phd botany programs

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Botany and plant pathology (ph.d., m.s., minor).

The  Department of Botany and Plant Pathology  offers graduate programs leading to M.S., and Ph.D. degrees that prepare students for a variety of future employment opportunities. Our graduates are employed in both the public and private sector by local, state, national or international employers.

Professional opportunities exist in numerous fields including:

• plant disease research and management    
• plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology
• plant genetics
• marine and aquatic botany
• plant ecology
• botanical taxonomy, structure, evolution, biogeography
• plant product monitoring, program administration, sales

The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, in the  College of Agricultural Sciences  at Oregon State University, provides a special environment in which to pursue undergraduate or graduate training in plant biology. We are one of a small number of universities that maintain and foster a formal link between plant pathology and botany. Our departmental structure facilitates interdisciplinary research and training opportunities and makes it possible for students to address fundamental questions in plant biology as well as applying this knowledge to practical problems related to natural or commercial plant resources.

  Botany and Plant Pathology Website

  College of Agricultural Sciences

  Graduate Student Handbook

 Corvallis

Primary & MAIS Contact

Admissions requirements.

Admission into the graduate program in terms other than Fall is unusual. Please contact the BPP Chair of Graduate Studies before submitting such an application.

Required Tests

English language requirements .

English language requirements for international applicants to this program are the same as the standard Graduate School requirements .

Additional Requirements

Application requirements, including required documents, letters, and forms, vary by program and may not be completely represented here. The processing of your application will not be completed until these requirements have been met. Please, before applying to this program, always contact the program office to confirm application requirements.

Application Process

Please review the graduate school application process and Apply Online .

Letters of reference should arrive by December 1.

Please be sure to read the full admissions process discussion at the departmental website. Discussion of potential faculty mentors for an applicant's thesis research project in the applicant's Statement is required. Although not required, submitting a CV or résumé with your application is highly encouraged.

Dates & Deadlines ?

Admissions deadline for all applicants.

for the following fall

Funding Deadline for all applicants

Concentrations , mais participation.

This program may serve as a primary, secondary, or third field of study in a MAIS degree .

AMP Participation ?

This program participates in the Accelerated Masters Platform (AMP)

Contact Info

Graduate School Heckart Lodge 2900 SW Jefferson Way Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-1102

Phone: 541-737-4881 Fax: 541-737-3313

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Department of Botany & Plant Sciences

Ph.D. Program

Phd in plant biology – areas of emphasis.

The Plant Biology Program offers a flexible program to accommodate a student’s academic interests and research needs. To this end a student can choose a PhD degree with one of three concentrations, which require a prescribed set of classes, or a degree in Plant Biology with no concentration and a self-selected curriculum. Incoming graduate students do three 7-week laboratory rotations to find a home laboratory and major professor.

All Plant Biology PhD students enroll in BPSC 200A-B (the Plant Biology Core classes focused on academic and professional development topics), one BPSC 240 seminar (2-unit in depth study of a topic in Plant Biology related to the degree concentration), and the BPSC 250 seminar each quarter in the program (student and invited speaker seminars).

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Botany Graduate Program

The Botany Graduate Program offers MS and PhD degrees in Botany. Graduate education is in a wide range of botanical specialties, with emphasis placed on tropical botany and conservation. Major research areas include terrestrial and marine plant ecology, evolution, systematics, conservation, ethnobotany and plant microbe interactions.

Hawai`i provides an outstanding location for many types of botanical studies. The rich endemic flora and the insular isolation provide unique opportunities for studies of evolution, conservation biology, and alien plant invasions. Similarly, a mixture of local cultures and our proximity to the other Pacific island nations allow studies of plants in a human context. Research studies are not limited to the Hawaiian Islands. Faculty and students have research projects in many areas throughout the world.

Information about the Botany Graduate Program

Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation – Botany Graduate Assistantship

Botany Graduate Faculty – advisors for Botany graduate degrees

Application to the Botany Graduate Program

Graduate Program Policies

Academic Resources for Graduates

Botany Graduate Student Research Awards

Galleries and References

Plant Biology PhD

The Graduate Program in Plant Biology is designed to train students in modern research areas of plant biology. Students' courses of study are designed individually, in light of their interests and career goals. The graduate program features an introductory seminar (Faculty Research Review), six five-week core course modules, and additional special topic courses and seminars in areas of faculty specialties. The department has research expertise in the following areas: molecular, cellular, genetic, biochemical, physiological, developmental, and structural biology, and plant-microbe interactions. The core courses cover plant developmental genetics, genomics and computational biology, plant diversity and evolution, plant cell biology, plant biochemistry, and plant systems biology.

Contact Info

[email protected]

111 Koshland Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Plant & Microbial Biology

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 1, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

Information for Ph.D. Degree

A general outline below covers information of completing the Ph.D. degree in Botany.

Please see the official requirements available in The Guide . The Botany Department Handbook , covers additional details about pursuing a degree in the department.

• Academic Advisory Committee Meeting
• Selection of Major Professor, Vice Major Professor, and Ph.D. Committee
• Selection of a Track
• Minor Field of Study
• Certification Meeting
• Completion of Coursework
• Teaching Requirement
• Annual Committee Meetings
• Written Proposal of Research
• Preliminary Oral Exam
• Admission to Candidacy for Ph.D.
• Annual Presentation of Research Progress
• Dissertation
• Presentation on Dissertation Research
• Final Oral Examination
• Time Limitation

1. Academic Advisory Committee Meeting

All entering graduate students meet with the departmental Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) at the beginning of the first semester, usually during orientation week. The AAC answers questions about the Botany graduate programs and advises the student on meeting general course requirements, making up deficiencies, and formulating a program that will lead to an advanced degree in the time allotted.

2. Selection of Major Professor, Vice Major Professor, and Ph.D. Committee

Students select a major professor, vice major professor and Ph.D. committee within the first year of graduate studies. The major professor is primarily responsible for directing the student’s coursework, supervising the student’s research and preparation of their thesis, chairing the Ph.D. committee, and monitoring the student’s satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. The vice major professor assumes the major professor’s duties when the major professor is unavailable. The Ph.D. Committee consists of at least 5 members: at least 3 Botany Faculty and at least 1 UW Graduate Faculty outside the Botany Department.

3. Selection of a Track

Course requirements depend on which of the four tracks in Botany the student selects. The four  tracks are: General Botany; Ecology; Evolution; and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Students select a track as soon as possible but no later than their Certification Meeting at the end of their first year of study. The Academic Advisory Committee or the Ph.D. Committee will advise the student on available courses that could fill track requirements.

4. Minor Field of Study

Students select a minor field of study prior to the Certification Meeting at the end of the first year of study and no later than half-way through their minor coursework. In all cases, the minor plan must be developed and approved in consultation with the student’s major professor, minor professor (if applicable), and Ph.D. committee. Minor options for Ph.D. students in the Botany Department are:

• Option A : The student takes courses in a single department/major field of study or to complete a graduate certificate program. This option requires the approval of the minor department or the graduate certificate program and the selection of a minor professor who serves on the student’s Ph.D. committee.
• Option B : The student takes courses associated with a particular focus from one or more departments. This option requires the approval of the student’s Ph.D. Committee and Botany Department Chair.

5. Certification Meeting

By the end of their first year of study, students meet with their Ph.D. Committee to determine if additional courses will be required or recommended for their major (e.g., courses for the student’s selected track, seminar courses, and minimum Botany credits) and for approval of their minor field of study.

6. Completion of Coursework

Ph.D. students complete a minimum of 32 credits while in residence at the UW prior to earning dissertator status.  These credits complete the following requirements:

• Courses required for their selected track
• Six (6) credits within the Botany Department (can also fulfill track requirements)
• Two (2) seminar courses, including one outside the student’s track and/or outside Botany
• Courses for the student’s Minor Field of Study
• Courses assigned by the Academic Advisory Committee and/or the student’s Ph.D. committee

See the UW Graduate School website for  minimum credit and grade requirements .

7. Teaching Requirement

At least one semester of classroom teaching experience is required of all Ph.D. students while in residence at UW-Madison.  Prior teaching experience and grader positions do not count.  Additional teaching experience is highly recommended.

8. Annual Committee Meetings

Students must meet at least once a year with at least 3 members of his/her Ph.D. committee to report progress, receive advice and guidance, discuss possible new directions or approaches, and be certified as making adequate progress toward the Ph.D. degree.

9. Written Proposal of Research

A written research proposal is reviewed and approved by the student’s Ph.D. committee. The proposal includes a project summary, a clear statement of questions and hypotheses to be addressed, methods and approaches to be used, the significance of the results expected and their relationship to ongoing research in the field.

10. Preliminary Oral Exam

The preliminary oral exam follows a presentation of the proposed research by the student. The preliminary exam is administered by at least 5 members of the student’s Ph.D. committee, including the major and, if applicable, minor professors. The committee will explore the appropriateness of the proposed research topic and approach, with the objectives of evaluating the student’s ability to propose a rigorous and significant research plan and providing advice for improving the research plan.

11. Admission to Candidacy for Ph.D.

A student is officially admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. at the start of the semester or summer following completion of all DISSERTATOR requirements except for the dissertation and final exam.  To be eligible for dissertator status, a student must have:

• passed the preliminary examination in the major field,
• satisfied the Graduate School’s 32 credit requirement, and
• completed all major and minor coursework requirements.

12. Annual Presentation of Research Progress

After the achieving dissertator status, each candidate for the Ph.D. degree gives an annual public presentation of her/his research progress on campus.  

13. Dissertation

A written dissertation based on original research is required. The dissertation is reviewed and approved by the student’s Ph.D. Committee during the final oral exam and deposited with the UW Graduate School.

14. Presentation on Dissertation Research

During the final semester in residence, a candidate for the Ph.D. degree presents a departmental seminar on his/her research. This seminar is treated as a Botany Colloquium with a public announcement distributed to Botany faculty, staff and graduate students, and any other interested parties at least one week prior to the seminar.

15. Final Oral Examination

All candidates must pass a final oral examination administered by the student’s Ph.D. committee. The committee bases the final oral exam on the student’s dissertation and will test the student’s ability to:

• analyze biological problems and formulate effective research approaches,
• integrate and apply knowledge from a variety of fields related to his/her research,
• respond articulately to questions regarding his/her research and related fields, and
• demonstrate knowledge of recent advances and exhibit perspective on the history and philosophy of scientific investigation in his/her field.

16. Time Limitation

Normally a Ph.D. degree in Botany is completed within 5 calendar years of residency (four years if the student enters with a Master’s degree.)

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University of Florida

Program Information

Chair: Marta L. Wayne Graduate Coordinator: John (Gordon) Burleigh

The Department of Biology offers graduate work in Botany leading to the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Science in Teaching, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The Department offers studies in the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, ecology, systematics, and evolution. Specific areas of specialization include anatomy/morphology with emphasis on extant and fossil vascular plants; ecology and environmental studies including ecosystem ecology, conservation biology and genetics, fire ecology, exotic invasive species, and tropical botany and ecology; cell biology with emphasis on the cytoskeleton and cell morphogenesis; physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology with emphasis on photosynthesis, growth and development of angiosperms, protein phosphorylation and signal transduction, global analysis of spatial patterns of gene expression; plant secondary metabolism and proteomics; systematics with emphasis on DNA- and morphology-based phylogenetic analyses, phylogeographic studies, molecular evolution/development, and monographic and floristic studies. To be considered for admission to graduate studies, students should have:

• The equivalent of an undergraduate degree in botany or biology with basic course work in their area of interest
• Acceptable GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing)
• Letters of recommendation
• International students must submit an acceptable score on one of the following: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language: computer=213, paper=550, web=80), IELTS (International English Language Testing System: 6), MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery: 77), or successful completion of the UF English Language Institute program. The program of graduate study for each student will be determined by a supervisory committee, and deficiencies in background coursework will be made up early in the graduate program. No more than 9 credits of BOT 6905 Individual Studies in Botany (1-3 cr.) may be used to satisfy the credit requirements for a master’s degree.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Botany

• without a concentration
• concentration in Tropical Conservation and Development
• concentration in Wetland Sciences

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Botany Courses

Biology Departmental Courses

Botany (phd).

SLO 1     Knowledge         Students will identify, define, and describe basic fundamentals of biology and a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of botany

SLO 2     Skills      Students will design a research project, collect data, analyze and interpret the results. They will be able to present the results of original research in oral and written form

SLO 3     Skills      Students design a research project, collect data, analyze and interpret the results. They will be able to present the results of original research in oral and written form

SLO 4     Professional Behavior    Students will practice ethical behaviors and professional conduct

SLO 5     Professional Behavior    Students will be able to interact and communicate with professionals at scientific conferences

Botany (MS)     

SLO 1     Knowledge         Students will identify, define, and describe the basic fundamentals of biology and botany

SLO 2     Skills      Students will design a research project, collect data, analyze and interpret the results and present this in written and oral form

SLO 3     Professional Behavior    Students will practice ethical behaviors and professional conduct

SLO 4     Professional Behavior    Students will interact and communicate with professionals at scientific conferences, and practice ethical behaviors and professional conduct

Botany (MST)    

SLO 1     Knowledge         Students will identify, define, and describe the basic fundamentals of botany and pedagogy.

SLO 2     Skills      Students will teach botany and biology classroom sessions

SLO 3     Professional Behavior    Students will interact and communicate with professionals at scientific conferences, and practice ethical behaviors and professional conduct

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Botany and Plant Physiology Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 54 results

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Evanston, IL •

Northwestern University •

Graduate School

Northwestern University ,

Graduate School ,

EVANSTON, IL ,

Washington University in St. Louis - Arts & Sciences

St. Louis, MO •

Washington University in St. Louis •

Washington University in St. Louis ,

ST. LOUIS, MO ,

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Ithaca, NY •

Cornell University •

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

Mississippi State University College of Forest Resources

Mississippi State University •

Graduate School •

MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS

University of Wyoming

LARAMIE, WY

• • Rating 4.42 out of 5   24

Miami University - College of Arts and Sciences

Miami University •

UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources

Berkeley, CA •

University of California - Berkeley •

Blue checkmark.

University of California - Berkeley ,

BERKELEY, CA ,

College of Natural Sciences

Austin, TX •

University of Texas - Austin •

University of Texas - Austin ,

AUSTIN, TX ,

Virginia Tech College of Science

Blacksburg, VA •

Virginia Tech •

Virginia Tech ,

BLACKSBURG, VA ,

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University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Gainesville, FL •

University of Florida •

• • Rating 4.67 out of 5   6 reviews

Alum: This is a program intended for people who have a purpose. Many enrolled already work full time and want a higher degree to boost payscale or in the case of teachers, allow them to teach higher education programs or develop new ones. For individuals seeking further education, this can be a great stepping stone, however be advised you need to work and seek your path, it will not be handed to you and there is little guidance without effort. Much of the course work is as described- intended for medical microbiology. Some classes are highly outdated and most geared towards academia not industry. I liked the ability to customize some of the coursework but was disappointed a dreadful career seminar I did not want to take was later removed as a requirement without compensation. I would have happily taken a credit even as an audit to learn. Be advised it can be challenging to develop relationships with professors and standout amongst large numbers of students online. ... Read 6 reviews

University of Florida ,

GAINESVILLE, FL ,

6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says This is a program intended for people who have a purpose. Many enrolled already work full time and want a higher degree to boost payscale or in the case of teachers, allow them to teach higher... .

Read 6 reviews.

Liberal Arts and Sciences - University of Florida

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a relatively strong student body of undergraduate students. Graduate students, however, are less cohesive. Likely due to politics, our graduate student union is in jeopardy, and it is so difficult to get the union membership to 60%. In the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Law, we have a very low union membership status, which is somewhat ironic considering the nature of our disciplines. The demands of balancing an assistantship and academic career are exhausting, and even more so with limited resources (financial, emotional, etc.). The faculty turnover in the dept. is also insane, likely due to the political situation that seems to be driving out all faculty members of color. Lastly, financial support is incredibly limited. All things aside, the education that I am receiving is appropriate. ... Read 1 review

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a... .

Read 1 reviews.

UW College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Madison, WI •

University of Wisconsin •

University of Wisconsin ,

MADISON, WI ,

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences - University of Illinois

Urbana, IL •

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign •

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ,

URBANA, IL ,

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences - University of Georgia

Athens, GA •

University of Georgia •

University of Georgia ,

ATHENS, GA ,

College of Agriculture - Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN •

Purdue University •

Purdue University ,

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN ,

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College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Saint Paul, MN •

University of Minnesota Twin Cities •

University of Minnesota Twin Cities ,

SAINT PAUL, MN ,

University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences

Seattle, WA •

University of Washington •

University of Washington ,

SEATTLE, WA ,

College of Agricultural Sciences - Penn State

University Park, PA •

Penn State •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: It's been a blast so far. I'm spending the summer in our Extension office and It has been an incredible experience of working hands on in the orchards working along side our community as well as stakeholders that share our common values and want the best of our knowledge shared with them. ... Read 1 review

Penn State ,

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says It's been a blast so far. I'm spending the summer in our Extension office and It has been an incredible experience of working hands on in the orchards working along side our community as well as... .

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences - The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH •

The Ohio State University •

The Ohio State University ,

COLUMBUS, OH ,

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - Texas A&M University

College Station, TX •

Texas A&M University •

Texas A&M University ,

COLLEGE STATION, TX ,

NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Raleigh, NC •

North Carolina State University •

North Carolina State University ,

RALEIGH, NC ,

College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences - University of Maryland

College Park, MD •

University of Maryland - College Park •

University of Maryland - College Park ,

COLLEGE PARK, MD ,

College of Agriculture & Natural Resources - Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI •

Michigan State University •

Michigan State University ,

EAST LANSING, MI ,

UC Davis College of Biological Sciences

Davis, CA •

University of California - Davis •

• • Rating 3 out of 5   1 review

University of California - Davis ,

DAVIS, CA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.

College of Natural Sciences - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA •

University of Massachusetts Amherst •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

Doctoral Student: A bit stressful but overall good. Faculty is understanding about the general stress of a PhD program and academia. ... Read 2 reviews

University of Massachusetts Amherst ,

AMHERST, MA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says A bit stressful but overall good. Faculty is understanding about the general stress of a PhD program and academia. .

Read 2 reviews.

Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

New Brunswick, NJ •

Rutgers University - New Brunswick •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   2 reviews

Doctoral Student: Excellent communication, easy-to-navigate website for research information, financial aid, etc. Intelligent educators. ... Read 2 reviews

Rutgers University - New Brunswick ,

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says Excellent communication, easy-to-navigate website for research information, financial aid, etc. Intelligent educators. .

OU College of Arts & Sciences

Norman, OK •

University of Oklahoma •

University of Oklahoma ,

NORMAN, OK ,

Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Tempe, AZ •

Arizona State University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: Arizona State University is an inclusive and welcoming university. It connects students like me with many valuable resources for helping us to remain healthy and engaged thus minimizing the possibility of Graduate fatigue. The university provides each student with a success coach who is happy to help the student set goals for their studies and who can connect the student with additional resources, such as writing resources or contacts to assist in financial aid concerns, or any number of additional contacts and tools to ensure student success. The courses at ASU are both challenging and inspiring. Overall, my experience has been a very positive one. ... Read 2 reviews

Arizona State University ,

TEMPE, AZ ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Arizona State University is an inclusive and welcoming university. It connects students like me with many valuable resources for helping us to remain healthy and engaged thus minimizing the... .

Mississippi State University

• • Rating 4.51 out of 5   49

Miami University

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   25

College of Arts and Sciences - University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   3

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Phd program.

Graduate students in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington receive a commitment from the entire department to support their education and research.  In addition to providing five years of assistantships, we support our many of our students through endowed departmental grants for research and travel.  Our students make excellent use of the many opportunities available to them, as evidenced by the extraordinary number of fellowships and awards received, the successful publication of high impact papers, and their regular contributions at national and international meetings.  Our students receive additional training by participating in departmental governance, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and other activities. Together these factors combine to promote an unusual degree of professionalism and community spirit.

Member of the Team

By joining the Biology Department at the University of Washington, you will become a part of a world-class research institution.  Here, graduate students are treated as colleagues by a committed faculty who work to mentor students, to provide opportunities to develop research interests, to network both on and off campus, and to publish and present their own research.

You will find a collaborative environment at the University of Washington, with faculty engaging in research with the lab next door, researchers across campus, and teams halfway across the world.  Our graduate students are encouraged to collaborate similarly, seeking additional mentors and colleagues throughout the world who compliment their research interests.

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Graduate Programs

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Graduate Program Officer for Botany Ellen Currano - Professor [email protected]

1000 E University Ave.

Aven Nelson Building

Laramie, WY

Botany Department

Thank you for your interest in our graduate programs! The Department of Botany is an interdisciplinary, collaborative department, and our faculty and graduate students conduct research spanning diverse areas of the ecology and evolution of plants and animals, ecological and evolutionary theory, and statistical developments for the life sciences. We are always looking for graduate students who are passionate about advancing the frontiers of knowledge in ecology, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity science. We believe that diversity is critical to the success of our department, and we welcome applications from students with diverse backgrounds, abilities, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and other distinctive identities.

Review of applications begins February 1st each year. Please direct inquiries about the graduate programs to a faculty member with whom you share research interests (see ‘how to apply’ below), or to Dr. Ellen Currano, the Graduate Program Officer for Botany.

Degrees offered:

M.s. and ph.d. in botany.

We offer two advanced degrees in botany: the M.S. degree (~2 yr program with a thesis) and the Ph.D. degree (4–6 yr program with a dissertation). In both degree programs, each student will work closely with a faculty adviser from the Department of Botany, and, with input from other faculty mentors, design and complete an original research project.

Programs of graduate study are based on courses, seminars, readings and research, and normally use some materials and human resources from other parts of the university or other centers of scholarship. Regardless of the degree program or professional direction, students will achieve a breadth of knowledge about biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and plant biology and will be accomplished in their ability to extend knowledge through scholarly research. Students will be skilled in conveying knowledge in both academic and non-academic settings and will understand the value and practice of scientific service activities.

Details of the graduate program philosophy and degree requirements are given in the   Botany Graduate Student Handbook (.pdf). This document contains important information for prospective and current students.

Specific instructions for the application procedure are below ("How to Apply").

Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution

Most faculty in the Department of Botany participate in the interdepartmental, doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiE 2 )*. Applicants to PiEE must first apply to a host department for admission. If you are a prospective student for the Program in Ecology and Evolution, with a faculty adviser in Botany, please follow the instructions below ("How to Apply") and review the instructions for application to the Program in Ecology and Evolution. Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

*Note, this degree program was previously called the “Program in Ecology,” with the name change officially approved in December 2022. Updates to the UW website are currently in progress.

Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences

Dr. Cynthia Weinig participates in the interdepartmental Ph.D. program in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences  (MCLS). Students apply directly to the MCLS program, rather than to the Department of Botany. First year students rotate through four laboratories before choosing a mentor for their degree. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr. Weinig and to review information about the program, including application procedures. Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

Ph.D. in Hydrologic Sciences

Several faculty members participate in the interdisciplinary Hydrologic Science Program in Water Resources/Environmental Science & Engineering (WRESE), which grants Ph.D. degrees in Hydrologic Sciences. Students who are interested in seeking a Ph.D. through the Hydrologic Science Program are encouraged to contact their potential advisor or the Hydrologic Science program ( [email protected] ) for more information and guidance regarding applying. Additional information on admissions may be found here .

Financial Assistance

Teaching or Research Assistantships, including stipends and tuition, are available to support all students admitted to the graduate programs. Individual faculty should be contacted regarding support from grant or institutional funds. Summer support is also often available.

How to apply

If you plan on applying, please read this entire page. Here’s a quick summary of what you’ll need to do to complete an application to one of our graduate programs:

• Correspond with a faculty member who shares your research interests;
• Fill out the university’s online application form after you have identified a potential advisor. This includes a $50 application fee;
• Create and upload a statement of interests;
• Create and upload a curriculum vitae;
• Provide the names and contact information of three people who will provide letters of recommendation for you;
• Provide unofficial scores of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Doulingo test (only required for some international students, see below); and
• Upload unofficial copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on previous coursework is required for admission (3.25 for Ph.D. in Ecology or MCLS).

You are only required to submit official transcripts and test scores (if applicable) if we make you an offer and you decide to accept it

Review of applications begins February 1 st each year.

Before you start, reach out to us!

We typically accept graduate students to conduct research within a specific lab group, and so it is very important to reach out to faculty members who are doing research that matches your interests. We are on the lookout for inquiries from great students, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.

During the application process, you do not need to figure out the exact research question you will study here at UW. Rather, your goal is to figure out a few general research topics you find exciting, and that you think will still excite you after you’ve been researching this topic for 2–5 years! Once you have identified potential research topics, check out our faculty websites and see who might be a good match. Look over your potential advisor’s website and read a publication or two.

Most successful applications start with the student contacting a potential advisor months before the application due date. If you do not identify a faculty member who is able to advise you, you will not be admitted. We highly recommend that you include a CV as part of your email, and that you personalize your email to show why you are interested in working with the specific faculty member. Here is some more information to help you write an email to a potential advisor.

Writing an effective statement of interests

Your statement of interest should be no more than two 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced text, with one-inch margins and at least 11 pt. font. There is no set format for your statement of interest. The prompts below are meant to help stimulate your thinking about what to put in your statement of interests; we do not expect anyone to address all of these points.

• We seek evidence that you are passionate about research in your chosen focus area. We also want to know why you think a research-based graduate degree will help you achieve your goals. To provide us with this information, please answer the following questions in your statement: (a) Why are you seeking a graduate degree in The Department of Botany at the University of Wyoming? (b) What knowledge and skills do you hope to gain from our graduate program? (c) How will that knowledge and those skills aid in achieving your long-term career goals?
• Graduate student research, coursework, and life in general involve a range of challenges. Describe an instance in which you have shown resilience and/or perseverance in the pursuit of your academic goals or in your personal life and discuss how you have grown as a result.
• The best researchers are often the ones who stay curious and are willing to question their own and others’ work in the pursuit of great science. Describe an instance in which you exhibited these qualities while working on an academic or personal activity that you were excited about.
• The Department of Botany values equity, inclusion, and collaboration among diverse groups. Please describe your commitment to these principles, drawing on examples from your own past actions.
• Is there anything you would like to say in support of your application or anything that puts your application in a broader context that was not addressed in your responses to the points above?

Creating an effective CV

CVs are the academic equivalents of resumes. They should communicate one’s professional credentials, experiences, and accomplishments, and can be several pages long. 

All CVs should include the following:

• your education, including degree(s), date(s) received, and institution name(s);
• professional experience, including jobs, fellowships, and assistantships, with institution names and date ranges.

Your CV should also include any applicable information in the following categories: 

• scholarly honors including dates (ex: magna cum laude , Dean’s List, and President’s List);
• scholarly awards (e.g., student travel or research grants), including dates and amounts of monetary awards;
• peer-reviewed academic publications, including dates, lists of coauthors, and journal names, with volume and page numbers;
• academic presentations at regional, national, or international conferences, including dates and lists of coauthors; and
• relevant affiliations with groups you belong or have belonged to (e.g., BSA, ESA, SSE), including start and end dates. 

Last, we encourage you to highlight any relevant special skills. Additional examples of relevant special skills include: fluency in a computer programming language; experience in sample preparation; fieldwork experience; wilderness medical or leadership training; fluency in a language other than English; experience in fixing or building machinery; and experience in tutoring or mentoring other students or coworkers.

Academic transcripts

You must upload unofficial copies of all your academic transcripts—official copies are only needed if we make you an offer and you decide to accept it.

International applicants

Admission to the University of Wyoming requires one of the approved English language exams for applicants whose native language is not English. However, citizens of and students who have earned a university-level degree from a school in one of the following countries may be exempt from providing test results: Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces except Quebec), Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia Dominica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, and the United States. If you are not exempt, you may submit scores from TOEFL (minimum score = 540 (76 iBT)); IELTS (minimum score = 6.5); or Duolingo (minimum score = 110). Unofficial scores are sufficient to complete an application. Official scores are only necessary if we grant—and you accept—an offer of admission to the program.

Letters of recommendation

We require three letters of recommendation, and we suggest that you contact potential letter writers well in advance of the time you plan to submit your application, to make sure they are willing to write letters for you. We think that the most informative letters come from advisors of undergraduate or graduate research; supervisors of internships, academic assistantships, and work study jobs; and instructors of courses you excelled in. If you are having trouble finding a third letter writer, a coach of a sports team or a supervisor of a summer job can often provide useful context and insight on your work ethic and dedication, particularly if they can write about one or more of the special skills you identified in your CV.

During the online application process, you will provide names and contact information for your letter writers, and after you click submit, the university’s human resources software will send them each an initial note requesting a letter and then will follow up later with reminders.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

We do not require the GRE . Any GRE scores included in application materials will be redacted and thus will not be visible to prospective advisors.

Application questions?

Please email your potential advisor or Dr. Ellen Currano, the Graduate Program Officer for Botany.

Problems with online application?

Call or email UW Admissions, if you have any questions.

Phone: (307) 766-5160 option 1

Email: [email protected]

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• Botany, M.S.

The Department of Botany consists of 18 faculty members with about 45 graduate students pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Graduate students work with faculty and staff on a range of projects in plant biology at all levels of organization, from molecules, through cells and organs, to populations, communities, and lineages of organisms. Major research areas include molecular, cellular, and developmental biology; structural plant biology; ecology; evolution; and systematics. We also provide advanced instruction and opportunities for research in phycology, bryology, mycology, ethnobotany, paleoecology, conservation and restoration ecology, taxonomy, genetics, and physiology.

Increasingly, graduate student projects encompass two or more of these categories. Master's students may complete a non-thesis program in conservation or restoration ecology designed to prepare them for careers in environmental consulting, natural resource agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

Students interested in fields bordering botany will find rich opportunities for course work, collaborative research, and seminars in many other departments and schools such as Agronomy, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, Entomology, Forest and Wildlife Ecology, Genetics, Geography, Geoscience, Horticulture, Physics, Plant Breeding/Plant Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Zoology, and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged.

Graduate study in the Department of Botany requires a combination of advanced course work, participation in seminars, and original research. Course requirements follow one of five pathways: general botany; ecology; evolution; molecular, cellular, and developmental biology; or the non-thesis master's degree in conservation and restoration ecology. The department encourages students to pursue independent research soon after arriving. In consultation with the faculty advisor, each student selects a pathway that includes courses and research topics related to his or her interests and training in the array of techniques and approaches needed to pursue research.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

The Department of Botany will consider applicants for graduate degrees who surpass the minimum admissions requirements of the Graduate School. Candidates for fall admission should submit their full applications to the department by December 1 to be considered for financial support. Applications may be reviewed until April 15. The general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required, but if available, will be considered in the admissions process.  The GRE subject test in Biology or in Cell and Molecular Biology is not required but, if available, will be considered. Admission is based on the applicant's statement of purpose, undergraduate record,  letters of recommendation, experience in research, and the interests they share with one or more potential faculty advisors.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Financial support is available to qualified graduate students in the form of teaching, research and project assistantships and fellowships . Typically, there are approximately 35 graduate students who hold assistantships or fellowships in the botany department. In addition, graduate students are eligible for a number of intradepartmental awards and grants .

Graduate students who have a teaching, research or project assistantships of at least a 33.3% appointment (approximately 13.3 hours per week) for a fall or spring term are eligible to receive remission of full tuition . Fellowships or traineeships that are payrolled through the university and that carry stipends equivalent to at least a 33.3% research assistantship also qualify for remission of nonresident tuition. Tuition remission is conditionally awarded at the start of the semester based on the expectation that actual earnings during the semester will be at least 33.3% of the full-time rate. All students pay segregated fees. The only exception is that fellowships paid through the Graduate School have segregated fees waived in addition to tuition. 

Assistantships and fellowships also provide eligibility for an excellent health insurance program , an extremely valuable benefit that provides single or family coverage that is more comprehensive than individuals can usually purchase on their own.

Teaching Assistantships

The most common source of support is a teaching assistantship. Historically, stipend rates for teaching and project assistants are governed by the Teaching Assistants' Association (TAA) bargaining unit.

To receive a teaching assistantship, candidates for admission must meet the following requirements:

• evidence (usually from the undergraduate transcript) of an appropriate background in the relevant subject matter of the course(s) to which appointment is being considered; 
• evidence (usually from letters of recommendation or verbal communication) of the candidate's potential as a teaching assistant;
• an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale); and
• for students whose native language is not English, evidence of competence in spoken English through the SPEAK test that is administered by the UW.  International applicants should note that a TA appointment is not normally possible during the first year of graduate study. 

Current students, who apply for their first teaching assistantship, are also subject to the above criteria, as well as their performance as a graduate student. Reappointment as a teaching assistant depends upon satisfactory progress as a graduate student, satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, and completing the Equity/Diversity TA Training.

Teaching assistants may be eligible for University teaching awards , including the UW–Madison Early Excellence in Teaching Award, UW–Madison Exceptional Service Award, UW–Madison Innovation in Teaching Award, UW–Madison Capstone Ph.D. Teaching Award, and the College of Letters & Science Teaching Fellow. 

Research or Project Assistantships

Research and project assistantships are made possible by grants awarded to individual professors for particular research programs. Recipients are selected by the individual professor concerned. Availability of research and project assistantships varies.

Advanced Opportunity Fellowships

Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF) are granted to the UW–Madison’s Graduate School by the State of Wisconsin and are combined with other graduate education funds to support the recruitment and retention of highly qualified underrepresented students in UW–Madison graduate programs.  Fellowships are competitive and merit based. AOF funding is intended to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the graduate student population, as well as to support economically disadvantaged and first generation college students.  AOF fellowships are paid through the Graduate School by the College of Letters & Science's Community of Graduate Research Scholars (C-GRS) program.

External Fellowships

Fellowships from professional societies and outside agencies provide another important source of aid for which students may apply either before or after commencing graduate work at UW–Madison. If necessary, external fellowships can often be supplemented with university funds up to prevailing university fellowship rates.

All qualified students who are US citizens, nationals or permanent resident aliens of the US are urged to apply to the National Science Foundation for the pre-doctoral fellowship competition. Students apply directly to NSF; the closing date is usually in early November. Please check the NSF website for the application instructions and deadline.

Intradepartmental Fellowships and Awards

For more information on Intradepartmental Fellowships and Awards, please see the latest descriptions on the botany website.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Courses required.

A minimum of 30 credits in natural sciences (undergraduate and graduate program courses combined) is required. A minimum of 6 credits in graduate-level botany courses must be completed at UW–Madison. Seminars and research credits do not count toward the 6 credits in botany. Courses may be required to address deficiencies in the following: GENETICS 466 Principles of Genetics or equivalent; CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and  CHEM 104 General Chemistry II or equivalent; CHEM 341 Elementary Organic Chemistry or equivalent; a physics course including electricity and light; one semester of statistics; one semester of calculus. Contact the department for more information.

M.S. students complete a minimum of 16 credits while in residence at the UW, including:

• Courses required for their selected pathway (see below)
• Six (6) credits within the botany department (can also fulfill pathway requirements)
• Two (2) seminar courses (at least one in BOTANY; see full list of seminars below)
• Courses assigned by the Academic Advisory Committee and/or the student’s M.S. committee
• Research credits (see full list of research courses below)

Each graduate student in botany selects one of the following pathways:

General Botany Pathway 1

M.S. students must have one course from at least six of the seven.

• biochemistry, cell or molecular biology,
• plant physiology or plant developmental biology,
• cryptogamic botany,
• plant anatomy or morphology,
• ecology, and
• evolution or systematics

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Ecology Pathway 1

M.S. students must have a minimum of five courses as follows:

• at least three courses (minimum of 9 credits) in ecology,
• one course in evolution, and
• one course in any of the following: systematics; cryptogamic botany; biochemistry, cell or molecular biology; plant physiology or plant developmental biology; plant anatomy or morphology; or genetics

Evolution Pathway 1

M.S. students must have a minimum of five courses, at least one from each of the following:

• systematics or cryptogamic botany,
• population or quantitative genetics,
• one course in any of the following: biochemistry, cell or molecular biology; plant physiology or plant developmental biology; or plant anatomy or morphology

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Pathway 1

 M.S. students must have a minimum of five courses, at least one from each of the following:

• plant physiology,
• plant developmental biology or genetics, and
• one course in any of the following: ecology; systematics; evolution; or cryptogamic botany 

Seminar Course Options

Research course options, graduate school policies.

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

No credits from other institutions are allowed to count toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework requirement.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

No credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework requirement.

UW–Madison University Special

No credits earned as a UW–Madison Special student are allowed to count toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement, the minimum graduate degree credit requirement, or the minimum graduate coursework requirement.

This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

A major professor must be chosen as soon as possible after beginning graduate study and in all cases by the end of the first year. A vice major professor is required.

Students meet with an advisory committee before their first semester and with their M.S. committee by the end of their first year to plan their coursework.

Students meet with their advisor on a regular basis to assess progress.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

The master’s degree should be completed within two and one-half years of study.

Grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Assistantships are only available for thesis M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Acquire and demonstrate fundamental understanding of the basic properties of plant life from the subcellular to the ecosystem level of organization.
• Use critical elements of the methodological or theoretical framework in a specialized botanical subdiscipline to develop hypotheses, acquire scientific information, and interpret results in the context of the historical scientific literature.
• Develop the skills of communicating scientific information, especially in written form.
• Engage in the critical evaluation of botanical scientific data and its interpretation.
• Recognize and apply ethical conduct in the collection, analysis, and presentation of scientific data.
• Develop the skills essential to critical debate, discussion, and exchange of scientific information among peers and audiences of diverse intellectual and personal backgrounds.

Faculty: Professors Ane, Baum, Cameron (chair), Emshwiller, Gilroy, Givnish, Hotchkiss,Otegui, Spalding, Sytsma; Associate Professors Maeda, Pringle; Assistant Professors Keefover-Ring, McCulloh; Affiliate and Adjunct Faculty: Amasino, Damschen, Spooner, Wiedenhoft, P. Zedler

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Botany College of Letters & Science botany.wisc.edu

Mark Connolly, Graduate Coordinator [email protected] 608-262-0476 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1381

Kate McCulloh, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected]

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Rural Roots

Pollinator summit is coming. bee aware. free event donations accepted, pollinator summit – food for bees, and food for you and me.

• Monday & Tuesday March 4-5, 2024
• Location: Latah County Fairgrounds – large room
• Tuesday Movie Night: The Pollinators. Location: UI Potato Seed Lab Conference Room

This year we will focus on bees, nutrition and the environment. Monday will be devoted to honey bees, the tiny hard working creatures supporting so much agriculture and our own food supply. Tuesday will be focused on native bees, their role in agriculture, and their food supplies. The event will include a Pollinator Expo on Tuesday of local organizations working to support pollinators.

Free Registration:   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pollinator-summit-tickets-821771559857

Attendance available in 3 formats:

• Remotely by Zoom (link will be sent after you register, a couple of days before event,)
• Watching a video posted some time after the event on Rural Roots website.

March 4, 2024 Latah County Fairgrounds Main Room

Monday Speaker and Title:

10:00 AM Opening Remarks: Iris Mayes & Suvia Judd (in-person) 10:30 AM Steve Sheppard WSU (in person) Title: WSU Research on Honey Bee Genetics, Breeding and Colony Health 11:30 PM JT Vanleuvan UI (in person) Title: Bacteriophages of the honey bee gut microbiome 12:30 PM Lunch Break 1:30 PM Gabriela Quinlan Penn State (Zoom) Title: Honey bee colonies as a sentinel of landscape-level nectar resources (use of hive scales) 2:30 PM Jacqueline Freeman author (Zoom) Title: Falling in Love with Honey Bees

March 5, 2024 Latah County Fairgrounds Main Room Tuesday

10:00 AM Armando Falcon-Brindis UI (in-person) Title: Pollination Ecology and Interaction Networks of Wild Bees 11:00 AM Anthony Vaudo USFS (in-person) Title: Bee Nutrition in the Landscape

11:00:00 AM - 1:00PM Pollinator Expo 11am - 1pm Local non-profits and businesses share info on Pollinators

Kelli Cooper City of Moscow (in person) Title: Using iNatiuralist to Track and ID Bees 12:00 PM Lunch Break 1:00 PM Margarita Lopez-Uribe Penn State (Zoom) Title: Native Squash Bee Range and Evolution 2:00 PM Karen Wright WSDA (Zoom) Title: The Washington Bee Atlas 3:00 PM Steve Cook UI (in person) Title: Identifying Pollinators and the Impact of Soil Amendment Treatments on Huckleberry

6:00 PM Doors Open 7:00 PM The Pollinators Film at the UI Potato Seed Lab 753 Perimeter Drive Moscow, ID

This event is a collaboration between Rural Roots, PCEI, and UI Extension, Latah County. For more information [email protected]

• https://pcei.org/
• https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/latah

Speaker Abstracts & Bios

Steve sheppard, phd – wsu research on honey bee genetics, breeding and colony health.

Abstract: Honey bees are native to the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) where they exist as a diverse group of over 24 subspecies across a large geographic range. In an initial effort to prevent the introduction of the parasitic tracheal mite, additional importations of honey bees have been restricted since 1922. Around 2008, the bee program at WSU developed cryogenic methods for honey bee semen storage suitable for use in instrumental insemination and honey bee breeding. Following that discovery, WSU established a cryogenic facility for the storage of honey bee germplasm, collected germplasm from a number of Old World honey bee source populations and initiated and maintained a bee breeding program providing novel genetic material to US honey bee queen producers. Most recently, WSU has been involved in the reintroduction of a cold-adapted honey bee from the Caucasus Mountains and the introduction of a honey bee subspecies that co-evolved with apples in central Asia. This presentation will cover these WSU honey bee breeding and germplasm conservation efforts and recent progress to develop fungal-based products to address honey bee colony health. These latter products include a selected strain of Metaryzium fungus that serves as a biocontrol for parasitic Varroa mites and a mixture of polypore fungal extracts that is being developed in collaboration with Fungi Perfecti as a feeding additive.

Biography: Dr. Steve Sheppard is the Thurber Professor of Apiculture in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University. His graduate research at the University of Illinois centred on population genetics and evolution in honey bees. Prior to joining the faculty at WSU, Steve worked as a research scientist for the US Department of Agriculture, conducting research on Africanized honey bees and the genetic processes that accompany insect range expansions. In collaboration with mycologist Paul Stamets and Fungi Perfecti, the WSU Bee Program is involved in a major research effort to use fungi as a biological control agent for parasitic mites and to use polypore mushroom extracts to improve the health of honey bees.

JT Vanleuvan, PhD – Bacteriophages of the Honey Bee Gut Microbiome

Abstract: Honey bee health is supported by a diverse set of microorganisms that inhabit their digestive track. The bacteria in the honey bee gut have essential roles in the digestion of food and the prevention of disease. Our research group studies the composition and function of the bee microbiome in order to develop better ways to promote bee health. In this talk we will discuss the current state of understanding for the bee microbiome and our recent work in developing methods to treat the bacterial disease Paenibacillus larvae.

Biography: Dr. Van Leuven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences at The University of Idaho. He received his PhD in microbial genomics at the University of Montana and performed postdoctoral research at the University of Idaho. His research program is focused on understanding how microbial interactions influence ecological processes, animal health, and microbial evolution. Laboratory personnel are experts in microbial metagenomic sequencing and culturing, helping us characterize and study the honey bee microbiome.

Gabriela Quinlan, PhD - Honey Bee Colonies as a Sentinel of Landscape-Level Nectar Resources (use of hive scales)

Abstract: One of the primary stressors facing honey bees is insufficient access to good nutrition. In this talk, Gabriela will share her research on honey bee nutrition, which spans from landscape-level floral resources to colony-level nutritional needs, to individual-level foraging decisions. Gabriela will discuss the use of hive scales to monitor honey flows, quantify landscape-level floral resources, and understand environmental drivers of floral availability at broad scales. Gabriela will also discuss seasonal changes to foraging behaviors, how colonies socially regulate the intake of a balanced diet, and how colony-level needs and individual forager physical condition may influence how those needs are met. The talk will conclude with a discussion of how this information can be applied to management for beekeepers and growers.

Biography: Gabriela Quinlan is an NSF-PRFB postdoctoral fellow at Penn State in the Grozinger lab studying honey bee nutrition. She uses a variety of methods, from landscape-level statistical modeling to molecular techniques to understand how various stressors affect bees in order to find practical solutions for beekeepers, growers, and conservationists.

Jacqueline Freeman - Falling in Love with Honey Bees

Abstract: Jacqueline Freeman, an experienced beekeeper and bee steward, illustrates with slides and video what she has learned from many years of respectful observation and interaction. She describes how she developed the practice of preservation beekeeping, based on how honey bees thrive in a natural landscape.

Biography: Jacqueline Freeman is a biodynamic farmer and preservation beekeeper in southwest Washington. She is the author of "What Bees Want: Beekeeping as Nature Intended," with Susan Knilans (2022), and "Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World “ (2016). Her books have been translated into ten languages and both are Audiobooks.

Speaker Abstracts & Bios Tuesday

Armando falcom-brindis, phd – pollination ecology and interaction networks of wild bees.

Abstract: Wild bees have long been studied given their importance in pollinating both native and cultivated plants. Even though bees are not only the pollinators in natural and modified systems, they are recognized to be efficient pollen vectors given their morphological and behavioral adaptations. In this presentation, we will learn more about the pollination process conducted by native bees, including some extraordinary facts involved. Then we will move forward and talk about community ecology: a case study of the bees from the oases of Baja California. Finally, we will learn about the importance of bee-plant interactions and how we can quantify them using different metrics.

Biography: Armando Falcon-Brindis holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources, and a M.S. in Environmental Sciences. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering with a major in Animal Science. Dr. Falcon recently became an Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho. He is currently focused on new IPM and pollination projects that will merge multidisciplinary research and extension activities. At the Parma Research and Extension Center, Armando is committed to developing novel projects targeting the entomological needs of several agricultural systems including specialty and seed crops. Previously, he worked as a Research Associate at the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology and participated in many outreach activities including Master Gardener Class, Field Days, insect displays, student training and bug festivals. Before coming to the US, he worked as an Environmental Specialist at the Mexican Petroleum Institute. He has conducted research across different ecosystems: from tropical rain forests to deserts. Such a transition allowed him to establish collaboration with researchers from different backgrounds including agriculture, ecology, and insect conservation.

Anthony Vaudo, PhD – Bee Nutrition in the Landscape

Abstract: Nutrition is recognized as a key factor to address bee declines, but providing appropriate nutrition for bees is challenging in open and modified landscapes. Pollen provides bees their main source of proteins and lipids; however, within natural communities we know surprisingly little about the nutritional value of plants to wild bees. Further, pollen nutrition has not previously been a priority when selecting plants for restoration efforts to support pollinators. We show that consideration of pollen nutritional quality can help explain patterns of interactions among wild bees visiting wildflowers, which sheds new light on the nutritional basis of pollination ecology. These data are practical as well and can directly help inform plans to restore bee habitat, conserve plant species, and design plant lists for bees in agricultural and urban areas but emphasizing nutritional diversity.

Biography: Dr. Vaudo is a pollination ecologist for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. He received a MSc from University of Florida, a PhD from Penn State, and continued studying as a postdoc at Penn State, University of Kwazulu-Natal, and University of Nevada Reno. His research focuses on how different bee species forage to obtain and balance their nutrition from diverse plant species, and how this supports biodiversity. He uses this research to understand evolutionary and ecological foundations of bee and flower interactions and to develop restoration practices to support diverse and resilient plant-pollinator communities.

Kelli Cooper – Using iNaturalist to Track and ID Bees

Learn how you can contribute to research on pollinators and their habitats as a Citizen Scientist! This workshop will focus on using the iNaturalist app to report observations of pollinators of all types and their food sources. It will include a chance to practice uploading photos and narrowing down or making identifications.

Biography: Kelli Cooper is the Sustainability Programs Coordinator for the City of Moscow. She oversees the Water Conservation and Climate Action Plans as well as the Public Information and Education programs. She holds two degrees from Washington State University, both in environmental fields. When she is not busy working, she is volunteering with PTA, Booster Club, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts or reading a book!

Margarita Lopez-Uribe, PhD – Native Squash Bee Range and Evolution Title: Honey bee colonies as a sentinel of landscape-level nectar resources (use of hive scales)

Biography: Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor - Associate Professor of Entomology. Declines in bee populations worldwide have raised concerns about the environmental and economic consequences of pollination loss in natural and human-dominated ecosystems. Margarita is interested in understanding how environmental change (e.g. land use, climate) and management (e.g. beekeeping practices) drive changes in population demography and health of wild and managed bee species. Her ultimate goal is to contribute with informed strategies for conservation and restoration of bee populations and the ecosystem services they provide.

Karen Wright, PhD – The Washington Bee Atlas

Abstract: There are at least 600 species of bees in Washington state! Karen Wright will be talking about basic bee biology and the diversity of bees in the PNW and then give an introduction to the new Washington Bee Atlas that was formed in 2023. The WaBA is modeled after the Oregon Bee Atlas and uses much of the  infrastructure that has been successfully implemented by Oregon State Extension. It is a community science group that trains volunteers to collect, euthanize, pin and label bee specimens. They collect all the relevant data through iNaturalist, providing date, location, collector and host plant information. The specimens are identified by the Washington State Department of Agriculture pollinator taxonomist and then deposited at Washington State University’s insect collection. Data is then made public via SCAN and will be used to assess the conservation status of all 600 species of native bees known to occur in Washington.

Biography: Karen Wright was hired February 1st, 2023 by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to develop and manage the Washington Bee Atlas. She got her Master’s degree at Oregon State University in Entomology (working on true bugs and beetles in hazelnuts) in 1999. Then she moved to New Mexico where she started her career working on native bees. Working for the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Program based out of the University of New Mexico, she started a long-term monitoring program on native bees and wildflower phenology. She took the Bee Course in 2001 to start learning to identify bees and then was mentored by Terry Griswold after that. She developed a collection of over 600 species of bees from central New Mexico that is housed at the University of New Mexico and the long-term study is still ongoing with over 20 years of data. She got her PhD from the University of New Mexico on the Evolution of Diet Breadth in Melissodes bees. After that, she was curator of the insect collection at Texas A&M University for six years until she saw the job listing for the Washington Bee Atlas. She has happily relocated to Yakima, Washington with her dogs and husband.

Steve Cook, PhD – Identifying Pollinators and the Impact of Soil Amendment Treatments on Huckleberry

Abstract: Huckleberry has not been domesticated and its economic contribution comes from wild-collected fruit, oftenon public lands where demand has increased. Observed trends of declining huckleberry abundance have been attributed to encroaching trees and fire suppression that have created dense forested canopies, reducing light needed for huckleberry survival and prolific fruit production. These conditions also impact the insect community (including pollinators) that are associated with this iconic plant. Insect populations (including pollinators) are often inconsistent across years and have a tendency to disperse unless resources are abundant. Therefore, a need to identify specific insect groups such as pollinators associated with huckleberry and determine favorable conditions for these groups exists. Much of our work has concentrated on examining the overall community of insects associated with huckleberry in northern Idaho. We have concentrated on the pollinators, with special emphasis on bees. The work is being conducted  on multiple sites in northern Idaho and we are hoping to expand to additional geographic areas in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, greenhouse trials have been initiated to examine biochar and conifer sawdust/shavings as soil amendments to impact plant health (concentrating on foliar and floral color and chemistry). Initial results of our pollinator community analysis will be presented as well as the initial results from the soil amendment experiments.

Biography: Steve Cook is a Professor of Entomology and Department Head of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology at the University of Idaho in Moscow. After earning his B.S. in Environmental Biology from Heidelberg College, Steve earned his M.S. in Entomology from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. in Entomology from North Carolina State University. Prior to coming to the University of Idaho in 1999, Dr. Cook was a Research Entomologist for the USDA-Agricultural Research Service where his work focused on management of spongy moth after which he was on faculty at the University of Oklahoma. His research and teaching emphasize insects in natural systems, primarily forests. Throughout his career, his research has focused on interactions between insects, host plants, and natural enemies. The current emphasis areas of his research lab are to examine: 1) impacts of emerging pests on native tree species and 2) the interaction of native pollinators with native floral resources.

Tuesday Evening

Film night at the ui potato seed lab, 753 perimeter drive, moscow, id doors open at 6 pm, film begins at 7 pm feature film: the pollinators short film: blanket of attack: supporting natural enemies.

ATTRACTING POLLINATORS

Click here to see Susan's booklet on her pollinator research in this area: Increase crop yields by managing pollinator and beneficial insect habitat in the Pacific Northwest:   Pollinator handout 2021

This booklet shows some great plant choices for our area! Learn which plants attract the most pollinators. See which plants will bring the most bumblebees or other native bees to your farm.

For now you may want to check out theses pages.

• Learn more about attracting pollinators in our   How to Attract Pollinator page!
• Check out this   UDSA website on How Farmers Can Help Pollinators.
• Another great resource:   Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) is a certification program from Pollinator Partnership!

CLICK TO JOIN RURAL ROOTS HERE!

Become a Rural Roots member! We know the pandemic hit a lot of growers and ranchers hard so we have halved our membership prices.

Students and those on a budget that want to support small growers, can sign up for our Living Lightly or Student membership at only $18 a year.

Just want to help? Sign up for our Friends of Farmers membership at $30 a year.

Thank you to everyone who participated or visited the Latah County Fair!

Rural roots sponsored the fruit, vegetable and ag products in 2022 and 2023..

Here at Rural Root we come from a long line of people who worked the soil. Whether you use a team of horses, a tractor, a drone, or a simple shovel we want to inspire you to think about how to best use the land to grow while making it better for your children.

SUSAN'S GRANDPA LEE WORKED THE LAND WITH A TEAM OF HORSES AND HIS CAPABLE HANDS.

At Rural Roots we believe ALL farmers should be treated with dignity and respect. Farmers often toil alone and receive little support.   Please check out some of these organizations that help farmers . You are not alone.

RURAL ROOTS SUSTAINABLE AG  LECTURE SERIES

To see previous lectures:   For Rural Roots YouTube channel click here.

EVENTS & CLASSES

See what ups with us!

april, 2024

Past & Future Events

Only Past Events

Only Future Events

Event Location:

Hunga Dunga

Martin Wellness Center

Rural Roots Office

agriculture

animal health

biocontrol agents

biodiversity

biological control

biostimulant

citizen activists

climate change

coffee hour

common insects

communication

conservation

cool season

cottage food law

cottage food laws

cover cropping

cover crops

crop biomass

Cultivating Success

factory farm

farm design

farm manager

farmer's market

financial fitness

find your purpose

fire blight

food policy

food safety

food security

food summit

food systems

fresh produce

fruit trees

fungal pathogens

good agricultural practices

grain crops

grass growth

hay testing

hemp pathogens

high tunnel

high tunnels

holiday cooking

horticulture

human health

humane farming

Indigenous Culture

insecticides

landscape modeling

landscape planning

landscaping

Managing Farm Family Finances

Managing Your Finances Resiliently

market research

Meadow Farm

mental health

microgreens

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Native Americans

native plants

orchard pest management

organic certification

Palouse Conservation District

plant diversity

pollinator habitat

pollinators

pond management

post harvest

poultry management

Principles of Agronomy

produce safety training

Property Purchase Agreements

raspberries

regeneration

REGENERATIVE GRAZING

restoration

rural communities

season extension

sexual harassment

silvopasture

small farms

smart agriculture

Smart Flow Meters

smart phone videos

social media

soil carbon

soil health

soil probes

Soil Stewards

soil testing

specialty crops

subterranean

Sustainable

sustainable seed systems

Tensiometers

tomato bacterial spot

vermicomposting

water management

water rights

wildflowers

winter squash

winter vegetables

women farmers

wood-wide web

Biozentrum PhD Fellowships – Summer Call 2024

Job Information

Offer description.

The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the leading life sciences institutes in the world. Its fundamental research embraces a wide range of topics such as biochemistry, biophysics, physics of living systems, structural biology, microbiology, infection biology and immunology, cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, genetics as well as computational and systems biology.

With over 30 groups, about 150 PhD students and over 500 employees, we are a lively and dynamic international community of researchers who investigate with curiosity biological phenomena ranging from interactions of molecules to growth, development and behavior of organisms. Our research has spawned many fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine as well as several Nobel Laureates.

We are looking for ambitious and highly motivated young talents from all over the world to join the Biozentrum Basel International PhD Program and our scientific community.

Our long-standing fellowship program offers unique opportunities. As a PhD fellow you can select a Biozentrum research group through rotations and get the chance to learn different skills and techniques needed for modern research. Therefore, our program is particularly well suited for students with broad interests. Our fellowship gives you full and independent funding for your entire PhD and offers other benefits that foster scientific excellence. With this fellowship you could join the 40 fellows who conduct their research at the Biozentrum at the moment.

Application / Contact

Our selection procedure Our selection procedure is based on in-person interactions on site. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Biozentrum to present their research, participate in individual interviews with group leaders, visit different labs and get to know current PhD students, the Biozentrum and Basel.

More information: https://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/excellence

Application Please apply online by May 24, 2024: https://biped2.biozentrum.unibas.ch/excellence

Requirements

Additional information, work location(s), where to apply.

The sweet (and spicy) taste of victory—National Honey Board funds a food science development competition at Purdue

• Story by Lindsey Berebitsky
• Photos by Tom Campbell
• April 16, 2024

S weet, syrupy, golden liquid twirls over the end of grooves in wooden wands and into everything from yogurt to baklava to fresh, steaming sopaipillas. It’s no secret that honey is more than a spoonful of sugar, but the National Honey Board says that American consumers prefer it over any other sweetener on the market.

Each of the 10 teams had to have at least one food science student on board, and several teams included students from across Purdue University. For example, agricultural and biological engineering major Siddharth Kumar, got involved after hearing about the competition through a friend’s Instagram. He joined another agricultural and biological engineering major, Alvin Cai, and two food science majors, Hayley Wong Liong and Sam Weber, to form the team “Ya like jazz?”

Team leader Wong Liong said, “We fermented our honey with garlic and we decided to combine that with gochujang, which is a red chili paste from Korea. We wanted something trendy, and K-pop music and Korean dramas are bringing in the soft powers from Korea. If so many people are being exposed to those foods, why not capitalize on the market?”

Her teammate Kumar added, “Fermenting the honey and garlic extracts more flavors, and it can change the color and viscosity, or thickness, of the sauce.”

Ya like jazz?’s gochujang honey sauce is designed with fried foods in mind. Whether it’s wings or vegetarian options like tofu, the umami flavors from the garlic honey and the heat from the red chili paste are sure to maximize the potential of every bite.

Graduate students were also welcomed to compete in the competition. Hansel Mina and Adriana Vanegas Torres, both PhD students in food safety and microbiology, are also labmates in Amanda Deering’s lab and named their team “Le parce” (translating to “The good friends”) as a testament to their shared Latin American heritage and friendship. 

Mina and Vanegas created a multipurpose sauce that can be used as both a salad dressing and a meat marinade. Its flavor profile centers around passion fruit, a tropical purple fruit filled with black seeds and a tart, bright yellow pulp. 

“With the honey, the passion fruit gives our sauce a sweet and acidic taste,” Mina said. “It tastes like Argentinian chimichurri with a touch of the tangy tropical fruit.”

While this experience was similar to their lab work together, they enjoyed having fun and experimenting without the pressure of data and deadlines. This competition also gave them ideas for their next steps after graduate school. As Mina prepares to take on a United States Agency for International Development grant in Peru aimed at adding value to their passion fruit crop with products much like the sauce he and Vanegas made, he knows this experience will benefit him long into the future.

Manya Kadiwala, a freshman in food science, reached out to coordinator Caffee to see if there was anyone else looking for a team. He connected her with a senior in her major, Melissa Suarez, and a PhD in food science, Anurag Pujari.

Team “Aji chumbo” was born from valuing different perspectives. The namesake comes from Panama, where aji chumbo peppers are used to make a jam.

“I’m from Panama, and in Panama, we don’t eat spicy food. We have certain peppers we use to flavor food—just not for hotness,” Suarez said. “We have this jam called, ‘aji chombo jam,’ that we use to put on meats or crackers. It’s a perfect combination of sweet and heat.”

While aji chombo peppers are too difficult to get in the United States, the jam served as inspiration for their condiment development. They found a close match in habanero peppers and used fresh-squeezed orange juice and honey to mask the heat. 

Teammate Pujari said, “The citrus here brings in more depth of flavor and can tenderize meat if it’s used in a marinade.”

The teams had to develop and create a new condiment in a couple months with a budget of $500. They also had to make a process flow chart about their operations, draw up ingredient and product labels and write a two-page essay on the health benefits of honey. 

The teams presented their findings and final products to a panel of judges, including representatives on the National Honey Board and professors from food science and agricultural economics, on April 10. All the students retain their intellectual property rights and can take the project to patents and commercialization if they so choose. 

Keith Seiz from the National Honey Board said, “I was so impressed and surprised by how all 10 teams made something completely different. Some had drawn on global flavors, others had interesting takes on classic condiments and still others came up with new kinds of products entirely.” 

The next day, the winning three teams were announced in the Nelson Hall of Food Science in front of an audience of industry sponsors. Third place was given $2500, second $5000 and first $7500, awards that would be split evenly amongst each team’s individual members.

The team “Sweet Stingers,” composed of all freshmen in food science, took home third place for their garlic honey ranch. 

“We wanted to do a twist on a midwestern classic, and our sauce makes a great dip for wings or a topping for pizza and salads,” said team member Ana Crane.

The group's leader Wong Liong said the biggest thing they had learned together from the competition was, “When you have a creative idea, you should always try it.”

After receiving the award and before walking out of Nelson Hall, team member Kumar expressed his gratitude towards Keith Seiz and the National Honey Board for sponsoring the competition. His teammate Cai agreed and told his team, “I’m just so glad I got to work with you all.”

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MS in Botany

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• California Botanic Garden

Claremont Graduate University’s MS and PhD programs in Botany focus on systematics and evolution of higher plants. The programs are offered in conjunction with California Botanic Garden, one of the nation’s premier research-focused botanic gardens.

Claremont Graduate University’s MS in Botany is a research-intensive program with a robust fieldwork component. Located in a unique 86-acre learning environment dedicated to conservation of the state’s flora, facilities include a botanical library, fully equipped molecular and anatomy laboratories, comprehensive herbarium, scanning electron microscope, greenhouses, and growth chambers. You’ll find abundant opportunities for hands-on research at California Botanic Garden , working alongside collegial faculty-mentors dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field. A seminar series addressing topics of systematic and evolutionary botany is offered weekly during each semester and draws attendees not only from our student body but also from the biology research community, faculty, and students at nearby colleges and universities.

Botany students may pursue concentrations in the following subdisciplines:

• Comparative Morphology
• Molecular Systematics
• Monographic and Revisionary Studies
• Phylogenetics
• Plant Anatomy
• Plant Geography
• Population and Conservation Genetics
• Reproductive Biology

This program is STEM designated, allowing international students who hold F-1 visas to apply for OPT work authorizations for a total of 36 months (an initial 1-year period and a 24-month OPT STEM extension) of paid work experience in the U.S. after graduation.

Program At a Glance

UNITS 30 units

*Program completion times may vary depending on course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

TUITION Cost Per Unit: $2,020

COURSES BEGIN Fall

DEPARTMENT Botany

DEGREE AWARDED MS in Botany

Featured Courses

Studies quantification of shape and its statistical analysis, as applied to diversity of plant form.

Reviews current knowledge of relationships among vascular plants and the data that underpin that knowledge, including morphology, anatomy, embryology, and palynology.

Provides a platform to participate in a semester-long series of seminars presented by outstanding visiting researchers.

Review and discuss phylogenetics based on the current literature.

Introduces current methods utilized for systematics analysis.

Allows continuation enrollment for a master’s level student to complete requirements for the degree.

Spread across 86 acres in Claremont, California, the Garden displays about 2000 taxa of California plants and includes those native to the California Floristic Province as a whole. Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Garden offers beautiful mountain vistas.

Faculty & Research

Lucinda McDade

Professor of Botany Chair, Botany Department Executive Director, California Botanic Garden Judith B. Friend Director of Research

Research Interests

Family Acanthaceae; Role of hybridization in plant evolutionary history, phylogeny reconstruction, and plant reproductive biology; Tropical plants; Systematics

Travis Columbus

Professor of Botany, Research Scientist

Agrostology (study of grasses), Plant systematics, Biological nomenclature, Phylogenetics

Naomi Fraga

Research Assistant Professor of Botany

Floristics in western North America; Plant conservation; Rarity and endemism in California; Systematics of Phrymaceae; Pollination biology

Mare Nazaire

California floristics, peatlands and wetlands, desert systems, alpine floras, systematics of Mertensia (Boraginaceae)

Request information about the Botany program

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Professor of Botany Chair, Botany Department Executive Director, California Botanic Garden Judith B. Friend Director of Research T: 909-625-8767 x220 E: [email protected]