carrying graduate credit applicable to the degree program.
• Complete and submit an annual report to the director of graduate programs (DGP) each year.
• Pass the preliminary written and oral examinations.
• Complete and defend a dissertation . The student works with their advisory committee to determine the scope of their dissertation research. The committee will conduct a final oral exam (defense) of the thesis, which the student must pass to earn their degree.
• Must be enrolled in one credit or more the semester the student applies to graduate.

Advisory Committee

Most Ph.D. students will be assigned to a graduate advisor. For those who are not, the DGP will serve as an initial advisor, and these students will work with the DGP to prepare a rotation schedule and identify a dissertation advisor (also known as a “major advisor”). All Ph.D. students must identify a graduate advisory committee prior to completing their first year.

The advisory committee consists of the student’s major advisor and at least three additional graduate faculty members, two from plant biology and one from an outside department. All required committee members must hold appointments within the NC State Graduate School. Scientists who are not members of the Graduate School faculty (e.g., adjunct faculty, industry scientists) may be appointed as additional members of the committee. Prior to the preliminary exam, the Graduate School will assign a representative to the student’s committee. See the Graduate School Handbook for details.

A students advisory committee will meet at least once a year throughout the student’s degree program. During committee meetings, students must give a presentation on their research project and progress. Students should provide each committee member with the following before each meeting:

• An updated CV
• A list of courses taken (with grades earned) and planned to be taken
• A copy of their most recent annual report
• A written progress report on their dissertation research

For the first committee meeting, students will discuss their long-term goals and preliminary ideas concerning their dissertation research.

Teaching Requirement

Doctoral students must serve as a laboratory teaching assistant in at least two sections. The undergraduate coordinator creates these teaching assignments. During the semester a Ph.D. student serves as a teaching assistant, they should enroll in at least one hour of PB 895 (Doctoral Supervised Teaching).

Ph.D. students with prior master’s degrees that are included in their Graduate Plan of Work (GPOW) are only required to teach in one section. Substitutions for the teaching requirement are subject to approval by the DGP.

Graduate Plan of Work

Student and their advisor will outline a Graduate Plan of Work (GPOW) as soon as possible. The GPOW includes all courses to be taken, an anticipated timetable for taking each course and a tentative dissertation title.

Students will submit their GPOW to their advisory committee for approval and then submit it to the Graduate School by the end of their second semester.

Annual Report

Students will submit annual reports upon request by the DGP. These reports are typically due late January to mid-February. Ideally, students will meet with their committee prior to submitting the annual report, where they will make an oral presentation and submit a written report on their laboratory research.

The advisor and committee must determine if the student is making satisfactory research and academic progress for the student to be re-appointed to their assistantship and to remain in good status in the graduate program.

Preliminary Exam, Dissertation and Defense

Preliminary examination.

Students must pass the written and oral preliminary examination (Prelim) to gain admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. See the  Ph.D. Policies and Procedures  for details.

Dissertation and Defense

All Ph.D. candidates must write a dissertation on their research that conforms to the  NC State Thesis and Dissertation Guide . The content and structure of the dissertation must be approved by the advisory committee. Additionally, all candidates must prepare their results for publication prior to program completion.

Doctoral candidates who have completed their research and other degree requirements (72 credit hours) may enroll in PB 899 (Dissertation Preparation) while they are writing their dissertation. They must also present a seminar hosted by the plant biology graduate program as part of their final exam (defense).

Upon the candidate’s satisfactory defense of the Ph.D. dissertation, the advisory committee will approve it for transmission to the Graduate School. See the  Ph.D. Policies and Procedures  for details.

Ph.D. Timeline

Transferring between degree programs.

Students in the M.S. program may wish to bypass the M.S. degree and transfer directly into the Ph.D. program. In these cases, a student’s advisory committee must receive sufficient evidence of the student’s research ability, such as published manuscripts or abstracts or other scientific presentations, to justify the transfer. The student must meet with their committee to present current research results and research objectives for the Ph.D. dissertation. Following the meeting, a letter signed by the advisor and endorsed by a majority of the advisory committee is forwarded to the DGP recommending transfer into the Ph.D. program.

Students may also wish to pursue admission to the Ph.D. program following completion of their M.S. degree. Similarly, a student may consider transferring from the Ph.D. program into the M.S. program after a year or more in the graduate program. In either instance, the student’s advisory committee will hold a meeting to address the student’s status. A letter signed by the thesis advisor and endorsed by a majority of the committee is submitted to the DGP with a recommendation. The student and their advisor will receive a letter notifying them of admission or change in program.

Any other transfers between degree programs must be approved by a student’s advisory committee with a specific recommendation and then submitted to the DGP.

Undergraduate Admissions

• Plant Genetics, Breeding, and Biotechnology

Purdue University in West Lafayette

Plant genetics, breeding, and biotechnology students are interested in agricultural biotechnology, genetic engineering, and research in genetic mechanisms that control crop growth and development.

Students prepare for many research opportunities in industry and acquire the necessary background for graduate studies. Students also learn the fundamentals of genetics and practical plant breeding as well as the latest developments in genetic engineering, environmentally sound crop production practices, development of varieties appropriate for the agriculture of developing countries, and strategies for developing plant lines adapted to environmental stresses. Opportunities exist for training both in laboratory and field practices important to modern genetics research. A professional internship involving practical aspects of the option is required.

Plan of Study

Transfer to plant genetics, breeding, and biotechnology.

Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue's overall transfer criteria , as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.

Minimum GPA: 2.5

Contact Information

Agronomy (765) 494-4773 [email protected]

Careers in Plant Genetics, Breeding, and Biotechnology

Graduates enjoy a wide range of employment opportunities in the seed and biotechnology industries and in plant genetics research and teaching. Students specializing in plant breeding are prepared for a broad spectrum of careers involving development of improved crop varieties and their adaptation to crop production systems.

• Agriculture
• Environment and Ecology
• Science and Research
• Agribusiness (multiple concentrations)
• Agricultural Communication
• Agricultural Economics (multiple concentrations)
• Agricultural Education
• Agricultural Engineering (College of Agriculture)
• Agricultural Systems Management
• Animal Sciences (multiple concentrations)
• Applied Meteorology and Climatology
• Aquatic Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Biological Engineering (College of Agriculture)
• Crop Science
• Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering (College of Agriculture)
• Farm Management
• Fermentation Science
• Food Science
• Horticulture (multiple concentrations)
• Insect Biology
• Landscape Architecture (Pre)
• Natural Resources and Environmental Science (multiple concentrations)
• Plant Science
• Plant Studies - Exploratory (Pre)
• Pre-veterinary Medicine
• Sales and Marketing
• Soil and Water Sciences
• Sustainable Food and Farming Systems
• Turf Management and Science
• College of Agriculture

Ph.D. Program

The training for a Ph.D. in Biology is focused on helping students achieve their goals of being a successful research scientist and teacher, at the highest level. Students work closely with an established advisor and meet regularly with a committee of faculty members to facilitate their progress. The Biology Ph.D. program is part of the larger Biosciences community at Stanford, which includes doctorate programs in the basic science departments at Stanford Medical School. 

There are two tracks within the Biology Ph.D. program:

• Cell, Molecular and Organismal Biology
• Ecology and Evolution

(Previously a part of the Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station is now a part of the Oceans Department within  Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability )

All  tracks are focused on excellence in research and teaching in their respective areas; where there are differences between the tracks, they are indicated in the links below. 

Requirements & Forms

Dissertation defense, cellular and molecular biology training program, stanford biology ph.d. preview program, career development resources.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Course Directory

PhD in Plant Sciences

Postgraduate Study

• Why Cambridge overview
• Chat with our students
• Cambridge explained overview
• The supervision system
• Student life overview
• In and around Cambridge
• Leisure activities
• Student unions
• Music awards
• Student support overview
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Disabled students
• Accommodation
• Language tuition
• Skills training
• Support for refugees
• Courses overview
• Department directory
• Qualification types
• Funded studentships
• Part-time study
• Research degrees
• Visiting students
• Finance overview
• Fees overview
• What is my fee status?
• Part-time fees
• Application fee
• Living costs
• Funding overview
• Funding search
• How to apply for funding
• University funding overview
• Research Councils (UKRI)
• External funding and loans overview
• Funding searches
• External scholarships
• Charities and the voluntary sector
• Funding for disabled students
• Widening participation in funding
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• Terms of Residence
• Applying overview
• Before you apply
• Entry requirements
• Application deadlines
• How do I apply? overview
• Application fee overview
• Application fee waiver
• Life Science courses
• Terms and conditions
• Continuing students
• Disabled applicants
• Supporting documents overview
• Academic documents
• Finance documents
• Evidence of competence in English
• AI and postgraduate applications
• Terms and Conditions
• Applicant portal and self-service
• After you apply overview
• Confirmation of admission
• Student registry
• Previous criminal convictions
• Deferring an application
• Updating your personal details
• Appeals and Complaints
• Widening participation
• Postgraduate admissions fraud
• International overview
• Immigration overview
• ATAS overview
• Applying for an ATAS certificate
• Current Cambridge students
• International qualifications
• Competence in English overview
• What tests are accepted?
• International events
• International student views overview
• Akhila’s story
• Alex’s story
• Huijie’s story
• Kelsey’s story
• Nilesh’s story
• Get in touch!
• Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Postgraduate Open Days overview
• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
• Virtual tour
• Research Internships
• How we use participant data
• Postgraduate Newsletter

Primary tabs

• Overview (active tab)
• Requirements
• How To Apply

The Department of Plant Sciences is an outstanding University Centre for research in plant and microbial sciences. It offers unrivalled research and training opportunities in the following areas of plant and microbial science:

• Cell function & responses to the environment
• Developmental biology & signalling
• Genetics and epigenetics
• Ecosystem function and conservation
• Evolution and diversity
• Microbiology & biotic interactions
• Plant pathology and epidemiology
• Systems and mathematical biology
• Enhancing photosynthesis
• Biotechnology and engineering

The Crop Science Centre is an alliance between the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences and the crop research organisation NIAB. The Centre will serve as a global hub for crop science research and a base for collaborations with research partners around the world. 

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree. A PhD in Plant Sciences takes three to four years of full-time study to complete and consists of research and courses as required under academic supervision. Applicants should contact a potential supervisor before proceeding with their PhD application. You can browse the personal/group pages of the  Research Group Leaders  to check details of their research.

The aim of PhD training is to develop both a deep theoretical and practical understanding through research into aspects of Plant Sciences, augmented by appropriate lecture courses delivered within the Department, or more generally across the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences.

The course provides training in a wide range of disciplines, which can include plant genetic engineering, plant development, plant molecular biology, plant biophysics, plant biochemistry, plant-microbe interactions, algal microbiology, plant ecology, crop biology, plant virology, plant epigenetics, epidemiology, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, eco-physiology and bioinformatics.

Having identified a research area of interest and contacted the appropriate supervisor, the first stage in developing an application should be to draft an appropriate research summary of the training to be undertaken.

Full-time PhD students must submit a thesis for examination by the end of their fourth year of study, although we encourage students and their supervisors to complete the thesis and submit within the period of funding support which, depending on the programme, may range from three to four years.

All postgraduate students attend induction and safety training courses in the Department.  

As well as undertaking their research, students will attend courses and lectures on some of the following: instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a thesis, and how to give effective scientific presentations. Students are expected to take part in the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences' Researcher Development Programme . 

Students receive termly reports on their work.

Learning Outcomes

The primary outcomes from successfully completing a PhD include expertise in:

• specialist training in experimental or theoretical methods;
• an ability to analyse relevant literature and apply to the development of innovative research;
• capacity to develop and apply data abstraction and analytical procedures with an appropriate level of statistical validation;
• independence in designing and conducting original research, and preparing that data in a format suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• enhanced organisational skills, in terms of time management, good laboratory practices, safety and planning a specific programme of research.

The overall outcome should ensure that a PhD candidate is well-prepared to undertake additional independent research, whether as a continuation in their existing research field or applying their expertise and understanding in a new field. PhD candidates will also have a good grounding in the collation and organisation of research for reports or peer-reviewed papers, and so should be prepared either for a career in academia or more applied fields.

To assist in the delivery of these learning outcomes, assessment of an individual PhD candidate's progress is made via a standard series of review protocols including the drafting of a project proposal after four weeks, delivery of a seminar, and preparation of a thesis plan and outline four months in advance of the due submission date.

As a PhD student, you must keep a separate training log, in which you will record all seminars and lectures attended and given, training undertaken, the highlights of your research work, and your notes of discussions with your supervisor(s). This log will be quite distinct from your laboratory notebook(s) which should contain all the details of your research work.

The PhD thesis has a word limit set at 60,000 words (80,000 by special permission), exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices. 

The PhD provides specialist training in scientific methodology relevant to the project subject area and based on the expertise of the supervisor and research group. This training also enables students from other scientific areas to proceed in a career in plant sciences and other allied areas. General training is also available and includes courses and lectures in instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a thesis, and how to give effective scientific presentations. 

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of plant sciences, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024 (closed), easter 2025, funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Biological Science (Plant Sciences) by thesis MPhil

Postgraduate Admissions Office

• Admissions Statistics
• Start an Application
• Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

• Bringing a family
• Current Postgraduates
• Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Privacy Policy

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Privacy policy

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Course Catalog

Plant biology, phd.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Biology

The Department of Plant Biology offers two graduate degrees, the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy. The department also participates in the interdepartmental graduate program: the Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology .

The Department teaches and conducts foundational research in plant biology. Its focus is integrative. Biological processes are investigated at multiple levels of organization using molecular, biochemical, physiological, morphological, and ecological approaches.

Areas of specialization within the department include:

• biochemistry
• biodiversity
• bioinformatics
• cell biology
• conservation biology
• development
• environmental physiology
• molecular biology
• paleobotany
• paleoecology
• photosynthesis
• phytochemistry
• population biology
• biotechnology
• systems biology
• systematics

Graduate students receive broad biological and professional training and acquire expertise in their areas of specialization.

The Plant Biology Departmental website provides additional information about the department, its admissions procedures, degree requirements, facilities, and the research interests of its faculty.

Admission Prospective students are encouraged to identify faculty member(s) whose research specialty(ies) most closely coincide(s) with their interests and to correspond directly with them. Acceptance to the Doctor of Philosophy graduate program is based on the applicant's academic achievement and research potential. While departmental requirements do not specify particular courses as prerequisites for admission, applicants should have had undergraduate coursework in biology or related sciences. Admission to the graduate program requires an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (or approved equivalent) are not required but may be submitted to strengthen application package; however no minimum scores are specified for admission. International students should have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 or above on the paper-based test, or 102 or above on the internet-based test (iBT). The IELTS exam is also accepted, and applicants should have a score of 7.0 or higher. 

Facilities and Resources The Plant Biology Department's diverse state-of-the-art research laboratories are located in Morrill Hall, Edward R. Madigan Laboratory, and the Institute for Genomic Biology. In addition, the department maintains extensive plant growth-chamber facilities, environmentally controlled greenhouses, a conservatory with live teaching and research collections, herbaria, a center for paleobotanical collections, and diverse local and remote field sites including  SoyFACE . The University also offers exceptional research support services including the  Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center , service laboratories in the  Institute for Genomic Biology , the  Beckman Institute , and the  University Library , one of the world's largest.

Financial Aid Fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available for qualified MS and PhD students in Plant Biology. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis.

Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to complete a minimum of 96 hours of graduate coursework and research. A formal evaluation (the Two-Year Review) of the student's academic progress is made prior to the end of the second year of study (end of Stage I). Departmental approval must be obtained at this juncture in order to continue in the graduate program. A Preliminary Examination is taken during the second year (if the student entered with an M.S. degree) or the third year (if the student entered with a B.S. degree) (end of Stage 2). This consists of an oral examination of general knowledge in three of nine broadly-defined areas of plant biology and defense of a written research proposal on the thesis research topic prepared by the student. Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates. The final stage (Stage 3) of the program consists of preparing an acceptable thesis based on independent research designed in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by a graduate faculty thesis committee. A final oral examination, in which the student defends the thesis, a public seminar, and deposit of an approved thesis complete the program. The Ph.D. degree program is expected to be completed within five years. See the Plant Biology Department's online  Graduate Student Handbook  for a detailed description of the Stages and Requirements of the Ph.D. program.

For additional details and requirements, please refer to the Plant Biology Department's online  Graduate Handbook  and the University's  Graduate College Handbook .

Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree

Other requirements, entering with approved b.s./b.a. degree.

• Design and implement independent research and integrate and apply core knowledge related to their field in 3 approved core areas out of 9 (anatomy, biochemistry, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and systematics)
• Presentations
• Publications
• Apply rigorous statistics/analytical methods that typify their area of study
• Data management
• Citation management
• Professionalism
• Teaching experience 

Department of Plant Biology Head of the Department: Andrew Leakey Plant Biology website 286 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-3261; fax: (217) 244-9952 Plant Biology email:  [email protected]

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website

Admissions Graduate College Admissions & Requirements

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2024-2025 Catalog (PDF)

A copy of the full 2024-2025 catalog.

Plant Biotechnology

Plant biotechnology: why plants represent ‘untapped potential’ for innovative drug discovery.

The field of medicine has come a long way from using heroin as a cough remedy or magnet therapy to improve blood flow. These outdated methods were put to bed decades ago. But there are plenty of ancient medicinal practices that have stood the test of time. In fact, many of the life-saving pharmaceuticals we rely on today are derived from plants first discovered by indigenous communities.

Ethnobotany is the scientific study of traditional plant knowledge. It’s what gave us morphine, aspirin, and ephedrine, to name a few. And there is still untapped potential.

In a paper published on Tuesday in Trends in Biotechnology , Northeastern University doctoral candidate John de la Parra described a new field called ethnophytotechnology. It’s the use of plant biotechnology to improve the plant-based drug discovery pipeline.

“New production, engineering, and analysis methods have made it easier to meet scientific challenges that have confronted traditionally used plant-derived medicines,” said de la Parra, PhD’18, who is earning his doctorate in chemistry. “It is our hope that as the field expands, rich troves of indigenous knowledge can find prominence within innovative drug discovery and production platforms.”

In collaboration with Cassandra Leah Quave, a medical ethnobotanist at Emory University, de la Parra examines the vast opportunities for ethnobotany and ethnophytotechnology to promote new drug discovery and solve health challenges. Here, he and Quave take a deeper dive into their recent paper.

You mentioned that traditional plant knowledge has been the foundation of some important medicines. Could you share some examples?

de la Parra: Plants have given us some of our oldest and most important medicines and there are countless examples, from aspirin to the chemotherapy drug Paclitaxel, crossing cultures across the world. Historically, to practice medicine or pharmacy has usually meant, in some regard, to be a botanist.

An interesting place to start is by looking at diseases that we know existed in the ancient world and still persist today. Take malaria for example. An extract from the bark of the cinchona tree was traditionally used to treat victims of this parasitic disease. Chemists then isolated quinine from this plant and until fairly recently, quinine derivatives were our most important anti-malarial drugs. However, the isolation of this type of single molecule treatment led to the rise of quinine-resistant malaria. Luckily, traditional plant knowledge came to the rescue with artemisinin. This compound was discovered by 2015 Nobel laureate Tu Youyou when she consulted a nearly 2,000-year-old Chinese medicinal text that described methods to extract the plant  Artemisia annua.

The paper suggests that using indigenous knowledge for drug development is more important now than ever. Why is that?

de la Parra: There are many reasons why plant medicine is so important right now. Cassandra’s work has focused on the alarming rise of drug-resistant infections—infections for which we have no effective treatments. Plant-derived drugs present the potential for novel drug scaffolds that often have a history of safe and effective usage.

I tend to think about my work from a broad perspective. A rapidly expanding global population with ever-growing economic disparity has led to shocking inequalities in medical treatment. In the West, pharmaceutical companies have focused more on diseases of the affluent—chronic diseases—and less on improving treatments for acute infections that tend to affect the developing world. Many of these areas of the world also rely on traditional plant treatments. Ethnophytotechnology is a chance for combined expertise—the West’s mechanization and biotechnology strengths combined with the developing world’s thousands of years of rich ethnobotanical knowledge—to find and develop effective drugs for otherwise neglected diseases. This is all at a time when we see those same diseases spreading around the world despite our artificial borders—think of Zika, Ebola, and Chagas disease for instance.

Quave: We’re entering into a new era of medicine—one in which previously useful antibiotic compounds are losing their ability to effectively treat microbial infections. Although we’ve recently come to rely more and more on synthetic chemistry for the generation of medically important drugs, humankind shares a long and extensive history in which nature was the major source of cures for various maladies. The advantages of ethnophytotechnological innovation, represented by the merger of traditional knowledge with technological advancement, will be an increased ability to tap into nature’s resources to sustainably produce large quantities of novel chemical entities to fill the drug discovery pipeline in the future and better address emerging medical needs.

How can it be assured that indigenous populations and practices are not damaged by the biomedical field?

de la Parra: As an ethnobotanist, someone whose concern is the honoring and preservation of human plant knowledge, this is a huge and primary concern. First it must be acknowledged that the historical record is full of accounts of how many indigenous communities have been preyed upon, destroyed, and systematically dismantled by greedy interests. Then, the international community must agree upon and enforce regulations to protect indigenous people, knowledge, and culture. The Nagoya Protocol is an important first step for individual researchers and corporations to follow, even if one’s home country is not a signatory. It sets forth important standards for researchers and protections for indigenous communities.

Why did you get into this type of research? What is your inspiration for pursuing ethnobotany and ethnophytotechnology?

de la Parra: I grew up on a farm in Alabama where we lived closely with plants and relied on them for many things. I remember being fascinated by my grandmother’s use of plants as medicine. As I began my academic pursuits I often felt that the scientific community was skeptical of the idea of plant-derived medicine. And truthfully, there has been a lot of misinformation disseminated about plant remedies. Biotechnology provides the rigor, accuracy, and reproducibility to help dispel scientific apprehension about plant-derived treatments and that’s why I work at the interface of ethnobotany and biotechnology.

PhD in Plant Biotechnology: Projects, Fellowships, Positions, Programmes, Scholarships

Find a PhD in plant biotechnology and its related areas in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, and Australia, New Zealand. Plant biotechnology PhD programs, scholarships, research projects, fellowships, courses, and positions are available in European countries, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, etc. Here you can also find studentships, jobs, courses, offers, and fully funded opportunities for international students abroad.

Fellowships for PhD in Plant Biotechnology

Phd fellowship in environmental biotechnology, university of stavanger, norway, europe, february 5, 2024, ph.d , scholarships.

Last Date: 4th March 2024. Job description The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering. The position is vacant from 01.08.2024 and the starting date is no later than 01.11.2024. This is a …

Research Assistant/Associate (Fixed Term), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, UK

February 2, 2024, the uni jobs.

Last Date: March 10, 2024. The BioNano Engineering group, headed by Dr. Ljiljana Fruk (fruk-lab.com), is looking for an outstanding postdoctoral research associate for a project focused on development of strategies to enable improved binding of natural plant-based pigments to cellulosic fibres. This position is funded by BBSRC Prosperity Partnership …

Research Assistant in Biochemistry, Durham University, England, UK

December 15, 2023.

Last Date: 09-Jan-2024. The University At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things …

Trainee / Research Assistant, part-time (Photo-e-Microbes project), 1-2 persons, University of Turku, Finland, Europe

November 9, 2023.

Last Date: 20 November 2023. The Photo-e-Microbes project (funder: Novo Nordisk Foundation, principal investigator: Dr Laura Wey, project duration: October 2023 – September 2026) at the Molecular Plant Biology unit, Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku is looking for a Trainee or a Research Assistant to study exoelectrogenesis of …

PhD Ecotoxicology Investigation of the bioavailability and effects of legacy and emerging PFAS on terrestrial organisms under laboratory and field conditions, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Europe

June 29, 2023.

Last Date: July 31 2023. Department: Department of BiologyRegime Full-time The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research, and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international, and …

PhD Plant development and Ecotoxicology Investigation of the bioavailability and effects of legacy and emerging PFAS on terrestrial plants, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Europe

All about All Sciences - Sign up for Updates

Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology

The Graduate Program in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology (PBGB) is an interdepartmental program at Michigan State University.

The Graduate Program in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology (PBGB) is an interdepartmental program at Michigan State University. Our students research agronomic, forest and horticultural species and may choose from a broad array of educational courses. This program was established in 1981 and grants both the master's and doctoral degrees.

This program is a collaboration between faculty members from the MSU departments of Forestry , Horticulture , Plant Biology and Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences . We offer state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, access to research greenhouses, farms, and specialized equipment on the MSU Campus. Our faculty also compete successfully for internal and external funding for research projects. New students have a high degree of flexibility in selecting a major professor, committee members and a thesis project among this talented group. MSU is particularly known for research, teaching and extension activities in the plant sciences; thus, strong support and resources are available to students in PBGB.

We invite you to learn more about the PBGB program on this web site or contact the PBGB Program Office.

Assistantship Opportunities Now Available in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology

Financial support is now available through several Research Assistantships (RA's) in ongoing faculty programs. These funds recently became available through success by PBG faculty in obtaining on/off campus competitive grants. The research programs may involve agronomic, forest or horticultural commodities. Within these commodities scientific research is possible in a broad array of topics including, but not limited to:

• applied breeding and genetics
• molecular biology
• disease, insect and herbicide resistances
• abiotic stress factors
• molecular mapping
• quantitative genetics
• gene isolation and genomics

Upon acceptance, the research assistantships are awarded by individual professors. There is no specific deadline for applying for these assistantships but they are competitive. You will not need to make a separate application for the RA as your admission application will also serve as an application for an RA, but you may want to contact the individual professors to express your interest. Contact Mackenzie Graham  for further information and questions.

For Graduate Student Funding Opportunities visit:

• MSU Graduate School Funding Opportunities

Research School of Biology

• Current students
• Staff login
• Staff services
• News & events

• Bachelor degrees & honours
• Master degrees
• PhD & MPhil
• Student projects
• Student profiles
• Biology Teaching and Learning Centre
• Anjeli Nathan Memorial Scholarship
• Hiroto Naora Graduate Student Travel Scholarship
• Jan Anderson ANU-NTU HDR Supplementary Scholarship
• RSB Director’s Prize in Honours
• RSB Outstanding Thesis Prize
• Summer Research Scholarships
• International student scholarships
• Resources for schools
• Honorary groups
• Centres & units
• Research stories
• Resources & tools
• Professional staff
• Past events
• Training and Workshops
• Event series
• Event recordings
• Newsletters
• Organisational structure
• Ralph Slatyer Medal
• The history of Biology at ANU
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access
• Future students enquiries
• Current students enquiries
• General enquiries
• Connecting to the RSB VPN service
• Search ANU web, staff & maps
• Search current site content

Discover our degree programs and courses.

• RSB Student scholarships & prizes
• School enrichment & outreach

Read about our research.

• Research groups

A directory of all members of the Research School of Biology.

Find out about the school's latest news and events.

Read about the school's history, governance and structure.

Get in touch with us.

You are here

• PhD applications in Plant Sciences

Plant Sciences

Are you interested in pursuing a PhD in one of Australia’s premier Plant Science departments? Do you want to work in a world-class, culturally diverse, department alongside world-leading researchers and in a vibrant, liveable (non-congested) city? Then check out the Division of Plant Sciences at the ANU.

Our Science : We provide a broad range of outstanding research opportunities in plant biology at ANU and through collaborations with the broader Canberra scientific community (e.g. our CSIRO neighbours). The plant science community is highly interdisciplinary and contains many world leaders. Our research seeks to understand, across a range of scales, the fundamental biological processes that control plant growth, survival and reproduction, and to translate that knowledge in applied outcomes. The department has four interconnected areas of expertise; plant cell signaling and development; photosynthesis and energy; plant-microbe/pathogen interactions; ecophysiology and ecosystem function. Our science seeks to determine how plants function in managed and natural systems. Our expertise spans gene and protein regulation; signaling, metabolism and cell biology; organ, whole plant, forest and ecosystem biology and how to apply these discoveries in innovative Ag-biotech and environmental management applications.

Our staff , together with visiting global experts, provide students with opportunities to work in world renowned research teams and on cutting edge research projects that are directly or indirectly related to problems in Australian and global biotechnology, agriculture and natural ecosystems. Our PhD program enables students to establish contacts with researchers elsewhere in Australia, overseas and with industry – providing stimulating scientific opportunities within a leading research division. Annual graduate student events, conference travel awards, graduate training workshops and a seminar series enrich the student experience.

Our facilities: are modern and cutting edge . Plant sciences students enjoy the finest research facilities available in Australia. In addition to modern research laboratories, there are expansive state-of-the-art plant transformation, culture, and phenotyping facilities; extensive new glasshouse facilities; advanced microscopy, mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing facilities and an inhouse computing support unit.

Our values : We pride ourselves on providing high-quality supervision and research training to our students. Our PhD students go on to highly productive careers in academia, industry and other professional activities outside of science. We value diversity and inclusivity and have active policies to prevent discrimination. Our faculty and their research teams comprise a thriving community of people from all over the globe and from all walks of life.

Our Location: The ANU is a research-intensive university situated in Canberra, Australia’s capital city. Canberra is a well-resourced regional city (population ~460,000), set amongst beautiful mountains and eucalypt forests. Bike riding and hiking are everyday activities, and we are a two-hour drive away from both winter snowfields and beautiful coastal beaches. Canberra’s birdlife is stunning and its inner city kangaroo population expansive. Despite its regional setting, Canberra is a vibrant, multicultural city and home to many National attractions and centres. There are frequent cultural evenings, festivals, art exhibits, music events, and world-class restaurant and coffee scenes.

If you are interested in doing a PhD : then check out the Prospective supervisors and research area list below. Once you identify a topic of interest, email the lead researcher (prospective supervisor) to find out more detail on what projects are available. In your email attach a copy of your CV, a copy of you academic transcripts (a downloaded “non-official” version is sufficient at this point) and include in the email a few sentences on what your research interests are and what you like about the research area of the prospective supervisor. Once you have organised a project and supervisor you will work with them to write a 1-2 page research project outline that you will need to submit with your application (see below for details on how to apply online). If you are an international student and have the possibility of applying for PhD funding from your home country or other source please ensure you include this information in the initial email to your potential supervisor.

Am I eligible to apply for a PhD? : Entry into the PhD program is open to applicants with a Bachelor degree that have also completed (or are in the process of nearly completing) an Honours or Masters research (as opposed to coursework) degree. The degree must comprise at least a half year, full time research component and a thesis (8,000-10,000+ words). Applicants with significant years of research experience and publications may be deemed eligible if their achievements can be justified as completing a body of independent research equivalent to that of an Honours/Masters research graduate. Ensure you tick the scholarship box in your PhD application to automatically be considered for a stipend scholarship. Stipend scholarships are highly competitive, especially for international students. Only students awarded a 1 st class thesis (or with H1 equivalent research experience) will be considered for an ANU PhD stipend scholarship. An initial evaluation of how competitive you are for a stipend scholarship can be made by sending a copy of your CV and transcript to the Plant Science HDR convenor Professor Spencer Whitney .

How do I apply for a PhD?

The application form is here , along with general information on how to apply and the details about the Doctor of Philosophy program . Applications are due by 15 th April (midyear round for both international and domestic student applications), 31 st August ( international student application round) or 31 st October (domestic student application round). If you have any questions or problems with your application send an email here .

Prospective supervisors and research area

• Atkin Group - Plant respiration in a changing world
• Borevitz Group - Plant genomics for climate adaption
• Byrt Group – Engineering plant membrane proteins and solute transport to increase yield security
• Farquhar Group – Coordination of CO2 fixation and transpiration in plants
• Furbank Group – Improving photosynthesis and crop yield
• Masle Group – Environmental sensing, systematic signalling and development
• Mathesius Group - Root microbe interactions - symbionts to parasites
• Millar Group - Plant RNA biology
• Nicotra Group - Plant physiological ecology, plant evolutionary biology, reproductive ecology
• Pogson Group - Chloroplast to nuclear signalling: light, drought and carotenoids
• Rathjen Group - Plant immunity
• Schwessinger Group - Plants, fungi, evolution
• Solomon Group - Wheat biosecurity
• Whitney Group - Synthetic Photosynthesis - bioengineering enzymes to adjust carbon fixation
• Williams Group - Plant structural immunology

• Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Plant Science graduate program offers advanced study in applied plant biology, with a commitment to development of sustainable managed agroecosystems. Our graduate program offers opportunities for advanced studies in basic and applied research, leading to M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees, in plant production, plant protection, plant biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interaction.

The program is enriched through collaborations with colleagues in graduate programs such as Food Science, Soil Science, Botany, Zoology. Collaborations include on-campus research centres such as the Biodiversity Research Centre, the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, the Wine Research Centre, and off-campus research agencies/institutions such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Canadian Light Source, and other Canadian universities.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Our graduate program offers students the opportunity to develop their graduate studies uniquely tailored to their professional goals and research interests in consultation with their research supervisor. The diversity of plant agriculture in British Columbia provides excellent opportunities for students to select a cropping system most suitable for their thesis research.  Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to develop their research programs through an interdisciplinary approach involving other departments on the campus.

Excellent facilities for thesis research are available on the UBC campus in the MacMillan Building, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm , Totem Field Laboratory, UBC Wine Research Centre, the Michael Smith Laboratories, and the Horticulture Glasshouse. Some Plant Science graduate students also work with our Adjunct Professors, spread throughout the province of British Columbia.

One aspect that attracted me to the program was the opportunity to conduct research on the properties affiliated with the LFS faculty (such as the UBC Farm). Having easy access to outdoor research space and the site managers is a convenient way to get started with research ideas.

Jens Johnson

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Before you apply, please make sure you meet/exceed the admission requirements and most importantly have a supervisor confirmed.

Please review the list of faculty members in the program and contact the ones with the same research interests as you direclty to check their availability/interest in accepting you.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a M.Sc. degree in plant science or a related area, with clear evidence of research ability, and a strive for research excellence. Transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program is permitted under Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regulations.

2) Meet Deadlines

January 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, may 2025 intake, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research highlights.

Research topics focus on plant-environment interactions, plant-pathogen interaction, pollination ecology, agro-ecology, crop production and breeding, irrigation management, disease protection, and plant physiology, biotechnology, biochemistry and imaging.

Research Focus

Specific areas of specialization include:

• pollination biology; insect physiology; insect ecology and behaviour; natural insecticides
• weed biology, ecology, and control; invasive species biology
• fruit physiology and metabolism; plant nutrition; plant-plant interaction; biotic and abiotic stressor resistance
• crop stress physiology; plant anatomy; structure-function relation; water relations; irrigation management
• horticulture; vegetable culture; ornamental horticulture; post-harvest physiology
• plant biochemistry; tissue culture; genetic engineering; plant, fungal, and viral molecular genetics
• plant-microbe interaction; bacterial and fungal diseases; plant virology; biological control of pests and diseases
• cereal and pathogen genomics; host-pathogen interactions; genetics of disease resistance
• plant breeding; phenotyping; plant imaging; trait selection
• rangeland ecology and wildlife habitat studies

Program Components

Appropriate coursework may be selected in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. All doctoral students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination. The major requirement for the Ph.D. is completion of a research dissertation meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements.

Research Facilities

Plant Science teaching and research facilities are located in the H.R. MacMillan Building, in Food Nutrition and Health Building, and in the UBC Biotech Laboratory. Research facilities include: the UBC Farm, the UBC Botanical Garden, greenhouses and the Totem Field Plant Science Field Station (UBC Plant Care Services), a controlled environment-facility (walk-in and reach-in growth chambers), and modern analytical laboratories.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All newly admitted graduate students in the research-based PhD program will be supported by a minimum funding package of $24,000/year for 4 years provided they maintain good academic standing.

The funding package may consist of internal or external award, scholarship, teaching or research assistantship, or any combination of the above. Students are expected to be proactive in applying for awards and scholarships.

Average Funding

• 3 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 3 students was $5,947.
• 8 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 8 students was $17,537.
• 9 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 9 students was $13,407.
• 2 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 2 students was $18,833.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

16 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 13 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

Plant Science graduates (M.Sc., Ph.D.) generally opt for a teaching and/or research career. Some also work for government agencies (Agri-Food Canada, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture), agri-industry, or do consulting work in plant science.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Carrillo, Juli (Plant-insect interactions; Agroecology; Invasive species; evolution; Ecology; community ecology; Environmental Change; Plant evolution; Population Ecology)
• Castellarin, Simone (Enology and viticulture; Horticultural crop growth and development; Crop physiology; Fruit ripening; Secondary metabolism; Environmental stresses; Viticulture)
• Jovel Ayala, Eduardo (Ethnobotany, mycology, natural product chemistry and Aboriginal health)
• Knipfer, Thorsten
• Kronstad, James (Bioinformatics; Immunology; Microbiology; Plant biology; Mycology; Fungal diseases of plants; Genomics and Proteomics; Medical Mycology; Molecular Genetics; Pathogenesis of infectious diseases; Plant-Microbe Interactions)
• Riseman, Andrew (plant breeding; plant genetics; horticulture; roots; stress physiology, Plant breeding, intercrop interactions, nutrient use efficiency, root physiology, biotic/abtioic stressor)
• Sargent, Risa (Plant biology; Biological control; community ecology; evolutionary ecology; Floral trait evolution; Flowering plants; Herbivory; Pollinator-mediated interactions)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Anthocyanin accumulation and cuticular wax deposition in blueberries : Impacts on fruit surface color and water loss

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Plant Science (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
• Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture (GCAQUA)
• Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
• Master of Food Science (MFS)
• Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)
• Master of Science in Applied Animal Biology (MSc)
• Master of Science in Food Science (MSc)
• Master of Science in Human Nutrition (MSc)
• Master of Science in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (MSc)
• Master of Science in Soil Science (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

Plant Science covers topics related to plant production, plant protection, biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interactions. Specific areas of specialization include:

• plant-microbe interaction, bacterial and fungal diseases, plant virology, biological control of pests and diseases, insect physiology, natural insecticides, insect ecology and behaviour, and weed biology, ecology, and control, invasive species biology pollination biology
• plant nutrition, plant growth analysis, plant-plant interaction, biotic and abiotic stressor resistance, and environmental plant physiology
• vegetable culture, ornamental horticulture, plant breeding, and post-harvest physiology
• plant biochemistry, tissue culture, genetic engineering, and plant, fungal, and viral molecular genetics
• cereal pathology, host-pathogen interactions, genetics of disease resistance, plant imaging, cereal and pathogen genomics, resistance breeding.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Jonathan Beutler

First and foremost, I was inspired by the scope of the dissertation project that I am proud to be working on at UBC. I believe that the advent portable sequencing platforms will play an important role in advancing global disease biology by helping us to deploy widespread genomic monitoring for more...

Steven Bristow

I had a few ideal criteria when trying to decide where to do my PhD and UBC met all of them. I wanted to try working with new types of crops/styles of production, work in a new climate, and I had hoped to be able to do a PhD outside the United States. The climate in BC is much more temperate, less...

Curious about life in Vancouver?

Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

• Why Grad School at UBC?
• Application & Admission
• Info Sessions
• Research Projects
• Indigenous Students
• International Students
• Tuition, Fees & Cost of Living
• Newly Admitted
• Student Status & Classification
• Student Responsibilities
• Supervision & Advising
• Managing your Program
• Health, Wellbeing and Safety
• Professional Development
• Dissertation & Thesis Preparation
• Final Doctoral Exam
• Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission
• Life in Vancouver
• Vancouver Campus
• Graduate Student Spaces
• Graduate Life Centre
• Life as a Grad Student
• Graduate Student Ambassadors
• Meet our Students
• Award Opportunities
• Award Guidelines
• Minimum Funding Policy for PhD Students
• Killam Awards & Fellowships
• Policies & Procedures
• Information for Supervisors
• Dean's Message
• Leadership Team
• Strategic Plan & Priorities
• Vision & Mission
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Initiatives, Plans & Reports
• Graduate Education Analysis & Research
• Media Enquiries
• Newsletters
• Giving to Graduate Studies

Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes

Doctoral Training Program

Join us to understand the bio-chemistry of plant success.

All academic departments and independent research groups at the IPB regularly offer opportunities for pursuing exciting dissertation research toward a doctoral degree on ambitious and modern topics of plant-related biochemistry and natural products chemistry . The excellent research infrastructure at the IPB, its state-of-the-art technology platforms, and its vibrant academic environment provide outstanding conditions to ensure successful graduation. More than 50 doctoral candidates at the IPB benefit from competent mentoring and a two-tiered structured doctoral training program, which well prepares the candidates for future leading positions in academia, industry, or the public sector.

Core Program

Doctoral candidates are enrolled typically at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and defend their dissertation thesis in compliance with the Doctorate Regulations (Promotionsordnung) of the Faculties of Natural Sciences I-III (see also Guide for Doctoral Candidates ). The MLU confers the degree Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.), which is equivalent to the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English-speaking countries.

Irrespective of their participation in a structured graduate program (e.g., CRC, RTG, yDiv, Agripoly, etc.), all doctoral candidates at the IPB complete the following core program (click "read more").

• Attendance at the IPB Welcome & Orientation Day within the first six months at the IPB, including the Seminar on Good Scientific Practice
• IPB Supervision Agreement between the doctoral candidate and the supervision team/thesis committee (or equivalent agreement of external doctoral program)
• Regular presentation at the IPB Research Seminar Series ("Wednesday Seminar"; see Intranet schedule)
• Regular participation in departmental activities (e.g., seminars/progress reports/research discussions)
• Regular participation in the IPB Retreat

Extended Program Leibniz Research School PlantBioChem

In addition, every doctoral candidate at the IPB has the opportunity to participate in a structured graduate training program - the Leibniz Research School PlantBioChem. The qualification and academic activities offered by the LRS PlantBioChem are embedded in the International Graduate Academy (InGrA) of the MLU. InGrA supports and coordinates various structured doctoral programs, offers additional soft skill courses and valuable networking opportunities both within the field of research and across disciplines.

Successful completion of the LRS PlantBioChem Program will be documented in an LRS Record Book (following the European Credit Point System ) and acknowledged upon conferral of the doctoral degree by the MLU by awarding the LRS PlantBioChem Certificate.

LRS PlantBioChem comprises the following mandatory and optional training elements.

Mandatory Training Elements

• IPB Supervision Agreement between the doctoral candidate and the Thesis Committee (or equivalent agreement of external doctoral program)
• Regular presentations at and regular (weekly) attendance of the IPB Research Seminar Series ("Wednesday Seminar"; see LRS PlantBioChem Program and Intranet schedule)
• Attendance at the annual Leibniz Plant Biochemistry Symposium
• Participation in the annual Plant Science Student Conference (PSSC) and/or the PhD Workshop on Natural Products
• Poster/Talk presentation at an international conference
• Participation in an transferable skill course

Optional Training Elements

In addition to the mandatory elements, the LRS Program encourages optional training for professional as well as personal development. It is recommended to take advantage of the following optional training elements which will be accredited in the LRS Record Book as well on the LRS PlantBioChem Certificate.

• Courses/Workshops (hard/technical and soft/transferable skills, including language courses) either offered by InGrA or IPB (initiated by the doctoral candidates and supported by IPB organisationally and financially; see IPB Doctoral Training Courses 'DoCou' )
• Supervision of BSc or MSc students in the lab or in coursework
• Organizational responsibilities (Doctoral Representative, PSSC planning, hosting IPB Seminar speakers, etc.)

How to apply?

• We advertise open PhD positions on our job vacancies pages. Please, follow the guidelines of the specific job description when applying. See IPB job vacancies...

Students interested in applying for a PhD scholarship (see list of fellowship programs ) should directly contact a research group leader working in the field of interest who may act as a supervisor. Check out the IPB research groups...

A Guidebook specifically tailored to doctoral students arriving at the IPB is available upon request and on the intranet. Contact your department's secretary or doctoral representative .

In addition, we refer to the Martin Luther University's comprehensive Guide for Doctoral Candidates .

The LRS PlantBioChem is led by Prof. Steffen Abel . LRS Coordinator is Antje Hellmuth .

This page was last modified on 07.03.2024.

• Show Sitemap
• Research Mission and Profile
• Molecular Signal Processing
• Bioorganic Chemistry
• Biochemistry of Plant Interactions
• Cell and Metabolic Biology
• Independent Junior Research Groups
• Program Center MetaCom
• Technology Platforms
• Databases and Tools
• PhD Program
• Good Scientific Practice
• Research Funding
• Networks and Collaborative Projects
• Symposia and Colloquia
• Publications
• Organizational Chart
• Management and Boards
• Administration and Infrastructure
• Energy Management
• Diversity, Family, Equality
• Public Tendering
• Patents and Licensing
• IPB Welcoming Culture
• Guest Houses
• IPB Site Map
• Brief IPB History
• Alumni Network
• Infrastructure
• Greenhouses and Phytochambers
• Technical Resources
• Library Services
• Data protection information for applicants
• Job Vacancies
• Berufsausbildung
• Public Relations
• News Ticker Science
• Press Releases
• IPB Newsletter
• IPB Press Review
• Printed / Information Material
• Research Explained Simply and Clearly
• Art Exhibitions
• Citizen Science: Pilzberatung

Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie

• NMBU student

Doctoral degree Full time Plant Sciences

The PhD programme in Plant Sciences, at the Faculty of Biosciences.

This program is no longer accepting new students, it has been replaced by the PhD programme in Biosciences .

Start of studies :.

Continuously

The objective of the PhD education is to give candidates knowledge, skills and expertise in line with the Norwegian qualifications framework.

Career opportunities

The PhD programme in Plant Sciences shall qualify students for research of international standard and for other work in society where there are high demands on scientific insight and analytical thinking, in accordance with recognised principles of academic and research ethics.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the PhD programme in Plant Sciences, new doctors are expected to:

• Have in-depth knowledge within their subject area in plant sciences, and to be at the forefront of knowledge within their specific area of research.
• Have in-depth knowledge about scientific theories and methods associated with the field.
• Be able to assess and analyse different theories, methods and processes in research and academic development projects ¿ also from an international perspective.
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and methods in the field.
• Be able to formulate issues, and plan and conduct research and academic development work at a high international level within their field.
• Know how to use the scientific equipment, instruments and analysis tools of their field of specialisation, and be familiar with equipment normally used by researchers.
• Master relevant statistical methods and be able to assess the utility and limitations of different statistical methods.
• Have conducted original research that has led to new knowledge that can be published in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Be able to handle complexity, create an overview, and synthesise scientific information.
• Be able to perform critical assessments and give constructive criticism on scientific work in their field.
• Be able to disseminate research results in writing and orally, in both scientific and popular scientific forums.

General Competence

• Be able to conduct their research with professional and ethical integrity, and be able to identify and evaluate relevant environmental and ethical issues.
• Be able to disseminate research and development work through recognised national and international channels, and participate in scientific debates in international forums.
• Be able to disseminate the results of their research work to the business sector, the authorities and public administration, and to the general public through contact with the media.
• Have some experience with teaching students within their subject area or area of specialisation.
• Be able to place own research in larger academic and societal contexts.
• Be able to assess the need for and, if required, stimulate innovation in the field.

Exchange possibilities

Program structure.

The PhD programme in Plant Sciences is based at the Department of Plant Sciences, NMBU. The programme is based on the general description of the PhD Education at NMBU, and is regulated by the Regulations for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. You can find information about rules, application forms, and completion of the PhD study at NMBU here.

The Department of Plant Sciences has a broad scientific portfolio in plant sciences that encompasses agroecology, genetics and plant breeding, plant protection, plant physiology, plant biotechnology, plant production and urban horticulture. The doctoral work provides expertise and specialisation in one or more of these areas of research.

The PhD programme in Plant Sciences is a doctoral programme that will educate independent researchers of international calibre in conjunction with national and international research communities. The PhD programme will qualify students for research work and for other work where there are high demands on scientific insight. The PhD programme seeks to fulfil the current and future needs for competence to conduct research, development and dissemination at universities, other public and private institutions, enterprises and organisations. The PhD student will complete an education that offers deeper and broader competence, based on a relevant master's degree. The PhD student will carry out an independent work of research leading to a scientific thesis on a high academic level. The candidate must learn critical thinking skills, dissemination of knowledge and academic collaboration. Each PhD student is assigned a principal supervisor and one or more academic co-supervisors. Supervisors are encouraged to form networks that include highly competent co-supervisors from foreign universities.

The Department of Plant Sciences has its own research committee, with a chair and a secretary, which carries out administrative and advisory functions and performs quality assurance of the admission process, programme description and progress of the doctoral studies.

All PhD students must conduct three regular seminars at their department, in accordance with section 9.1 of NMBU's PhD Regulations: an introductory seminar before submitting the application for approval of the education plan, a midway assessment seminar about 1.5¿2 years into the PhD education, and a final seminar about 6 months before submitting the doctoral thesis. The midway assessment seminar must be carried out in accordance with section 9.2 of NMBU's PhD Regulations. The seminars are considered part of the required coursework and the quality assurance of the PhD programme of study, and will give the students useful feedback for the work ahead.

PhD students must submit annual progress reports on a standard form by 1 November every year. Deviations from the plan must be explained. The requirement of progress reports is set out in section 9.1. PhD students and supervisors share responsibility for progress.

PhD students shall apply for approval of their PhD education plan as soon as possible after admission, and at the latest within 6 months. Courses that make up the required coursework must total at least 30 credits, including a compulsory course in research ethics of at least 5 credits: PHI401 or the equivalent. The required coursework must be seen in the context of the research plan, so that the PhD study as a whole gives the student adequate academic breadth, depth, and coherent scientific competence. The education plan must be approved by the research committee at IPV in order to ensure that the courses are relevant and as a whole offer a cohesive education at an adequate level.

Research community linked to the study PhD student`s principal supervisors are appointed from among the department's permanent academic staff. Other researchers with relevant expertise can be appointed as co-supervisors, also those who come from other national or international institutions.

Of the department's PhD students in Plant Sciences in January 2015, about half are directly linked to a research community at IPV and are formally employed by NMBU. The rest are employed by collaborating institutions like Bioforsk, Nofima and Graminor. However, it is a requirement that the principal supervisor is an employee of IPV, and an attempt is made to ensure that the PhD candidates in question are linked to research projects in which IPV is an active partner. All supervisors must have a doctoral degree or equivalent academic competence.

Research work in connection with the programme of the study The research work shall be an independent, scientific work that fulfils international standards and is of high academic quality (section 10 of the PhD Regulations). The work will be planned and carried out in consultation with the supervisors and any external partners. The research activities encompass planning and conducting of own research, and processing of results, and writing the thesis. This is the most important part of the research process in terms of PhD students acquiring research competence. Active participation in the research community will give PhD students an understanding of research management, experience with research collaboration, and the opportunity to discuss issues and experiments, and a forum in which to challenge established knowledge and practices, and present their projects.

A realistic milestone plan must be drawn up, so that the work can be completed, and the thesis submitted by the end of the contract period. The principal supervisor has general responsibility for ensuring that the plan is realistic.

The progress of the research work must be reported in the annual progress report.

Required coursework The required coursework is specific to each subject area, and consists of a combination of different courses in this field. The required coursework will be adapted to the PhD student's individual specialisation in the subject area, based on his/her master's-level competence. Students are free to take the courses in the order that best suits their timeline of activities.

Students are particularly encouraged to incorporate courses from the NOVA Postgraduate School, which are PhD courses offered by the Nordic agricultural universities as a joint venture. We also recommend an advanced course in statistics and methods. Some master's-level courses are permitted, if they fit the overall profile of the plan. The PhD student may carry out supervised self-study in areas in which there are no relevant courses (individual course). All courses that are part of the education plan must have a lecturer/supervisor in charge, and an external examiner must evaluate the courses.

Thesis and public defence

The thesis shall be an independent, scientific work that fulfils international standards and is of high academic quality in terms of the formulation of research questions, the specification of concepts, the methodological, theoretical and empirical basis, documentation, the use of literature and the form of presentation. The thesis shall contribute to the development of new knowledge in the chosen field and must be of such quality as to qualify for publication as a part of the scientific literature in the field (see section 10).

The doctoral thesis must consist of at least three academic articles that can be published in scientific journals. The articles should ideally be published or accepted for publication before submitting the thesis, but often this is not realistic within a three-year period. However, the articles must at minimum have the same standard as a manuscript that is submitted to a journal for the first time. The PhD candidate must be the lead author of at least two of the articles. An introductory chapter must also be written, in which the PhD candidate displays thorough knowledge of the field, and an ability to synthesise scientific findings and discussions from different articles. The PhD candidate shall write this section on his/her own. The thesis must also be written and submitted in accordance with the rules in sections 10 and 13.1, and authorship declarations must be enclosed for each scientific article.

The public defence will begin with a trial lecture on a topic that is assigned to the PhD candidate 10 working days in advance. The lecture must last 45 minutes, and be of a standard that corresponds to a lecture for master's degree students in the subject. Two external opponents will then critically review the thesis, and assess the candidate's responses. The evaluation and the work of the evaluation committee must comply with the rules in the PhD Regulations, sections 12 and 15.

Support functions and infrastructure

IPV has its own research committee chair, who is appointed from among the department's permanent academic staff. This person chairs the research committee, which reviews applications for admission, programme descriptions, proposals for evaluation committees, and monitors the quality and progress of the candidate's PhD education. The department¿s research committee secretary/ PhD contact person carries out the day-to-day administrative and advisory functions in relation to PhD students.

The department will provide the necessary infrastructure for the PhD students, like office space, laboratory space, IT resources, etc.

More about the program

Societal relevance, learning activities.

Means of acuiring the knowledge

• The required coursework of at least 30 academic credits, which offers comprehensive in-depth competence.
• Reading and keeping updated on literature within his/her field of specialisation.
• The research work.
• Work on the introductory chapter of the thesis, where the candidate has independently written an introduction that provides a theoretical and practical background for the research work, discusses and justifies the choice and use of research methods and puts the results as a whole in an international perspective.

Means of acquiring the skills

• Participating in planning and shaping the PhD project in detail and, if applicable, participating in the planning of new project applications.
• Supervision and own research, where the PhD student actively benefits from the competence of the supervisory team.
• Developing his/her own international academic network outside the supervisory team.
• Attending courses on research methods and writing, when relevant.
• Working on publications, submissions to journals, handling remarks from referees.
• Working on the thesis.
• Participating in peer review of scientific manuscripts, giving feedback on colleagues' manuscripts, and attending seminars where the ideas and results of other PhD students and researchers are discussed

Means of acieving general competence

• Taking a course on research ethics of a scope of at least 5 credits.
• The trial lecture, by familiarising him/herself with a specified topic quickly, time management, searching for / selecting / evaluating / processing information, giving an oral presentation.
• Presenting own research findings at national and international scientific conferences.
• Giving lectures to students and/or being a teaching assistant within his/her area of competence.

Examination

The degree of philosophiae doctor (PhD) is conferred on the basis of:

• Approved completion of the required coursework
• An approved doctoral thesis
• An approved trial lecture on a specified topic
• An approved public defence of the doctoral thesis (disputation)

See The PhD Regulations section 12.

The required coursework is evaluated using different forms of evaluation, such as an oral or written examination, submitting assignments or a term paper. The content of the doctoral work and the required coursework shall be approved by the research committee, and the progress is monitored by means of annual progress reports and the compulsory seminars (introductory seminar, midway assessment seminar and final seminar).

Other input to learning outcomes does not need to be evaluated, but the principal supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the objectives are met through relevant measures, academic discussions and steps towards dissemination work within the time frame of the doctoral work.

Arrangements students from partner universities

Study advisor(s) :.

Mara Dagestad

Anna Mazzarella

PhD (Applied Biology & Biotechnology)

• RMIT Europe
• RMIT Global
• RMIT Vietnam
• Study online
• Courses by study area
• Undergraduate courses
• Postgraduate courses
• Vocational studies
• Pre-university studies
• Online courses and degrees
• Entry pathways
• Single courses
• Short courses and microcredentials
• Courses for international students
• How to apply
• Scholarships
• School leaver information
• Student services
• Student experience
• Frequently asked questions
• Career advisers
• Study experience
• Student life
• Support for students
• Global opportunities
• Industry connections
• Our strategy
• Governance & management
• Schools & colleges
• Respect for Australian Indigenous cultures
• Our locations and facilities
• Our heritage
• Our research
• Partnerships
• Centres and collaborations
• Research degrees
• Recruit students and graduates
• Workforce development
• Collaborate with RMIT
• Research partnerships
• Facilities, equipment and services
• Contact Industry Engagement
• Giving to RMIT
• Study in Australia
• Apply to RMIT as an international student
• International student enquiries
• Fees and scholarships for international students
• International student services
• Key dates for international students

Use your advanced research skills to contribute to new developments in applied biology and biotechnology.

You're viewing program information for local students.

RMIT considers you a local student if you are:

• a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or
• a New Zealand citizen, or
• a person seeking asylum who holds either a: Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) or Bridging Visa E or Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa or Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa.

Asylum seekers who reside in Australia and study onshore are required to pay international onshore tuition fees for higher education courses.

If you are unsure or hold a different visa type, please contact  Study@RMIT for more information.

Not a local student?

You're viewing program information for international students..

RMIT considers you an international student if you are:

• intending to study on a student visa, or
• not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or
• not a New Zealand citizen, or
• not a a person seeking asylum who holds either a: Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) or Bridging Visa E or Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa or Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa.

If you are unsure or  hold a different visa type, please contact  Study@RMIT for more information.

Not an international student?

Not applicable

Research Training Scheme

See admissions

AU$36,480 (2024 annual)

RMIT has a strong reputation for research and teaching in fundamental science and advanced molecular technologies.

Our innovative programs and projects address real-world issues essential to Australia’s innovation agenda.

Research within this discipline uses molecular approaches to diagnose and synthesise solutions for disease and environmental problems.

Under expert supervision, you will develop your skills and join researchers already active in:

• aquatic and marine biology
• ecotoxicology (biomarkers for environmental pollutants)
• bioremediation of contaminated environments
• environmental and molecular approaches to diagnose and develop solutions for disease, agricultural and environmental problems
• genomics and sequencing techniques applied to various organisms
• microbiology (food, medical, environmental and nano biotechnology, vaccine development, fundamentals of host/pathogen interactions)
• plant biology (plant biotechnology and genomics, molecular plant breeding, ecotoxicogenomics, fire and environmental ecology).

RMIT has purpose-built biotechnology labs and advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, tissue culture, microbiology, nanobiotechnology and analytical biochemistry, and experimental animal house facilities located at our Bundoora and City campuses.

How you will learn

Research at rmit, time spent on research.

Full-time candidates are expected to commit at least four days per week (or at least two days per week for part-time candidates) to their research. The academic year is 48 weeks.

Regular contact with your supervisor

A schedule of meetings with your supervisor/s must be established to assess progress against milestones and timely completion.

Resources, facilities and support

You will have access to the Learning Hub and other online and digital resources through the myRMIT student portal.

You will be part of an active research community and have access to resources and workshops to help you succeed.

School of Graduate Research

The School of Graduate Research works with Schools to further support candidates during their postgraduate research degree.

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.

We have industry partnerships with organisations and companies such as:  

• Macfarlane Burnet Institute
• Biomass Conversion Technologies
• Bioproperties
• Prince Henry’s Institute
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Learning outcomes

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the  learning outcomes .

Electives and course plan

You will complete this program under academic supervision.

The PhD program is structured to enable you to:

• complete a compulsory research methods course
• receive training in research integrity and ethics
• select studies in qualitative and quantitative research techniques
• complete a thesis/project which demonstrates your original contribution to the field and your ability to communicate complex or original research for peers and the community to an international standard

You are required to complete:

Research Integrity modules

You are required to complete the online modules:

• Research integrity
• Copyright and intellectual property

Research methods for sciences

Research methods courses step you through the literature review and preparing your research proposal for confirmation of candidature. They are taught in large discipline groups.

You may need to complete an ethics module to ensure your research is ethical and responsible.

Research Techniques

You may elect to take (where relevant) electives in qualitative or quantitative research techniques once data collection has begun. You can use your own data to explore different research analysis techniques. Your supervisor will help you decide when you should take these electives.

Co-curricular activities

You are encouraged to participate in activities offered with the university, college and school according to your needs and interests.

This PhD may be undertaken in a project, thesis by publication or thesis mode. Prospective candidates should discuss these modes of submission with their potential supervisor/s.

Course structure

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

*The maximum duration of the PhD program is 4 years full-time and 8 years part-time. However, candidates are expected to complete their program within 3-4 years full-time equivalent and 6-8 years part-time equivalent.

*The maximum duration of the PhD program is 4 years full-time. However, candidates are expected to complete their program within 3-4 years full-time equivalent.

Note: International student visa holders can only study full-time.

You will be able to pursue an academic career in a university or be employed in senior leadership and management positions in government, scientific and industrial research laboratories.

Minimum requirements for admission

Prerequisites, selection tasks.

The minimum requirements for admission to a PhD program are:

• a bachelor degree requiring at least four years of full-time study in a relevant discipline awarded with honours. The degree should include a research component comprised of a thesis, other research projects or research methodology courses that constitute at least 25% of a full-time academic year (or part-time equivalent). The applicant must have achieved at least a distinction average in the final year;  or
• a master degree that includes a research component comprised of at least 25% of a full-time academic year (or part-time equivalent) with an overall distinction average or a master degree without a research component with at least a high distinction average;  or
• evidence of appropriate academic qualifications and/or experience that satisfies the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Training and Development or nominee that the applicant has developed knowledge of the field of study or cognate field and the potential for research sufficient to undertake the proposed program.

At RMIT a grade of distinction represents academic achievement of 70% or higher and a high distinction is 80% or higher.

If you are a current master by research candidate, you are able to apply for a transfer to a doctor of philosophy program through the process prescribed in the  RMIT Higher Degree by Research policy .

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

These entrance requirements are the minimum academic standard you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for the program. You will need to complete a selection task as part of your application.

A selection process will be conducted in conjunction with the School and supervisors you nominate.

For further information on the steps you need to take to apply for a research program see  How to apply – Research programs .

English language requirements

Research proposal and supervisor.

You must attach a substantive research proposal that is 2 to 5 pages in length which articulates the intent, significance and originality of the proposed topic using the following headings:

a) title / topic b) research questions to be investigated in the context of existing research/literature in the area c) significance and impact of the research d) methodology / research tasks required to undertake the research e) particular needs (e.g. resources, facilities, fieldwork or equipment that are necessary for your proposed research program, if applicable).

Your application will not be considered if you have not discussed your research topic with a proposed senior and associate supervisor or joint senior supervisors. You must provide the names of the academic staff in the school you have applied to and with whom you have discussed your proposed research.

To study this course you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:

• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
• TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.

For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit  English language requirements and equivalency information .

Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at  RMIT English Worldwide .

You can gain entry to this program from a range of RMIT four year  Bachelor and Honours degrees  or  Postgraduate  or Masters by Research programs.

Fee summary

Fee information for masters by research and doctorate (PhD) programs.

If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen you may be eligible for a Research Training Scheme (RTS) place where your tuition costs are funded by the Commonwealth Government under the RTS and you have full exemption from tuition fees.

Acceptance in an RTS place is very competitive and places are granted on the condition that you meet annual progress requirements and complete within the allotted time for your program and your status as a part-time or full-time candidate.

This means a maximum of 2 years for a full-time Masters by Research or 4 years for a PhD (or the equivalent part-time).

Contact the School of Graduate Research for more information.

The  student services and amenities fee (SSAF)  is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.

In addition to the SSAF there may be  other expenses  associated with your program.

Income tax deductions

Candidates may be eligible to apply for income tax deductions for education expenses linked to their employment. See the  Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website  for more information.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

The annual tuition fee for 2024 is AU$36,480.

The total indicative tuition fee for 2024 commencement is AU$151,680.

International applicants

• Fees information  for international candidates looking to study at RMIT's Melbourne campuses.
• PhD  and  masters by research  fees for international candidates studying offshore. 

Other costs

Important fee information.

Find out more details about  how fees are calculated  and the expected annual increase.

Applying for refunds

Find information on how to apply for a  refund  as a continuing international student.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information.

Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.

• Find a project

Course saved!

You can compare up to courses.

You can compare more courses.

View comparison dashboard

Compare limit reached!

To save more courses you will need to unsave some courses in your dashboard.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

• Levels of study
• Applying to RMIT
• International students
• Careers advisers
• Find researchers
• Research contacts
• Staff development and training
• Facilities and equipment services
• Governance and management
• Sustainability
• Schools and colleges
• Copyright © 2024 RMIT University |
• Accessibility |
• Website feedback |
• Complaints |
• ABN 49 781 030 034 |
• CRICOS provider number: 00122A |
• TEQSA provider number: PRV12145 |
• RTO Code: 3046 |
• Open Universities Australia

Cookie Consent

To improve the website, the DAAD and third parties set cookies and process usage data . In doing so, the DAAD and third parties transfer usage data to third countries in which there is no level of data protection comparable to that under EU law. By clicking the "Accept all" button, you consent to this processing. You can also find selection options and explanations of these cookies and processing at the end of this page under "Cookies". There you can withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future.

• Privacy Policy

Jump to content

Higher Education Compass

Plant biotechnology full time, master of science.

Master Degree

4 semesters

Standard period of study (amount)

July 2024 (Germans and inhabitants)

July 2024 (EU), July 2024 (Non-EU) Please enquire

Overview and admission

Admission semester.

Summer and Winter Semester

Area of study

• Horticulture
• Molecular Biology

Entwicklung und Anwendung bio- und gentechnischer Methoden, Entwicklung der Fähigkeit, biotechnologische Fragestellungen und experimentelle Strategien zu entwickeln, Fähigkeit wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse zu gewinnen und in einen entsprechenden Kontext zu stellen, Technikfolgenabschätzung und biologische Sicherheit von Pflanzen, Vermittlung von Fähigkeiten zur Problemlösung im Bereich der modernen Pflanzenproduktion

Target group

https://www.uni-hannover.de/de/studium/studienfuehrer/pflanzenbiomsc/ faehigkeiten/

Admission modus

open admission

Admission requirements (Link)

Admission requirements

Bachelor of Science in Plant Biotechnology or an equivalent qualification in a comparable course\; special additional qualifications are credited. For more information on admission requirements (e.g. language skills), please refer to the admissions regulations for this degree course: www.uni-hannover.de/zugangsordnung

Lecture period

• 01.04.2024 - 30.09.2024
• 14.10.2024 - 01.02.2025

Application deadlines

Winter semester (2024/2025), application deadline for germans and inhabitants.

01.06.2024 - 15.07.2024

Deadlines for International Students from the European Union

There are no separate deadlines for EU citizens.

Deadlines for international students from countries that are not members of the European Union

Enrollment deadline for germans and foreign students, summer semester (2024).

01.12.2024 - 15.01.2025

Tuition fee

Fees (Link)

Languages of instruction

Main language.

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. Kennedyallee 50 53175 Bonn

All addresses in the DAAD Network

DAAD Newsletters

Receive regular up-to-date information about our work and organisation.

Newsletter - DAAD

Useful Links

• Find Scholarships
• DAAD offices worldwide

Jump to top of page

The Need for the Adoption of Plant Tissue Culture by the Cannabis Industry with Shannon Smith, PhD CannMed Coffee Talk

• Life Sciences

Dr. Shannon Smith received his PhD in molecular biosciences from Middle Tennessee State University. There his research focused on plant biotechnology, with work in Cannabis, Panax, and Vitis tissue culture and manipulation. This led to the development of new and unique technologies for the production of both plants and secondary metabolites. He later founded Greenway Lab, a plant biotech company that collaborates with agricultural partners to implement plant biotech solutions to botanical challenges facing the modern agricultural industry. During our conversation, we discuss: How recent advances in plant tissue culture can address major problems faced by the Cannabis industry How rapid, reliable propagation of identical daughter plants can be achieved in tissue culture How long-term storage of explant tissues can be used to regenerate whole plants How developments in meristematic tissue culture protocols can eliminate viral contamination of plant tissues And more! Additional Resources Greenwaylab.co [email protected] Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Tissue Culture: Present Status and Future Potential Cryopreservation of 13 Commercial Cannabis sativa Genotypes Using In Vitro Nodal Explants Initiation, growth and cryopreservation of plant cell suspension cultures ELIMINATION OF HOP LATENT VIROID FROM HOP PLANTS BY COLD TREATMENT AND MERISTEM TIP CULTURE Under siege: virus control in plant meristems and progeny

• Episode Website
• More Episodes

Popular Search Resources for

SUNY Downstate Addresses Growing Diabetes Epidemic at Third Annual Plant-Based Health and Nutrition Conference

May 30, 2024

Clinicians, Students, and Community Leaders Convened to Discuss Lifestyle Interventions Aimed at Preventing, Managing, and Reversing Diabetes

BROOKLYN, NY – SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s Committee on Plant-Based Health & Nutrition held their third conference earlier this month, bringing together clinicians, students, and community leaders to address the growing diabetes epidemic and develop strategies for using lifestyle interventions to prevent, manage, and achieve remission of diabetes.

The conference, held on May 10, featured a keynote address by the president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), Beth Frates, MD, FACS, DipABLM , with attendance from New York City health leaders in lifestyle medicine, including the leadership of the NYC Health + Hospitals Lifestyle Medicine Program, representatives from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Plant-Powered Metro New York, and local physicians, dieticians, and health coaches. The conference was chaired by Elizabeth Helzner, PhD, MS, DipACLM , Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Downstate’s School of Public Health, and was co-chaired by Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, DipABLM , Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology at Downstate and Director of Guidelines and Quality for ACLM.

“In addition to educating our communities, patients, and families to avoid and manage diabetes, this recurring conference helped in educating our students and faculty about one of the greatest public health challenges in New York City and beyond,” said Kitaw Demissie, M.D., PhD, Dean and Professor of Downstate’s School of Public Health. “The conference highlighted the need for approaches that focus on the whole person, incorporating lifestyle and social factors into traditional medical therapies. This conference has equipped participants with several tools to support the health of people with diabetes.”

New York City has experienced a 150% increase in diabetes prevalence since the 1990s with pervasive disparities affecting low-income and Black/Latino communities.  Central Brooklyn, where 80% of residents identify as Black/Latino, has some of the highest rates of diabetes and diabetes-related deaths in New York City. The conference, which spanned a full day, included speakers examining the diabetes landscape in Brooklyn, and NYC plant-forward nutrition and lifestyle interventions policy approaches.

Downstate’s Plant-Based Health and Nutrition Conference is held to equip healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to work on dietary and lifestyle change at multiple levels, including clinical, community, family, and patient, in order to create effective and sustainable patient behavior and lifestyle changes.

To learn more about the conference and view highlights, click here .

  About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.

UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.