phd in agricultural biotechnology

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• Agricultural Sciences (ANFS)

Agricultural Sciences (Ph.D.)

https://colsa.unh.edu/agriculture-nutrition-food-systems/program/phd/agricultural-sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural Sciences graduate program offers a flexible course of study that provides education and research experience plant and animal agriculture, food systems, and related fields. Graduate students are engaged in an interdisciplinary department focusing on the farm to fork wellness continuum and an integrated approach to solving problems. Students will also develop independent and team research experience.

Our faculty offer education and research opportunities in the diverse components of food systems, and plant and animal agricultural systems including breeding and genetics, physiology, environmental interactions, protected agriculture, organismal health, agroecology, and pathology.  Beyond the classroom and the lab, students will hone communication skills that are essential for professional scientists through teaching, extension, and outreach opportunities with stakeholders and constituents.

With a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, students are prepared to pursue careers in college teaching and research positions in industry and government. Students may work in plant and animal agriculture, food production and distribution systems, teaching, public service, research in federal, state, nonprofit, private organizations, or related fields.

The Ph.D. program is thesis-based, with the expectation of generating and publishing substantial new knowledge in the field of interest.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) graduate students work with their advisor and Doctoral Guidance Committee to plan a program of study including the required core courses, competencies, and develop a research proposal. To complete the degree, students must complete a research proposal, pass a qualifying exam, conduct dissertation research, and complete and defend a dissertation.

Guidance and Dissertation Committees : During the first semester, the student and advisor jointly select members of a guidance committee. A nomination form must be sent to the graduate school to officially appoint the committee membership. The Guidance Committee consists of 5 members and is responsible for approving the proposal and oversees the qualifying examination. Once the student has advanced to candidacy, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee is formed. The Dissertation Committee is responsible for administering the dissertation exam.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense: All Ph.D. students are required to develop a formally approved research proposal typically by the end of the third semester and no later than the fourth semester. Proposals are approved by the dissertation committee and the major advisor. In addition to the written proposal, students are expected to present a proposal defense presentation. This proposal should consist of the following:

• comprehensive review of the literature related to the student’s research topic.
• statement of need/justification.
• research goal with a list of research objectives with stated hypotheses that address the major research questions.
• plan of work describing the experimental approaches or methods to be used in answering the thesis questions.
• Expected outcomes and potential pitfalls for each objective.
• Timeline for completion of the work.
• preliminary research where appropriate.

Candidacy: Following approval of the research proposal and completion of coursework, doctoral students should advance to candidacy. Candidacy is reached after passing a formal qualifying examination that assesses both broad basic knowledge of the student’s field, and topics central to the research project. The purpose of the exam is to measure of the student’s likelihood of successfully completing a doctoral program. The qualifying exam comprises written and oral components.

• Written exam: Student choose three areas of specialization in consultation with their Doctoral Guidance Committee. The advisor solicits questions from Committee members and administers the exam. Once completed, Committee members evaluate the responses. The student is expected to demonstrate competence in each of the chosen areas, reflected in clear, concise, well-organized synthetic essays. The exam may be “closed book” or “open book” at the discretion of the advisor.
• Oral exam: An oral exam is conducted by the Doctoral Guidance Committee and chaired by the advisor. The student should demonstrate mastery of fundamental concepts in the designated areas of specialization, draw upon a broad spectrum of information to answer theoretical and practical questions. There may be focus on any area that was deemed weak in the written exam.

When the student has passed both parts of the qualifying exam, the advisor will inform the Graduate School and recommend that the student be advanced to candidacy in the Ph.D. degree program.

Dissertation and Oral Defense: All students must complete a dissertation reporting original research. After completion of the research, the candidate must provide a copy of the dissertation to the Doctoral Dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination. The final thesis defense consists of two parts: an oral presentation of the research in a public seminar, and an oral defense of the dissertation conducted by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Final approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the committee.

Number of Credits Required:  There is no specific credit requirement for the Ph.D., though students must take the required core courses and fulfill the competences outlined below. Up to 8 credits of graduate credit from another institution may be transferred, provided the credits were not counted toward another degree, and the course grade was a B or higher. Petitions requesting transfer credit must be supported by the advisor and graduate committee and approved by the UNH Graduate School.

1. Core Course Requirements:

To be taken at the earliest opportunity, typically in the initial fall semester of the program.

All students are required to register and participate for a minimum of 3 credits.

All students are required to register and participate at least twice, and must be taken after candidacy.

2. Competency Requirements:  In addition to the core required courses, students will be expected to demonstrate competency in areas of experimental design and analysis, and in scientific writing and communication. Students must take at least one course from each competency. The competencies may be fulfilled by courses chosen in consultation with the advisor and committee. Depending on the student, one or both of these competency requirements may have been fulfilled through other course work or professional experience as approved by the committee and ANFS graduate coordinator.

3. Electives: Each student, in consultation with their graduate committee, will define one or more areas of informal specialization, and will take additional courses appropriate for their area(s) of specialization.

4. Additional Information: 

• All students in the Agricultural Sciences Ph.D. Program are expected to present their research in ANFS departmental seminar at least three times (including the defense seminar). Students are also encouraged to present at professional conferences and acquire teaching and/or mentoring experience.

Annual Evaluation:  The annual evaluation of graduate students ensures that students receive the mentorship they deserve and are making progress toward completion of their degrees. The annual evaluation of graduate students consists of a collaborative effort between faculty adviser and student to:

• Complete a self-assessment;
• Present a professional quality CV suitable for awards, job applications, and internships;
• Produce a narrative of service or other activities not captured on a CV;
• Develop annual goals.

Students graduating with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences will meet objectives in the following areas:

Discipline specific knowledge

• Identify and explain discipline specific research methods
• Build knowledge and understanding in key areas of agricultural sciences including food systems, and animal and plant-based agricultural production systems

Research design and analysis

• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of study designs utilized in agriculture or food systems research
• Apply appropriate research design to answer a question
• Identify and apply appropriate statistical methods to analyze and interpret research results

Scientific method

• Independently develop, defend, and execute a research idea to advance knowledge in the student’s specific field of study

Critical thinking

• Ability to collect and critically evaluate information from the primary research literature to expand knowledge of agricultural and food systems
• Draw conclusions from the literature and make recommendations based on an understanding of the system, scientific evidence, related factors, and desired outcomes
• Develop skills to critically evaluate and analyze their research data

Communication

• Communicate effectively in writing through the development of an argument supported by evidence
• Communicate effectively in oral formats when addressing project-specific research and complex agriculture and food related issues
• Contribute written works to the scientific community in the form of peer-reviewed publications and presentation at scientific conferences

Professionalism

• Conduct research in an ethical manner
• Deliver professional oral and written communications
• Demonstrate collaboration and leadership skills

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Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Interdisciplinary nsf research traineeship:, agricultural biotechnology in our evolving food, energy, and water systems.

Source : vimeo.com/gescenterncsu/agbiofews

Download program flyer

AgBioFEWS is a National Science Foundation-funded graduate research training program offering Ph.D. candidates across multidisciplinary fields of study the opportunity to examine the science, policy, and public engagement aspects and impacts of Agricultural Biotechnology on Food, Energy, and Water .

Program Fellows receive a Ph.D. in a natural/social science, or humanities graduate program ( see options ), and a graduate minor in Genetic Engineering and Society, and will:

• Receive two years of of $34,000 NSF-funded stipends, with continuing funding provided by their graduate programs
• Embark on their studies embedded with NC farms, with later opportunities for international internships
• Collaborate on an interdisciplinary cohort project
• Take advanced interdisciplinary graduate courses and incorporate AgBioFEWS into thesis

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Student Experience

Aug 5, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Faculty, GES Blog, News, Research, Students

Study Analyzes Potato-Pathogen ‘Arms Race’ After Irish Famine

Researchers examine both the pathogen's effector genes and the plant's resistance genes simultaneously in a first-of-its-kind analysis.

May 30, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: “To the USDA, and Beyond!”: The Intersection of Governance and Biotechnology Innovation

Christopher J. Gillespie | Recently, on National Agriculture Day, Dr. Jennifer Rowland, the Biotechnology Coordinator at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), gave a talk at the GES Colloquium that left a “big footprint”.

Apr 18, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Grappling with complexities of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Eric Butoto | Embarking on a three-month journey with CIMMYT in Zimbabwe, I delved into the heart of smallholder agriculture, witnessing firsthand the challenges, innovations, and unwavering resilience of farmers, offering a glimpse into their lives and the quest for food security in a changing climate.

Apr 18, 2024 |

GES Minor Fellows

Apr 16, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Science Ideology and Policy: Eugenics in the South

Ruthie Stokes | In the annals of history, the American South has been marked by a complex tapestry of culture, tradition, and struggle. Yet, amidst the backdrop of rural landscapes and Jim Crow laws, there lurked a shadowy chapter: the era of eugenics.

Apr 2, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Saving Our Seeds, Changing Our Perspective

Asa Budnick | The act of saving a seed holds varied meanings, from my perspective as a molecular biologist, refrigerating seeds for experiments, to the broader perspectives of farmers, breeders, and nations, reflecting the diverse value and conservation methods of seeds, as explored in Dr. Helen Anne Curry’s discussion on seed conservation history and its intersections with scientific, imperialistic, and agricultural narratives.

Feb 27, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Bringing in Indigenous Perspectives on Synthetic Biology for Conservation

Jill Furgurson | Dr. Kirsty Wissing's colloquium presentation highlighted the essential role of Indigenous participation in shaping conservation agendas, advocating for approaches that honor traditional ecological knowledge.

Feb 21, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, Faculty, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Key Ecological Perspectives: Tracing the Evolution of GMO Oversight with Dr. David Andow

Nick Loschin | Dr. David Andow provided his insights and expertise on ecological and evolutionary perspectives related to genetic engineering through key events from the 1980s to the early 2000s

Feb 19, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Faculty, GES Blog, News, Research, Students

Preventing the Next Plant Plague

NC State's Jean Ristaino will write a book on her Irish Potato Famine research and work to prevent future plant disease outbreaks while in Dublin as a Fulbright scholar.

Feb 16, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, GES Blog, News, Research, Students

NC State Named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution

NC State has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of students, faculty and administrators selected for both the U.S. Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs, including three GES faculty members and an AgBioFEWS Fellow in 2023–24.

Feb 14, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Remembering 20th Century Eugenics in North Carolina

Nolan Speicher | In a recent GES colloquium, PhD student Grace Wiedrich shared archival research that invites audiences to reflect on the eugenics movement and its intersections with our local history.

Feb 13, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, GES Blog, News, Research, Students

Envisioning a More Equitable Food System

Doctoral candidate and AgBioFEWS Fellow Christopher Gillespie seeks a stronger, more racially equitable food system, and at NC State, he’s taking steps to achieve that.

Feb 7, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, GES Blog, News, Research, Students

Starting Strong

The first small companies to join the startup program are pursuing diverse products aimed at solving different agricultural problems. For example, Eli Hornstein, who holds a Ph.D. from NC State in plant metabolic engineering, has started Elysia Creative Biology to help slow climate change by producing bioengineered crops that can be turned into feed that reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas, from cows.

Jan 24, 2024 | AgBioFEWS, Article, GES Blog, Students

Blog: Interdisciplinary Reflections on the U.S. Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy

In December, GES-affiliated faculty and students participated in a roundtable discussion on the EO at the recent Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, held in Washington, DC. The roundtable aimed to discuss the strengths and limitations of the recent EO on bio-innovation from interdisciplinary perspectives, highlighting aspects of biotechnology regulation and risk in particular.

Jan 3, 2024 |

AgBioFEWS Cohort 3 – Omics for AgBiotech Regulation: Choices and Consequences | Final Spring GES Colloquium!

AgBioFEWS Cohort 3 discusses an ongoing interdisciplinary effort that seeks to better understand the implications of -omics technologies for regulatory oversight of agricultural products. IN-PERSON ONLY, NO ZOOM

Barbara Herr Harthorn – Investigating the societal and ethical implications of synthetic cells [Zoom Only] | GES Colloquium

ZOOM ONLY. This talk introduces 3 ongoing NSF-funded collaborative interdisciplinary projects investigating US public and expert views on bottom-up synthetic cells using a responsible research and innovation framework.

Eric Hallerman – Gene Technology in Aquaculture | GES Colloquium

While aquaculture biotechnology has the potential to improve the sustainability of aquaculture, its realization will depend upon enabling public policy.

Steve Heine – Essentialism and Distortion in Eugenics and GMO Attitudes [Zoom Only] | GES Colloquium

How psychological biases of essentialism distort the ways people understand genetics, eugenics, and GMO products.

Anna Krome-Lukens – Eugenics and the Welfare State in North Carolina | GES Colloquium

Anna Krome-Lukens, PhD, Teaching Associate Professor and Director of Experiential Education, Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill

Jen Rowland – Agricultural Biotechnology at USDA and Beyond [Zoom Only] | GES Colloquium

[ZOOM ONLY] USDA supports the development, use, regulation, and trade of agricultural biotechnologies through multiple agencies and programs.

2019 Cohort

2020 Cohort

2022 Cohort

There are multiple levels at which students can participate in AgBioFEWS.

We welcome students into the AgBioFEWS program as Cohort Fellows or students in a Graduate Minor, as well as opportunities for undergraduate participation. Students across all groups are eligible to apply for funds to support research and public engagement.

PhD Cohort Fellows

[ Applications now closed] The most involved and advanced level, PhD Cohort Fellows receive fellowship support ($34,000 fellowship stipends with tuition and fees paid) and then move on to research and/or teaching assistantships in their PhD programs. Contact Program Coordinator:  Dr. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward

Graduate Minor

Masters and PhD students working towards established graduate minor in Genetic Engineering and Society (GES), or in the emerging minor in Public Science (PS), may use 1-3 AgBioFEWS courses to fulfill requirements toward those minors. GES Minor contacts : Dr. Fred Gould and Dr. Jason Delborne

Undergraduate

Opportunities are being developed for undergraduate students to participate in AgBioFEWS. Undergrad contact: Dr. Nora Haenn

Partnerships and Opportunities

We will partner with North Carolina HBCUs, including North Carolina A&T State University, offering internships to their undergraduate and masters students, and we will establish a path for these students to join our NRT program. Continuous interaction with experts from industry, government, and NGOs will enable students to have access to a diversity of careers.

An Integrated Approach

Agbiofews students work together from differing perspectives to examine current and potential future biotechnology products and their development pathways to assess if and how they can be used to improve food, energy, and water systems for societal benefit..

To address societal challenges, scientific research must be convergent: driven by compelling problems and deeply integrating scientific disciplines. AgBioFEWS students gain this capacity by working collaboratively to research how agricultural biotechnology changes agricultural landscapes and rural communities, integrating tools and cultures from the natural and social sciences.

AgBioFEWS scholars not only think broadly, they use evidence-based approaches to elevate the level of public discourse on agricultural biotechnology.

Interactions of biotechnology with FEWS Click to expand

Meet Our Faculty

The faculty leadership team brings expertise spanning genetic engineering, ecology, plant systems, synthetic biology, disease epidemiology, public engagement, risk analysis, bioeconomics, and more. This means that students from any of these disciplines will become T-shaped, adept at working with colleagues from any background.

Students can choose any faculty member in their designated PhD programs as an advisor or they can enter the program without a specific advisor and choose the advisor later.

Grand Challenges

Agriculture constitutes the largest use of land and water on the planet and as currently practiced could threaten the sustainability of few systems..

While biotechnologies are often portrayed to the public as either solving or causing these challenges, the implications of these technologies are complex, requiring a convergence of scientific fields and insights from the humanities to understand them. Our students cross disciplines to address these complex challenges.

AgBioFEWS is built on a foundation of interdisciplinarity, bridging insights from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Our program offers PhD and Masters students with interdisciplinary interests the chance to research, develop, appraise, utilize, manage and communicate agricultural biotechnology in ways that improve FEW systems. Our students:

• Integrate knowledge and recognize the assumptions in disparate fields of study,
• Understand how both facts and values influence decision-making, and
• Establish their trustworthiness through open and creative engagement with diverse communities.

Click to expand

PhD Options

NOTE: In order to be considered, students must also apply to one of these 35 PhD-granting programs at NC State for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year. [click to expand list]

List of eligible programs Show Less Show More

Coursework and Activities

Required coursework.

• 1. FEW Impacts of Biotechnology in NC Agricultural Systems
• 2. Emerging Technologies, Science Communication, and Public Engagement
• 3. Genetic Engineering for Sustainable Crop Production
• 4. Systems Modeling and Policy Analysis of Emerging Biotechnologies

FEW Impacts of Biotechnology in NC Agricultural Systems

Timeframe : First and second summer, 3 credits Faculty : Core and contributing faculty

Study area in Eastern North Carolina

Description : Students will spend much of their first course in rural agricultural communities. Following an intensive 5-day overview of the agricultural systems in the region (on campus at NC State), students will travel to a small Coastal Plain community where they and faculty will spend a week visiting with farmers, hearing about how they are impacted by genetic engineering, and laboring in the fields at the Vernon   James  Research & Extension Center. They will also meet with environmental groups such as The Nature Conservancy, Toxic Free NC, and Sound Rivers, learning why and how they monitor water quality, and their concerns about how biotech crops affect fragile nature lands. The following spring, they will return for two more weeks to see cropping operations and decision-making done during that season.

After taking this course, students will have a basic understanding of:

• local farmer practices, decision-making, and concerns
• positive and negative impacts of engineered crops on FEW systems
• concerns of environmental groups and local citizens
• responsible and effective engagement with diverse publics

See 2019 Cohort presentation on their summer course experience

Emerging Technologies, Science Communication, and Public Engagement

Timeframe : Fall of first year, 3 credits Faculty : Jason Delborne and Jean Goodwin

Description :This course will address the challenge of designing meaningful engagement among experts, stakeholders, and broader publics in the development and governance of emerging technologies. Students will integrate conceptual foundations from science communication, science and technology studies (STS), environmental policy, and science ethics, and will use this knowledge to develop practical program designs for students’ future public engagement activities on issues related to biotechnology innovations.

After taking this course students will:

• recognize the relationships among expertise, public trust, and adoption of emerging biotechnologies in agriculture
• understand science as a social process situated within ethical, cultural and policy contexts
• have developed a personal ethical framework for evaluating appropriate public roles and responsibilities as a researcher
• have a feasible, research-based plan for effective and appropriate public engagement activities

Genetic Engineering for Sustainable Crop Production

Timeframe : Spring of first year, 3 credits Faculty : Heike Sederoff , Bob Kelly , and Fred Gould

Description : This course will provide students with an understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of plant physiology and the different technologies of genetic crop improvement. The students will learn the physiological effects of select genetic targets, synthetic modules, and interactive engineering. These concepts will then be analyzed for their utility, efficiency, and limitations in engineering plants with properties that could improve FEW systems. Case studies will be presented as examples of how current crops with engineered traits have affected FEW systems in the US and globally. The students will critically evaluate new discoveries in the natural sciences for their potential application in biotechnology. Students will learn basic molecular techniques (e.g. DNA/RNA extraction and purification, PCR) and biosafety protocols in a teaching lab. They will use bioinformatics to compare gene origins and compare gene structures. Multiple visits to active genetic engineering labs, greenhouses, and the NC State sequencing facility (Genomic Sciences Lab - GSL) will provide practical insight into the generation and analysis of engineered plants and associated microbes. Students will participate in demonstrations of cloning and transformation techniques. (Students lacking knowledge of genetics will take an introductory genetics course the semester prior to this course. Peer mentoring during the course by students in molecular genetics PhD programs will be encouraged as part of the team experience.)

After taking this course students will be able to:

• explain basic concepts of genetics, genomics and plant physiology
• understand how bioinformatics is used to analyze sequence data
• extract and quantify DNA/RNA, run PCR reactions, and compare sequences on databases
• describe characteristics of current, and potential future strategies for modifying plant genomes
• examine the FEW impacts of current commercial GE crops—as well as what is in the pipeline
• understand novel genetic approaches for improving FEW systems in the near and far future

Systems Modeling and Policy Analysis of Emerging Biotechnologies

Timeframe : Fall of second year, 3 credits Faculty : Zack Brown , Jennifer Kuzma and Kelly Zering

Description : The complex feedbacks between agricultural biotechnology and FEW systems preclude the sole reliance on controlled experimentation or observational study to assess causal relationships across diverse systems. Assessing the possible futures implicated by these emerging technologies requires integrating modeling approaches. When strictly disciplinary models are applied to inherently interdisciplinary questions, the processes outside the modelers’ expertise are usually represented (if at all) in a highly abstract fashion, often with unjustified assumptions. For example, natural scientists and engineers assuming away behavioral responses to a new technology is a classic case of an unjustified assumption in an ‘outside process’ that can have tangible consequences (Mobarak et al. 2012). This course will engage students from multiple disciplines to combine their complementary expertise and interests to work together with instructors (either in small groups or as a class) on a single final project. With this group-based practicum format establishing the orientation of this course, we will interweave a limited number of discrete lectures by the instructors that provide self-contained primers of the types of models used in specific disciplines, including agronomy, population biology and ecology, economics, decision and risk analysis, and life-cycle assessment.

After taking this course students will know:

• the basics of common modeling techniques used across the biological, economic and social sciences (e.g. systems mapping, systems dynamics, agent-based modeling, optimization, risk analysis, and mind-mapping)
• how to assess the validity of different modeling techniques across disciplines
• how to identify suitable modeling techniques for different research questions, and based on different types of available data
• how to simplify complex systems to the key processes and feedbacks admitting analysis of a specific, interdisciplinary question
• how to analyze and account for uncertainty in model structure, parameters or assumptions (e.g. through Monte Carlo simulation, Bayesian approaches and expert elicitation, etc.), as well as the connections from natural-world “unknowns” to social-world forces that can address the uncertainties (e.g. funding policy, risk management, or changes in economic conditions)
• how to integrate and apply modeling techniques to analyze food, energy and water interactions with humans’ choices regarding emerging agricultural biotechnologies

Program Activities

Cohort projects, colloquium and professional development.

Timeframe : Spring semester after last AgBioFEWS course

From the first day that the Cohort Students join our program they are made aware that a major goal in their convergent training is for them to use the background gained from disciplinary and AgBioFEWS coursework, as well as other sources, in order to work together on a project involving multiple disciplines. While we recognize that students in the cohorts have disciplinary emphases, this is not simply a multidisciplinary project where each student does work in his/her discipline. The goal is for all students to contribute to and understand all of the methods and outcomes of the project.

As students in a cohort move through hands-on and more conceptual courses, they are expected to keep their eyes out for interesting problems where solutions will require input from multiple disciplines. They are encouraged to discuss their ideas with AgBioFEWS faculty. At the end of their second Fall semester, the cohort chooses 2-3 faculty members to formally mentor them on their project.

The final project will be determined by the students. Given the emphasis of our AgBioFEWS on communication and engagement, examples of outcomes could be an innovative approach to engagement tested to determine if it elevates the level of public discussions about biotechnology and FEW systems, or an interactive systems model of an agricultural FEW system that is accurate, accessible, and informative to farmers and conservationists. A student cohort can also choose to work on more experimental or analytical work on farms and/or adjoining natural habitats.

Timeframe : Offered every Fall and Spring Semester, 1 credit Faculty : Led by Zack Brown , with all faculty contributing

Description : AgBioFEWS students, at all levels, are provided with additional exposure to diverse perspectives on biotechnology in our ongoing, weekly colloquium series on Genetic Engineering and Society.

Presentations are kept to 30 minutes to allow for plenty of time for discussion. Many of the presenters are drawn from multinational corporations, governments, NGOs, and startup companies. These presenters are chosen to provide divergent viewpoints on a broad array of genetic engineering issues (from bacteria to humans) in order to challenge our students to think deeply for themselves. We are fortunate to have collaborations with many small and large biotechnology companies close to NC State (e.g. Syngenta, BASF, AgBiome). Nonprofits like the Nature Conservancy and RTI International are also nearby and will collaborate.

Collaborations between the NC State Graduate School, Libraries, and the Leadership in Public Science cluster will create numerous opportunities for our AgBioFEWS students to further develop their academic and public communication skills—these range from short workshops on science communication to full credit courses on grant-writing. In addition, NC State has a “ Preparing the Professoriate ” program for students aiming at academic careers. Traditional courses on research ethics are required in most of our associated graduate programs.

Although the AgBioFEWS Cohort Students will be receiving a PhD in an already established program with its own requirements, each Cohort Student (and PhD program Director of Graduate Programs) will sign a contract in joining the AgBioFEWS program indicating that at least one chapter from her/his thesis will address an interdisciplinary issue related to agricultural biotechnology and FEW systems.

Why NC State?

Nc state is north carolina’s flagship school, bringing together some of the world’s top agricultural and social scientists..

NC State Research Clusters contributing to AgBioFEWS Click to expand

The Land Grant mission of NC State has always valued interdisciplinary interactions among agricultural scientists. Now, we are positioned to become a leader in moving from a technological, economic, commercialization model centered in the natural sciences and engineering to one that both embraces social sciences as an equal contributing partner and reaches out to engage the broader public.

NC State has institutionalized interdisciplinary research through the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program , an initiative to create interdisciplinary clusters of faculty focused on addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

The AgBioFEWS Program will engage with at least six of these faculty clusters: Genetic Engineering and Society ,  Global Environmental Change , Emerging Plant Diseases & Global Food Security , Water Sanitation & Hygiene , Public Science , and Systems & Synthetic Biology .

Archived: Recruitment Q&A Session

VIDEO: Q&A session with Dr. Fred Gould, GES Center co-director, and Dr. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, AgBioFEWS program coordinator, recorded on Friday, December 10, 2021. The Zoom session started with a brief presentation of the AgBioFEWS program, ending with questions from applicants interested in applying to the program. Also available on the GES Lectures Podcast .

Watch the Q&A session video   |  Listen to the podcast

Press Release

‘Changing the Landscape of Graduate Education’

Funding support provided by:

College of Agricultural Sciences

Ph.D. in Bioagricultural Sciences

In This Section

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Doctor of Philosophy in Bioagricultural Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy in Bioagricultural Sciences program conducts research in plant abiotic stress or the microbes, insects, and weeds that threaten the safety and sustainability of our food supply. Learn how ecosystems function and how to protect them.

Visit the CSU Graduate School website to learn more. 

Where You’ll Find Us

Agricultural Research and Development Center

Work directly with crops and livestock at this research and teaching complex — one of ten around the state.

Learn More about ARDEC

C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity

Our collection represents most orders of insects with a strong coverage of Rocky Mountain and southwestern species.

Bug Zoo and Community Outreach

Volunteer with this traveling exhibit to introduce K-12 students to 30+ species of arachnids, insects, and other arthropods.

Learn more about the Bug Zoo

Related Interests

• Agriculture
• Climate change
• Ecosystem health
• Microbiology

Related Careers

• Agricultural Biologist & Engineer
• Agricultural Biosecurity Inspector
• Agricultural Science Research Technician
• Food Production
• Insect Molecular Biologist
• Integrated Pest Management Specialist
• Pesticide Safety Educator
• Research Biologist
• Research Entomologist
• Research Equipment or Agricultural Sales Representative
• Research Plant Pathologist
• Research Weed Scientist
• Weed Manager

Department Advisor

Sarah ehrlich.

[email protected]

• Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Give to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

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Agronomy and horticulture (phd), agronomy and horticulture , phd.

The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture offers graduate degree programs leading to a Ph.D. in plant and soil sciences.

Description

Agronomy is the application of plant and soil science to crop production. Agronomy emphasizes staple food crops, such as corn, rice, beans, and wheat, which are produced on a large scale and represent the foundation of our human food supply.

The Department's pride is its excellent teaching, research, and extension programs carried out by more than 70 faculty members in six core areas: landscape ecology and design; ornamental horticulture; plant breeding and genetics; soil and water sciences; turf/range/forage science; and weed science. The Department also conducts research nationally and internationally in plant physiology, viticulture, molecular biology, plant biotechnology, plant breeding, nutrient cycling and management, rangeland ecology and management, renewable bioenergy, soil and water management, and on the environmental impact and sustainability of agriculture.

The Department has well-equipped laboratories, modern greenhouses, growth chambers, and field facilities, including four district research centers spanning several ecoregions, available to graduate students. For instance, the Plant Sciences Program combines integrative curriculum with collaborative research in highly specialized facilities. And our outstanding field research facilities located in several agro-climatic zones across the state provide a unique ability to conduct research at a production-scale. This increases the relevance of the findings to real-world agro-ecosystems and gives students an opportunity to work in a more realistic production environment.

Many online courses are available.

Specializations

• Applied Ecology
• Agricultural Meteorology
• Crop Physiology and Production
• Environmental Studies
• Great Plains Studies
• Plant Breeding and Genetics

Agronomy And Horticulture

Graduate Chair

Sydney Everhart

• Range and Forage Science
• Soil and Water Sciences
• Weed Science

Applying for Admission

Standard requirements for all graduate programs.

• Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee .

If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.

• If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information .
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Program-Specific Admission Requirements

Additional requirements specific to this program.

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• Minimum English proficiency: Internet TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5.
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Biotechnology (Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) MPhil, PhD

Explore biological, agricultural and environmental sciences research with our course at Newcastle University.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

We invite proposals for MPhil and PhD biotechnology projects in the fields of biological, agricultural and environmental sciences.

This biotechnology PhD and MPhil sits in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE).

Our biological, agricultural and environmental sciences research focuses on:

• the search and discovery of commercially significant natural products
• the production of crops with novel traits
• the fundamental role played by micro-organisms in the turnover of pollutants
• the production of high-value novel compounds, including pharmaceuticals and pesticides

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

How you'll learn

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

We'll provide you with a comprehensive research training programme. This includes training in professional skills and research techniques. We'll also support your personal development. We have a thriving postgraduate research culture and great support for international students.

Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) researcher development programme

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• Sustainable Electric Propulsion Centre for Doctoral Training
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year).

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

For 2025-26 entry, we will be aligning our standard  Home research fees  with those set by  UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2025 by UKRI.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

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Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Postgraduate Research Administrator

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6900

Email: [email protected]

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

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Chat online with current students with our Unibuddy platform.

Social media

Get involved with the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences social media. 

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You have unlimited possibilities for success at Tennessee State University. We’re a leading institution of higher learning and provide students with the opportunity to experience academic and personal growth. You’ll receive instruction from top-notch faculty and be immersed in research, service learning, and student life activities, including internships, cultural, and study abroad opportunities.

Our world-class faculty will teach you how to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations. As a student, you will become a problem solver and critical thinker. You may begin the admissions process by submitting your application. The university also assists in providing information on financial aid services, work-study, fellowships and scholarships based on eligibility and other rules and regulations established by the agencies.

Tennessee State University students go by the motto: “Think. Work. Serve.” But we also realize a little fun should be part of the collegiate experience to create a holistic approach to learning. With a variety of social, professional and civic clubs for students to participate in, there are many opportunities for you to share your time and talents and enjoy connecting with your fellow students to create the work-life balance needed for success in college and beyond.

• support TSU

Tennessee State University is engaging in cutting-edge research to address critical challenges in our society. Our research arm supports faculty and students by taking their ideas from conception to fruition in critical areas such as biotechnology, homeland security and agriculture, to name a few. Our Centers of Excellence encourage collaborative and experimental learning opportunities and help expand the boundaries of science, education and technology.

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Tennessee State University is a world-class university known for academic excellence, incredible students, inspiring faculty, exceptional value and an amazing campus and community. We invite you to learn more about TSU and our academic programs, admissions process, tuition and financial aid, campus visits, student housing and more.

Tennessee State University is dedicated to helping students develop the skills needed for the real world. Our vibrant campus life, leadership opportunities, rigorous academic programs, access to scholarships and student services are just a few of the student services we offer. We are preparing career-ready professionals today for knowledge-based jobs tomorrow. The Tiger legacy continues with you.

TSU loves parents! And we encourage you to stay involved with your Tennessee State University student. We strive to make the transition to college and beyond flow as smoothly as possible for everyone. We'll keep you up-to-date on campus happenings through a monthly eNewsletter, a helpful Parent Guide and through many other programs and events. We're here to help you and your student make the most out of your TSU experience.

At Tennessee State University, our blood runs blue! We enjoy connecting, socializing and sharing news about the great things our alumni are doing across the globe. From our annual Homecoming celebration to donor events and volunteer activities, TSU alumni always find time to celebrate what it means to be a Big Blue Tiger. We welcome you back to campus anytime to rekindle your most memorable experiences.

Welcome to Tennessee State University, located in the heart of Nashville, one of the nation's most progressive cities! Whether you are here for your first visit, planning a campus tour or returning after many years away, TSU welcomes you to enjoy our facilities, hospitality and our unique history and contributions.

Tennessee State University is proud to have 1,200 distinguished administrators, faculty and staff members as part of our team. With outstanding reputations for teaching, research and service, these professionals make valuable contributions to our community of scholars and ensure that TSU is a thriving public institution of higher learning.

• Agricultural Science & Engineering >
• Degree Programs
• > Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences

Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences

The Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to meet the growing demand for research professionals in private industries, academia, and government agencies. The research-based terminal degree is offered for those candidates who have already completed a research-based MS degree in agricultural or related sciences. It requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation research: AGSC 8120, 13 credit hours of core courses, and 11 credit hours of elective courses as recommended by student’s dissertation research advisory committee.

The degree candidates shall file a program of study during the first semester of their residency into the program. The program of study shall include the courses which will be used to satisfy the degree requirements, as well as detailed plan how other requirements will be met. The student may later change the program of study with the written approval of the Department chair and the Graduate School.

The degree candidates must complete 9 credit hours of major core courses: AGSC 5110, AGSC 6350 and AGSC 7590 with a grade point average of 3.0 or above, successfully defended the dissertation proposal, passed both written and oral comprehensive examinations prior to obtaining admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. After gaining admission to candidacy the student must complete an approved curriculum (minimum 11 hours of electives courses recommended by the student’s dissertation research advisory committee), enroll in two credit hours of Doctoral Seminar (AGSC 7610, AGSC 7620) and two credit hours of experiential learning courses (AGSC 6620 and AGSC 7200), complete a dissertation (at least 24 hours dissertation research; AGSC8120), and successfully defend the dissertation prior to gaining the Ph.D. degree (Please refer to Agricultural Sciences Graduate Student Handbook for milestones and specific dissertation requirements). The total number of credit hours required for Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences is 48 hours. PDF copy of the Program of Study - PhD in Agricultural Sciences

Program of Study Core Courses: 13 Credit Hours • AGSC 5110 - Research Methods (3)  • AGSC 6350 - Topics in Agricultural Sciences (3)  • AGSC 6620 - Research Ethics in Agricultural Sciences (1)  • AGSC 7200 - Experiential AgriScience Teaching in Higher Education (1)  • AGSC 7590 - Applied Multivariate Analysis (3)  • AGSC 7610, 7620 - Doctoral Seminar in Agricultural Sciences I, II (1-1) 

Dissertation Research: 24 Credit Hours • AGSC 8120 - Doctoral Dissertation Research (24) 

Electives: 11 Credit Hours • AGSC 5130 - Advanced Animal Nutrition (3)  • AGSC 5015 Principles of Organic Agriculture ((3)  • AGSC 5050 Methods of Teaching Agricultural and Environmental STEM (3)  • AGSC 5060 Statistics for Research (3)  • AGSC 5170/6170 Advanced Poultry Production and Management (3)  • AGSC 5180 Soil Classification (3)  • AGSC 5190 Plant Breeding (3)  • BIOL  5190 Ecology (3)  • AGSC 5220 Plant Growth Substances (3)  • AGSC 5230 Advanced Propagation of Horticultural Plants (3)  • AGSC 5260 Environmental Analysis (3)  • AGSC 4270/5270 Biosecurity and Bioforensics (3)  • AGSC5280 Advanced Poultry Nutrition and Biotechnology (3)  • AGSC 5290 Omics (3)  • AGSC 5320 Wetlands Ecology & Management (3)  • AGSC 5340 Cell and Tissue Culture (4)  • AGSC 5350 - Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems (3)  • AGSC 5470 Immunochemistry in Biotechnology (3)  • AGSC 5500/7500 Environmental Issues and Sustainability (3)  • AGSC 5510/7510 Ecosystem Science and Management (3)  • AGSC 5520 Advanced Food Processing and Engineering (3)  • AGSC 5530 Advanced Technologies in Detection and Food Analysis (3)  • AGSC 5560 Food Product Development and Sensory Science (3)  • AGSC 5570 Climate Change (3)  • AGSC 5590 Forest Ecology and Management (3)  • AGSC 5900/7900 Applied Entomology (3)  • AGSC 6010 Gene Structure & Function (3)  • AGSC 6270 Advanced Agricultural Biosecurity (3)  • AGSC 6510 Advanced Geospatial Information Systems (3) : • AGSC 6520 Advanced Spatial Analysis (3)  • AGSC 6525 Remote Sensing and Image Analysis (3)  • AGSC 6530 Advanced Geospatial Metadata (3)  • AGSC 6540 Advanced Spatial Database Design and Management (3)  • AGSC 6550 Advanced Geospatial Information Systems Application and Design (3)  • AGSC 6560 Advanced Global Positioning Systems (3)  • AGSC 7010 Advancement in Agricultural Biotechnology (3)  • AGSC 7040 Plant Tissue Culture Methods and Application (3)  • AGSC 7050 Biotechnology in Animal Reproduction (3)  • AGSC 7260 Advanced Environmental Analysis (3)  • AGSC xxxx Climate Smart Agriculture (2)  • Guided Elective (3)

For more information, contact the Graduate coordinator: Dr. Bharat Pokharel , (615) 963-6054.

Graduate Programs of Study

Graduate students in the College of Agriculture are admitted through each of our eleven departments and five interdisciplinary programs. Explore the curricular requirements, faculty research interested and application deadlines for our programs.

Departments

• Agricultural & Biological Engineering
• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Science Education and Communication
• Animal Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Botany & Plant Pathology 
• Food Science
• Forestry & Natural Resources
• Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

Interdisciplinary Programs

• Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Ph.D. (PULSe)
• Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE)
• Interdepartmental Nutrition Program
• Center for Plant Biology
• Computational Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Identified a program? Apply through Purdue's Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars .

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Agricultural Biotechnology

Explore the possibilities.

Ag Biotech emphasizes the development and application of new technologies to ensure a safe and abundant food and fiber supply.

Students are passionate about scientific methodology and real-world application, enjoying the vast opportunities available in faculty- and student-led research.

The Integrated Plant Sciences (IPS) interdisciplinary degree program includes horticulture, crop and soil sciences, entomology, plant pathology and molecular science. You will learn the science and technology used to optimize plant life from molecule to market. 

509-335-9502 [email protected]

Career Opportunities

• Plant Geneticist or Breeder
• Research or Laboratory Technician
• Molecular Biologist
• Biotechnologist
• Bioinformaticist
• MS or PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics

Quick Facts

Major requirements, minimum total credits: 120 credits.

Below is an example of a 4-year plan. Your program may include different courses. Consult with your advisor about the best combination and order of courses for you. Visit the  WSU Catalog  for a list of required courses for this major and course descriptions.

General Education Requirements: 40 credits

Ips degree core requirements: 30 credits.

• BIOLOGY 106 or BIOLOGY 120 – 4 credits
• CHEM 102: Chemistry Related to Life Sciences – 4 credits
• CROP_SCI/HORT 102: Cultivated Plants – 3 credits
• CROP_SCI/HORT 202: Crop Growth and Development – 4 credits
• CROP_SCI 411: [M] Crop Environmental Interactions or HORT 416: Advanced Hort Crop Physiology – 3 credits
• ENTOM 343: [M] General Entomology – 3 credits
• ENTOM 351: Ecological & Integrated Pest Management – 3 credits
• PL_P 300: Diseases of Fruit Crops or PL_P 429: General Plant Pathology – 2–3 credits
• SOIL_SCI 201: Soil: A Living System – 3 credits

Major Core Requirements: 45 credits

• BIOLOGY 107: Intro to Cell Bio & Genetics – 4 credits
• BIOLOGY 420: Plant Physiology – 3 credits
• BIOS 303: Intro. Biochemistry – 4 credits
• CHEM 105 & 106: Principles of Chemistry I & II – 4 credits
• CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry I – 4 credits
• CROP_SCI 445: Plant Breeding – 4 credits
• HORT 480: Plant Genomics & Biotechnology – 3 credits
• MBIOS 301: General Genetics – 4 credits
• MBIOS 401: Cell Biology – 3 credits
• MBIOS 404: Molecular Biology – 3 credits
• MBIOS 478: Bioinformatics – 3 credits

Electives Outside the Major: 13-22 credits

The best thing about WSU was the opportunity to work in different labs on campus. Classes in plant breeding, genetics, chemistry, and soil science gave me necessary information to do research. WSU taught me how to be confident and independent. Grace Murekatete, Matching Grant Case Specialist, International Institute

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

Go to programs search

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

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

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

What makes the program unique?

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

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

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

Jens Johnson

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

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

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

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

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

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

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

English Language Test

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

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

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

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

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

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

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

2) Meet Deadlines

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

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

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

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

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

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

Letters of Reference

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

Statement of Interest

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

• Supervision

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

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

Citizenship verification.

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

4) Apply Online

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

Research Information

Research highlights.

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

Research Focus

Specific areas of specialization include:

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

Program Components

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

Research Facilities

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

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

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

Program Funding Packages

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

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

Average Funding

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

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

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

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

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

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

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

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

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

Financial aid (need-based funding)

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

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

Foreign government scholarships

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

Working while studying

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

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

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

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

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

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

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

Cost Estimator

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

Career Outcomes

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

Sample Employers in Higher Education

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

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

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

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

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

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

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

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

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

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

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Plant Science (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

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

Further Information

Specialization.

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

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

UBC Calendar

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

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

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PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences

Become a successful leader in research, education, and industry through agricultural and environmental studies..

The PhD in plant and soil sciences program at UMass Amherst allows you to work with top faculty at a renowned university known for its support of sustainable local, national, and global agriculture through research and education.

We offer expertise in the full spectrum of agricultural and environmental study, including:

• Plant physiology
• Environmental science
• Molecular biology
• Plant biotechnology
• Plant pathology/pathogen ecology
• Production technology 
• Soil science
• Agricultural marketing
• Integrated pest management

Through coursework, research, fieldwork, and collaboration with faculty and peers, you’ll achieve mastery of your subject, take comprehensive exams, and complete a dissertation.

Related offerings

Students interested in our PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences may also be interested in these other offerings.

• Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences
• Minor in Plant and Soil Sciences
• Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences
• 5th Year Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences
• Master of Science in Plant Biology
• PhD in Plant Biology

Featured faculty

Masoud hashemi.

Masoud Hashemi is a graduate program director and an extension professor in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.

Plant and Soil Sciences

Train in biology and laboratory methods to focus your studies on plant science and applied biology.

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Plant & AgriBiosciences (Structured PhD)

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Course Overview

Course fees.

The Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences trains the student to perform cutting-edge, internationally-competitive research and training in a field related to Plant & AgriBiosciences. The student produces a research Thesis and takes dedicated PABC modules, supplemented with modules chosen from those provided for general NUI Galway graduate training. The Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences is offered in collaboration with Teagasc and other partner organizations, and prepares the student for a career or future research opportunities in plant & agribioscience areas. 

Programmes Available

Structured PhD, elective modules. Applications are made online via the University of Galway  Postgraduate Applications System . 

Learning Outcomes

Entry requirements.

Not applicable.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Current research projects.

For examples of current research projects, please see:  www.plantagbiosciences.org/research-themes

Current funded research opportunity

Work placement, related student organisations, career opportunities, find a supervisor / phd project.

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search

Current Projects

The Plant and Agricultural Biosciences Centre comprises a range of inter-linked and synergistic research themes, where research projects and initiatives are currently underway. Students taking the Structured PhD in Plant & AgriBiosciences will be able to conduct their research with research groups of PABC and collaborating institutions.

• Future Crop:  Plants are the ultimate solar-powered biological systems selected by evolution. Humans are wholly dependent on plants for our survival, as plants are the basis of our food, feed (for animals & aquaculture), nutrition, fibre (for textiles), fuel, building materials, medicines, green chemicals and ecosystem services such as oxygen levels in the athmosphere and carbon management. Research in this theme focuses on plant/crop science and agronomy approaches to leverage plant and crop biosciences for "bio-based" sustainable development.
• Algal Biosciences:  Algae are predominantly photosynthetic organisms which occupy marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats and are involved in many biotic (e.g. symbiotic) interactions. Algae have wide and growing range of applications for provision of human food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, industrial products including bioactives, and the provision of other bio-derived products including biofuels. For biotechnology, research on harnessing algae for useful products and services for humanity is in its infancy, with major opportunities for innovations.
• Tree & Forestry:  Forests directly support livelihoods through provision of fuelwood, sawtimber, paper, pulp. More than half of the wood biomass consumed globally, well over 80 percent in developing countries, is burned as fuel. Pulping waste can be used as a bio-derived source of industrial solvents, livestock feed, lubricants, consumer products (such as artificial vanillin) and medicines. Forests can be separated into planted and natural forest systems. While only 7 percent (271 million hectares) of the world’s forests are planted these forests are responsible for 66% of total global roundwood production.
• AgriGlycosciences:  Glycobiology involves the investigation of sugar chains (glycans) and their functional properties in biological organisms. Agri-glycobiology research underway in NUI Galway and with partner institutions involves increasing understanding of functional and biotechnological properties of sugar chains in livestock products (dairy, meat, eggs), in crops, algae and in plant-derived foods and products.
• Food, Feed and Nutrition:  Humans and livestock are in need of more nutritious, sustainable food and feed. The development of improved food and feed is critical to improving the health and nutritional status of ~1000 million people who are undernourished and the ~1000 million overweight. The doubling of demand for animal products (meat, dairy) between 2000 and 2030 is a key driver for more sustainable feed and protein supply systems, where feed conversion ratios are increased while reducing the environmental footprint associated with livestock (especially cattle) production.
• PlantBioProducts, Agri-Microbial & Enzyme Biosciences : The global chemical manufacturing industry has a demand requirement for 400m tonnes of petrochemicals each year to generate feedstocks for manufacturing. In Ireland, the chemicals industry contributes 30,000 jobs, €35bn exports and ~35% of Irelands total exports. The PABC vision is to foster agrifood competitiveness while also advancing the plant-based bioeconomy. To generate the low-carbon bio-based economies of the future, there is a need to foster research and innovation to harness advances in chemical (e.g. thermochemistry, catalysis, green chemistry) and biological conversions (enzymology, metabolic engineering, metabolic compartmentalisation, synthetic biology) to generate different streams of value added products from plant/crop materials that can generate jobs and export earnings. Industrial biotechnology uses enzymes and microbes to make bio-based products in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles and bioenergy (biofuels, biogas).
• Closed-Loop AgriBio : Recent analyses of planetary boundary conditions highlight that agriculture is a major driver of environmental pollution (nitrogen, phosphorous, greenhouse gas). In the move to design circular sustainable economies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, there is a need for agricultural production systems and value-chains to reduce their environmental footprint towards a more sustainable closed loop nutrient and energy recycling system. For example, phosphate reserves are finite and depleting towards a “peak phosphorous” scenario, yet are essential components of fertilisers. There is an urgent need to reduce nutrient loss from farming systems and value chains, while reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Smart Farm, AgriEngineering & AgriInformatics:  Farmers and agrifood value chain stakeholders are poised to be empowered towards improved profitability and sustainability by the development of a suite of smart farm technologies that will emerge from a technological convergence that is underway. The development of smart-farm, precision-agriculture and smart-agriculture technologies and tools is already occurring through fast-paced advances and innovations. The PABC is working in partnership with others to develop the next generation of smart farm innovations.
• Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security (CCAFS) : The planet's climate is rapidly changing due to global warming, and will continue to do so for the decades and centuries ahead. This poses major challenges for future agricultural systems to provide food and other bioresources for the 9 billion people that will occupy the planet by 2050. The PABC is working in partnership with the global Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) initiative, on research and training activities in Ireland and in Africa. 

Researcher Profiles

A full list of PABC research groups and Principal Investigators can be found at:  www.plantagbiosciences.org/content/principal-investigators-research-groups 

Fees: Non EU

Extra information.

EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25

All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of €140.

Prof. Charles Spillane & Dr. Peter McKeown Plant & AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) Office ADB-2006, Áras de Brún University of Galway University Road, Galway H91 REW4 Ireland www.plantagbiosciences.org E: [email protected]  | [email protected] T: +353 86 796 3624

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PhD in Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science and Technology

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Application deadline: Aug 22, 2023 at 11:59 PM (Expired)

Second PhD Call for Applications, with scholarships funded by NRRP and other funds

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Enrolment: From Sep 22, 2023 to Sep 28, 2023

Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2023

Application deadline: Jun 20, 2023 at 11:59 PM (Expired)

PhD Call for Applications, with scholarships funded by NRRP and other funds

Enrolment: From Jul 31, 2023 to Aug 21, 2023

• Agronomy, Herbaceous Crops, Flowers and Vegetables Systems, Agricultural Genetics and Agricultural Chemistry
• International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies
• Microbial Ecology and Plant Pathology
• Agricultural and Food Economics and Policy
• Agricultural Entomology
• Agricultural Engineering
• Food Science and Biotechnology
• Animal Science
• Tree Production Systems, Fruit, Forest and Ornamental Trees and Grape
• Water-Food-Energy-Sustainable Agriculture Nexus

Appointed by RD n. 709/2023 Prot n. 149534 on Jun 02, 2023

Confirmed for Call for further PhD Positions Rectoral Decree n. 1066/2023 Prot. n. 0226313 of 04/08/2023

* The following shall take part in the work of the Examination Board as expert members for positions linked to specific research topics:

• Paola Viola - Apsovsementi S.p.A.
• Milena Stefanova - ENEA - Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo

Thanks to its organization into 10 research topics, the STAAA PhD course provides the doctoral students with an in-depth knowledge and appropriate skills in the different branches of the agri-food sector. The goal is to prepare high profile experts able to carry out research, knowledge-transfer and management activities at the University, and in other public bodies or private companies. The educational path consists in a common program, aimed at providing the fundamental research enablers to every student to acquire an in-depth knowledge related to scientific communication, organization and functioning of the research. PhD students are trained with the basic knowledge for the planning and implementation of the individual research project, and the elaboration of the research results. During the 2nd year, the activities are focused on the development of individual research activities, while during the 3rd year students are advised to concentrate on the preparation of dissertation.

Doctoral students can carry out research activities at the different levels (farm, greenhouse, lab) as required by the specific topic chosen for their dissertation. The main instruments available for their researches, divided according to the different main scientific disciplines of the PhD course, include:

• Analytical chemistry: HPLC, LC-MS, GC, GC-MS, UV-VIS, IR and mass spectrometers, gel electrophoresis, TG-DTA, isotopic mass 13C/15N, FTIR, ICP-OES
• Food analysis: texture analyzer, calorimeters, pilot plant for the high pressure homogenization, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
• “-omics” studies: Real time PCR, DNA sequencers, PCR thermo-cyclers, microarray scanner, Abi-Prism 3100, Rotor Gene – 6000, Genomyx LR e SC, ultra-centrifuges, Nanodrop, DDGE-PCR
• Entomology, Plant pathology and Microbiology: laminar hoods, fermentation tools, autoclaves, incubators, optical and electronic microscopes
• Agricultural engineering: tools for the investigation of the interaction between the soil and agricultural machineries, pesticide dispensers, tools for the study of the physical-mechanic features of agricultural products, devices for the control of agricultural machineries
• Crop physiology: ion selective electrodes, micro-osmometer, chlorophyll meter, suction lisimeters, light scanner, devices for the measurement of 14C radio-isotopes, phloem sensors, gas exchange analyzers
• Cartography: building and landscape design software, survey and remote sensing devices.

The PhD in Agricultural, Environmental, Food Science and Technology requires the compulsory attendance at courses and seminars, which are common to the doctoral students of the 10 research topics, in order to provide a consistent and homogeneous knowledge basis. The courses/seminars (in English language) include:

• Bibliographic services to support research (4 hours)
• Philosophy and methodology of scientific research (10 hours)
• Writing a scientific paper in agricultural sciences (4 hours)
• How to present a paper in a scientific conference in agricultural sciences (4 hours)
• Setting up a research protocol (4 hours)
• Statistical methods applied to agriculture with modern computer applications (25 hours)
• Advanced statistics (10 hours)
• Research financing and project design in agricultural sciences (20 hours)
• Intellectual property rights, enterprise creation, and business plan (20 hours)
• Academic Writing Course (20 hours)
• Cycle of seminar held by visiting professors within Department of Excellence programme. In addition, specific seminars (15 hours) are organized within each research topic.

During the three-year period of the PhD course, the doctoral students with scholarship are required to spend an internship abroad (not less than 3 months, usually 6 months) toward qualified university or research centres, in order to facilitate the exchange and the integration of young researchers in the international scientific community. The course timetable can be viewed on the PhD programme web-page .

The PhD Programme in STAAA promotes the internationalization by agreements with research institutions for obtaining a double degree and/or the joint supervision and among them the active ones are: i) Framework Agreement among six partner EU universities founding the European Bioeconomy University; ii) Framework Agreement with National Chiao Tung University (Taiwan) and Universidad National de Rosario (Argentina), respectively; iii) Bilateral-agreement: OUTGOING - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (E. Appolloni, 35° ciclo) e University of Granada (F. Barbieri, 35° ciclo); INCOMING - Universidade do Porto (C. do Vale Correira), Université de Montpellier (R. El Khechen) e Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (G. Evangelista). Furthermore, since the 33rd cycle doctoral Chinese students by means of China Scholarship Council mobility program are enrolled and starting from the 38th cycle a bilateral agreement with ADA Univerisity (Azerbaijan) has been activated for the enrollment of 5 Azerbaijani candidates per cycle. The STAAA PhD programme also successfully participates to international funding programmes which allowed the activation of 2 additional positions in the 36th and 37th cycles (Program H2020-Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions-Innovative Training Networks) and 1 in the coming cycle (Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships - JCR Program). The STAAA PhD programme also works actively to increase the recruitment of foreign students, through the information support, the link with institutions/universities from other countries and the cooperation with funding agencies providing scholarships to foreign students. PhD students holding a scholarship are obliged to spend a period of research and training of at least three months in foreign universities or research centres. They also participate in research projects of international importance, follow courses in English, and participate in international conferences and schools.

The research products of PhD students in the 5 year period starting from the final doctoral defence will be evaluated on the basis of University of Bologna criteria (https://cris.unibo.it/): articles published on ISI/SCOPUS scientific journals, full paper and abstracts published in symposium proceedings, book and book chapters and patents. In order to be admitted to the final dissertation, it is mandatory that the PhD students demonstrate that at least one scientific paper was accepted or published on SCOPUS/WoS Thomson Reuters (ISI) indexed journals. The paper must be coherent with thematic research of their dissertation as well as with research activities carried out during the three-year period of the PhD course. The admission to the second and third year of the PhD course is be based on a collective evaluation (Doctoral Council assisted by the tutors of each PhD student). The criteria for admission to the following year will include: a) the frequency and rating of the planned common teaching activities; b) the acquired skills in relation to the specific field of research; c) the ability to acquire the proper methodological scientific approach and to plan and carry out research activities on their own.

Massimiliano Petracci

Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari

Piazza Goidanich 60 Cesena (FC)

[email protected]

+39 0547 382348

Attachment 1

Attachment 2.

We have 2 agricultural biotechnology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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agricultural biotechnology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Phd biological sciences, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

China PhD Programme

A Chinese PhD usually takes 3-4 years and often involves following a formal teaching plan (set by your supervisor) as well as carrying out your own original research. Your PhD thesis will be publicly examined in front of a panel of expert. Some international programmes are offered in English, but others will be taught in Mandarin Chinese.

CTP-SAI four-year studentships for October 2024

4 year phd programme.

4 Year PhD Programmes are extended PhD opportunities that involve more training and preparation. You will usually complete taught courses in your first year (sometimes equivalent to a Masters in your subject) before choosing and proposing your research project. You will then research and submit your thesis in the normal way.

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PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Admission 2024, Check Counselling Schedule, Last Date, Event

Doctor of philosophy in agriculture biotechnology.

Doctor of Philosophy

Postgraduate Degree in a Relevant Discipline With Minimum 55% Marks ( 50% for SC/ST Candidates )

Doctorate Degree Courses

Phd in agriculture biotechnology about.

A PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology is a research-oriented degree program that focuses on the application of molecular biology techniques and genetic engineering principles to improve crop production, plant breeding, and agricultural sustainability. Students in this program typically conduct original research in areas such as plant genetics, plant-microbe interactions, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, plant molecular biology, and gene editing.

During the program, students will work closely with a faculty advisor and other researchers to design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and communicate their findings through publications and presentations. The coursework will cover topics such as plant physiology, plant genetics, biotechnology tools and techniques, bioinformatics, and research ethics.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers in academia, government agencies, biotechnology industries, and research organizations, as well as in agriculture and food production companies. They may work as researchers, professors, consultants, or policy analysts, among other roles. Additionally, the skills and knowledge gained in this program can also be applied to other fields such as medicine, environmental science, and biomanufacturing.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Course Highlights

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Entrance Exam

Most universities and institutions offering a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology program require applicants to take an entrance exam. The exam is usually in the form of a written test, which may be followed by an interview. The test typically covers topics such as biology, biotechnology, chemistry, and mathematics.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Admission Process

To be admitted to a PhD program in Agriculture Biotechnology, applicants must have a master's degree in a relevant field, such as agriculture, biotechnology, or a related field. Some institutions may also require candidates to have a certain minimum GPA, work experience, and/or research publications.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Duration

The duration of a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology program is typically 3-5 years, depending on the research project, program requirements, and the student's progress.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology may vary by institution, but generally, applicants should have the following:

• A master's degree in agriculture, biotechnology, or a related field.
• A minimum GPA (usually around 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
• English proficiency, as most programs are taught in English.
• Relevant research experience, such as a thesis or dissertation.
• Strong letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
• A statement of purpose that outlines the applicant's research interests and goals.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology may include a combination of the following:

• Entrance exam performance
• Academic achievements and GPA
• Research experience and publications
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• Interview performance

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology How to Apply

To apply for a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology, applicants should follow the specific instructions provided by the institution they are applying to. The application process usually involves the following steps:

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Application Form

The application form for a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology can usually be found on the website of the institution offering the program. Applicants will need to fill out personal and educational information, upload transcripts and other documents, and pay an application fee. Some institutions may also require a research proposal or statement of purpose.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Application Process

The application process typically involves the following steps:

• Research the program and institution.
• Gather required application materials, including transcripts, test scores, CV, research proposal/statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
• Complete the online application form and pay the application fee.
• Submit the application and all required materials by the deadline.
• Wait for a decision from the institution, which may include an invitation to an interview.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Fee Structure

The application fee for a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology varies depending on the institution. It may range from a few hundred to a few thousand rupees.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Salary and Jobs

Graduates of a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology program can pursue a variety of careers in academia, government, industry, and research organizations. Some possible job titles and average salaries in India include:

• Research Scientist: Rs. 5-10 lakhs per annum
• Professor: Rs. 8-15 lakhs per annum
• Biotech Consultant: Rs. 5-8 lakhs per annum
• Plant Breeder: Rs. 6-12 lakhs per annum
• Biotech Product Manager: Rs. 7-15 lakhs per annum

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Career Opportunities

A PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology can open up many career opportunities in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, and sustainability. Some possible career paths include:

• Academic research and teaching
• Biotech and pharmaceutical research and development
• Plant breeding and genetics
• Agrochemical and seed companies
• Government agencies and research institutions
• Non-profit and advocacy organizations

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Top Colleges in India

Here are some top colleges in India that offer a PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology:

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi
• National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
• Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar
• Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
• Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad

Ph.D. (Agriculture Biotechnology) is a 3-year duration doctoral level course. Agriculture Biotechnology focus on agriculture and the natural world, emphasizing the relationships between food production, the environment, science and society. It centered on the life sciences, with prominence given to the application of Biotechnology in agriculture. Study of Agriculture Biotechnology will provide candidates a strong science and Economics background rooted in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and focusing on the issues, research and course materials relevant to agriculture. The program includes various scientific topics such as stem cell research, pharmacology, forensics, cancer research, genetic research, immunology, environmental science, and food science. Because of its demand and importance various college and university offered Ph.D. Agriculture Biotechnology course. The purpose of this course  at academically exploring biological processes (reproduction, aging, and genetics) in terms of their chemical identity for easier comprehension. The course syllabus is divide in six semesters. 

Admission to the Ph.D. program shall be based on the students marks obtained in the entrance test conducted by the respective department or school of the particular university or institute. Those candidates who have complete GATE/NET/SET/ M.Phil/JRF Examination in the pertinent subject of the apex bodies as CSIR/UGC/ICAR/ICMR/DBT will be exempted from the Entrance Test. While giving the exemption, the Departmental Committee of the institute may consider research work/earlier Ph.D./experience done by the student. If a student already holds a Doctors degree in a relevant subject from a UGC Approved University or Institute, he/she may be exempted from entrance exam and pre Ph.D. coursework. After clearing the both steps the student will be eligible to pay course fee or registration fee. Only the predetermined number of candidates may be admitted to Ph.D. programme.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Career Prospect

• Waste management
• Food processing
• Bio-processing industries
• Drug and pharmaceutical research
• Public funded laboratories
• Environment control

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Admission Procedure

• Application for the entrance exam 
•  Result declaration
• Entrance pass scholar calling for the interview and document verification
• Provisional registration for pre Ph.D. course work classes
• Coursework classes shall be attended as scheduled by University
• Course work examination
• Result declaration of coursework
• Submission of synopsis ( 2 spiral bound copies with soft copy of synopsis)
• Departmental research committee meeting scheduled by University
• A registration letter shall be issued
• Research work started by scholar
• 6 progress reports shall be submitted
• Soft copy thesis submit
• plagiarism report check by the university
• Final after the plagiarism report soft copy thesis shall be sent to experts for evaluation
• After the consent of experts pre-submission, one set spiral binding shall be submitted
• After the successful presentation of the pre-submission thesis 3 copies of hard bound thesis shall be  submitted
• Viva shall be conducted as scheduled by University, Degree Awarded.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Documents Checklist

•  Documents (10th onwards)
• Aadhar Card/Pan Card, Caste Certificate
• Migration Certificate (Original)
• NOC (From Organization/ Institute/ University)
• Affidavit (undertaking)
• Guide Willing
• Assignments
• Synopsis (3 copies), Progress Report
• Library No Dues
• Thesis Hard copy (Spiral binding)
• No Dues, Thesis (6 hard copies)
• Affidavit -Submission (on Rs 100 Stamp and Notary Attested)
• C.D Soft copies (Thesis & Synopsis)
• Conference Certificate - 2
• Research Papers -2 (with ISSN No.)
• summary (page limit 20-30) -3 Copies 
• Plagiarism Report Below 10%

FAQs About PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology

Q.1 - What is the procedure for Ph.D.? Admission to the University?

ANSWER : - The Ph.D. and M.Phil. programs of prestigious Universities are conducted and guided strictly as per the provisions and regulations dictated by the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D./M.Phil. Degrees) (1st Amendment) Regulations, 2018 and subsequent amendments. The entire procedure for admission to the research programs encompasses a Research Entrance Exam (RET) and then an Interview/Viva Voce. The performance of a candidate in the RET is given 70% weightage, and the remaining 30% weightage is given to his/her performance at the Interview.

Q.2 - What are the modes of pursuing M.Phil. & Ph.D. programs at the University?

ANSWER : -Both the full-time and part-time modes are available at University for pursuing its Ph.D. programs and only the full-time mode is available for M.Phil. program in the desired subjects/fields. These highly-qualitative and prolific research programs are available in a rather broad range of fields/subjects. At University, the minimum time duration of the M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs is 1.5 Years and 3 Years, respectively, in general.

Q.3 - Are the Ph.D. and M.Phil. Degrees granted by any University valid abroad?

ANSWER : -Yes, of course. If the University is properly recognized under section 2(f) of the UGC Act of 1956 and is a prestigious member of the AIU (the Association of Indian Universities). It is an M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees granted in various fields/subjects are duly valid across India and the world.

Q.4 - What are the main eligibility criteria for participating in the University Research Entrance Exam (RET)?

ANSWER : -The following are the main eligibility conditions for participating in the RET: - A rigorous Master’s Degree in the proposed subject/field obtained from any recognized university/institution located in India or abroad, with a minimum 55% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade. Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled categories are given a 5% relaxation in respect of this eligibility criterion. Candidates with an M.Phil. degree in the proposed field/subject, or have qualified for the UGC (JRF) Examinations/ NET/ SET/ SELT, etc., will be allowed to appear directly for the interview, without appearing in the RET. Impressive academic records, and any prior experience in research work, will be given additional advantages.

Q.5 - What relaxations are granted to the reserved categories for Ph.D.? Admission to the University?

ANSWER : - Candidates belonging to the categories of SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy layer)/Differently-Abled, and so on, are given all relaxations prescribed by the Govt. of India and the UGC. These relaxations are provided in form of 5% reduced marks for them at post-graduation, and also in the minimum qualifying marks at RET. Thus, candidates belonging to these categories only need to score a minimum of 45% marks at RET, to qualify for the final interview.

Q.6 - How will be the pattern of RET?

ANSWER : - The syllabus or pattern of RET consists of subject-specific matters, research methodology, and aptitude (covering logical reasoning, numerical ability, analytical reasoning, statistics, etc.).Thus, RET will contain a total of 70 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Q.7 - Are M.Phil. Holders/UGC- NET (including JRF)/ UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)/ SLET/ GATE exempted from appearing at RET?

ANSWER : - Yes. The holders of M.Phil. degrees in their respective fields/subjects are made exempt from appearing in RET. The same is the situation in cases of aspiring candidates who have qualified exams like UGC-NET (including JRF)/ UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)/ SLET/ GATE, etc.

Q.8 - How is the application fee paid?

ANSWER : - The Application Fee (i.e. the fee for getting participated in RET) can be paid online or offline, like the Application Form. Payment Modes: DD (in Favor of the University) / NEFT/ Cash Deposit.

Q.9 - Do working candidates require to obtain NOC from employers for pursuing research at any University?

ANSWER : - Yes, necessarily. Working Professionals who are interested in research at any University are required to obtain the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from their respective employers, in order to avert any intrusion ever during the entire doctoral course.

Q.10 - Does an M.Phil. holder require to undergo Ph.D. coursework?

ANSWER : - Yes. M.Phil. holders are again required to undergo the coursework in Ph.D. at some Universities. However, their prior knowledge in the field/subject will be very supportive to them for learning and performing efficiently during the Ph.D. program.

Q.11 - Can I pay the yearly program/course fee in installments?

ANSWER : - Yes, you can pay the yearly course fee as many as in two installments, but well within the yearly session.

Q.12 - Does Any University provide any scholarship or stipend to pursuing scholars?

ANSWER : - Yes, of course. Many Universities offer scholarships as well as stipends to meritorious and talented candidates who undertake research studies at the University. Scholarships are granted to those candidates who come under the top 21 by scoring higher marks in RET and interviews. And, stipends are provided to those scholars who also give lectures to UG or PG students at the University, in addition to doing their Ph.D. coursework. The amount of the monthly stipend will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and capabilities and may go up to Rs. 20,000.

Q.13 - What other many facilities are provided to research scholars at the University Campus?

ANSWER : - All necessary and constructive resources, amenities, and facilities are offered by well-established and prestigious universities to research scholars in various streams/subjects. These facilities include the following - spacious and peaceful study rooms, erudite and well-experienced academicians and research experts, Wi-Fi and diverse IT devices, state-of-the-art laboratories, well-stocked libraries, lavish R&D amenities, separate amenities for lodging and foods for male and female candidates, peaceful and constructive environment within the university campus, and many other comforting and convenient facilities and services.

Live Application Form 2024

T.M. Bhagalpur University - TBU

• Bhagalpur, Bihar

CT University - CU

• Ludhiana, Punjab

Jayoti Vidyapeet Women's University

• Jaipur-Rajasthan, Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu Fisheries University - TNFU

• Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu

Cluster University of Srinagar - CUS

• Srinagar-Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir

Graphic Era - GE

• Dehradun-Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand

Documents Required For PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology Admission

• Migration Certificate (No objection certificate from the University last attended)
• Passing/Degree certificate of the last qualifying degree examination
• Mark-list of the last qualifying degree examination
• Character certificate (from the head of the Institute from which the student has obtained his qualifying degree.
• Documentary proof for date of birth
• Gap certificate (if applicable)
• Research Proposal *
• No objection certificate from the employer (if employed)

NOTE:- Students are requested to note that their application will not be considered for admission if the above certificates are not enclosed with their application.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology: Course Highlights

Given below are few of the important highlights of the program.

PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology: Syllabus

Syllabus of Doctor of Philosophy as prescribed by various Universities and Colleges.

Colleges offering PhD in Agriculture Biotechnology in India

Mentioned below are some states in India that offer the program.

Centurion University of Technology and Management - CUTM

Top colleges 2024.

Madhav University

SunRise University

Indira Gandhi National Open University - IGNOU

Guru Kashi University

Maharshi Dayanand University

Pacific University

Kurukshetra University

KREA University - KU

Rajiv Gandhi University - RGU

SRM University

Assam University - AU

Tezpur University - TU

Central University of South Bihar - CUSB

Mahatma Gandhi Central University - MGCU

Nalanda University - NU

Jamia Millia Islamia

VIT-AP University - VU

Apex Professional University - APU

Arunachal University of Studies

Arunodaya University - AU

Himalayan University

North East Frontier Technical University

Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Science University - IGTMSU

Venkateshwara Open University - VOU

Assam Don Bosco University - ADBU

Assam Down Town University - ADTU

Krishnaguru Adhyatmik Visvavidyalaya - KAV

Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya - MSSV

The Assam Kaziranga University - AKU

The Assam Royal Global University

Amity University - AU

Dr C. V. Raman University

Gopal Narayan Singh University - GNSU

K K University

Sandip University - SU

Ahmedabad University - AU

Anant National University - ANU

Atmiya University - AU

AURO University of Hospitality and Management - AUHM

C. U. Shah University - CUSU

Calorx Teacher's University

Charotar University of Science & Technology - CUST

Jawaharlal Nehru University

Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology - DAIICT

G.L.S. University - GU

Ganpat University - GU

Gokul Global University - GGU

GSFC University - GU

Indian Institute of Public Health - IIPH

Ph.d. thesis writing assistance/paper publication services.

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• Washington State University
• Integrated Plant Sciences

Major in Agricultural Biotechnology

• Major in Field Crop Management
• Major in Fruit and Vegetable Management
• Major in Landscape, Nursery, and Greenhouse Management
• Major in Turfgrass Management
• Viticulture and Enology
• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Food Systems
• Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology
• Student Learning Outcomes
• Internships
• Links and Resources
• Student Experiences

The Agricultural Biotechnology major provides students with a comprehensive understanding of genetics, plant pathology, entomology, organic and biochemistry, crops and soil sciences, horticulture, and micro and cell biology. The program emphasizes the development and application of new technology to ensure a safe and abundant food and fiber supply. Hands-on opportunities for students to partake in research are abundant.

Employment and Career Possibilities Within This Major

• Plant Geneticist
• Plant Breeder
• Research/Laboratory Technician
• Plant Pathologist
• Molecular Biologist
• Biotechnologist
• Graduate school, post-graduate studies or advanced degrees

Examples of Required/Preferred Classes for First-Year Students

• Crop_Sci/Hort 102: Cultivated Plants
• Soil_Sci 201: Soil: A Living System
• Biology 106: Intro to Organismal
• Chem 105: Princ. Of Chem I
• EconS 101: Fundamentals of Microeconomics

Required Math

• Math 106: College Algebra  and  Math 108: Trigonometry  or  Math 140 Calculus for Life Sciences

Transfer Pathways

Many of our best students attend local community colleges prior to transferring to WSU. Below is a list of suggested WSU courses to take locally and transfer into WSU. You can find your institution’s equivalent courses with our  Transfer Course Search Tool  or submit a course for evaluation with our  Course Evaluation Request Form . 

• BIOLOGY 107: Intro to Cell Biology and Genetics
• BIOLOGY 106: Intro to Organismal Biology
• CHEM 105: Principles of Chem I
• CHEM 106: Principles of Chem II
• MATH 106: College Algebra and MATH 108: Trigonometry (or MATH 140: Calculus for Life Scientists)
• ECONS 101: Fundamentals of Microeconomics
• ENGLISH 101: Introductory Writing
• WSU UCORE [DIVR] course
• WSU UCORE [ARTS] course
• WSU UCORE [HUM] course
• STAT 212: Introduction to Statistical Methods

Check out our  Transfer Student page  for more information about the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Transfer Student Experience!

Agricultural Biotechnology Advising Sheet (pdf)

Student Organizations/Clubs Associated with this Major

• Horticulture Club
• Viticulture and Enology Club
• Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

Information for New students

This is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Integrated Plant Sciences with a major in Agricultural Biotechnology. An  internship  is required in this major. Students will work with their advisor to locate an appropriate internship. It is managed by the Department of Horticulture.

From a Student’s Perspective…

Agricultural Biotechnology has allowed me to learn everything from how DNA works to how to grow crops. Now I’m getting to combine that information to create better crops that will feed the world’s growing population . Kayla Beechinor, CAHNRS Ambassador, Class of 2020

Kayla will be joining Texas A&M’s Graduate Plant Breeding program in fall 2020.

More Information

• Horticulture Department
• Crop and Soil Sciences Department
• Plant Pathology Department
• Entomology Department
• Explore Career Choices

Contact Information

For information about advising visit the CAHNRS Academic Advising page.