The flexible program of study is designed to provide excellent training and research opportunities individually tailored to each student's needs.
Program Outline
The key components of the graduate program are:
1. Rotations: Students conduct rotations with different labs during the first academic year. These rotations provide opportunity to explore different research interests prior to the selection of a Ph.D. supervisor at the end of the first academic year.
2. Course work: All students are required to take four 3-credit core courses and an additional six credit hours (2 electives) of relevant graduate level coursework.
3. Weekly Seminar Series. A weekly seminar series gives students the opportunity to participate in discussions with faculty and peers about various topics and research problems. Students should regularly attend these free, extracurricular seminars.
4. Teaching: Students are required to hold a Teaching Assistant (TA) appointment for one-long semester during their studies. Students may not hold a TA position during the first academic year and typically complete this requirement in their third or fourth year of study. A TA Training Workshop is offered annually and must be completed prior to the first TA-ship.
5. Qualifying Exam: To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must complete the Qualifying Exam in the spring of their second year. The exam consists of presenting a NIH-style thesis proposal to a committee, which includes the design, writing and defending of the student's dissertation research.
6. Annual retreat. The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs hosts an annual retreat at the start of every academic year. This event is an exciting opportunity for faculty, post-docs, and graduate students to meet and discuss science in an informal setting. Attendance for first-year students is typically sponsored by the program.
7. Research: Independent, original research under the direction of a faculty member; the results of this research constitute the dissertation.
Program Requirements and Timeline
Prospective students are encouraged to review the Program Requirements and Timeline and Biochemistry Graduate Student Handbook for detailed information about the doctoral degree program. A well-qualified student can usually complete the doctoral degree program in five to six years.
Financial Support
During the first academic year in the Biochemistry Graduate Program, students are fully supported through Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) with the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs. This provides an annual stipend at the rate of $40,000/year, full tuition and fees for full-time enrollment, and access to university health insurance. Beginning with the summer after the first academic year, students must select a faculty advisor and are responsible for joining a permanent lab to ensure continued funding. Financial support is then coordinated with the permanent laboratory and may take the form of research assistantships, teaching appointments, or university fellowships.
Continuing students are also eligible for competitive external fellowships that are awarded on the basis of teaching performance or academic excellence. Funding for travel to professional conferences and professional development is also available.
Please visit this page for more information about fellowships and financial support.
Commitment to Diversity
The Biochemistry (BCH) Graduate Program is committed to providing educational opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage qualified and talented students, especially those who are underrepresented in the biological sciences, to apply for admission. In addition to the support from our department, the University of Texas at Austin offers a number of fellowships to promote graduate study and diversity.
Resources that Support a Safe and Inclusive Campus
The BCH Graduate Program, the University of Texas, and the College of Natural Sciences want all graduate students to benefit from supportive, inclusive, and safe classroom and research experiences. The following resources are available to support this goal:
- CNS Diversity and Inclusion Resources and Initiatives
- Resources for Graduate Students
- Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE)
- Title IX Office
- Gender and Sexuality Center
- Services for Students with Disabilities
Read more about the Department of Molecular Biosciences' Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the College of Natural Sciences' commitment to equity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.
Contact
If you have questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page or contact our professional staff at ilsgrad@austin.utexas.edu.
