Genetics (GEN)

Degrees Offered: Ph.D., M.S.

This program is offered in Durham.

The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, a Master of Science (M.S.), and an accelerated master’s program (B.S./M.S.) in Genetics, providing outstanding and diverse research opportunities in genetics and genomics. Graduate students (Ph.D. and M.S.) in genetics are typically supported by teaching or research assistantships, as well as by competitive internal and external fellowship programs. For more information about the program, including admission and degree requirements, please contact the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences at mcbs.dept@unh.edu. 

Distinctive Features of the Program

As an interdisciplinary program made up of faculty from multiple departments, and from the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, the Genetics graduate program integrates disciplines ranging from molecular and cellular biology to environmental and evolutionary genetics and genomics. The faculty conduct research on living systems spanning microbes, plants, and animals. Incoming students have the opportunity for laboratory rotations to explore the various areas of genetics and genomics in those cases where a thesis advisor has not been identified or where exposure to a variety of experimental approaches is advantageous.

The Graduate Program in Genetics offers:

• Outstanding research training in many cutting-edge research areas in molecular and evolutionary genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics.
• Weekly seminar series that includes both distinguished invited speakers and graduate student research presentations.
• Opportunities to gain experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate students in the biological sciences.
• Strong track record for graduates attaining successful careers in academia, biomedical research institutes, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and state and federal governmental agencies.

Admission Requirements

An applicant is expected to have completed basic courses in chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics, and physics. Otherwise well-qualified applicants will be permitted to correct deficiencies in undergraduate education by enrollment in the appropriate courses or by independent study during the first year. Applicants must submit a personal statement and three letters of recommendation. If possible, the personal statement should specify the applicant's research interests and names of potential faculty mentors. Applicants from non­-English­-speaking countries must submit current TOEFL scores in addition to the items listed above.

Accelerated Master's Degree Requirements

This accelerated program leading to a combined Bachelor and Master's degree in Genetics is designed for highly motivated and qualified students seeking additional training to further their career goals as a researcher in the life sciences.

Admission to the combined degree program is highly competitive. Students wishing to pursue this option must have a grade point average greater than 3.2 at the time of application. A thesis advisor must be identified during the junior year, and the approval of the advisor must be obtained. Prior to the first semester of the senior year, the student must formally apply through the Graduate School and receive early admission to the Genetics Graduate Program. The requirement for the Graduate Record Examination is waived for combined degree applicants.

Genetics (GEN)

See https://colsa.unh.edu/molecular-cellular-biomedical-sciences/program/phd/genetics#collapse_1784.