Biology1

Biological Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview

Graduate study in Biological Sciences puts students on the front lines of discovery. Doctoral students design, conduct and analyze original research; they develop rigorous expertise in everything from foundational theory and the study of evolution to cutting-edge research methodologies as they investigate a broad range of biological problems ranging from the molecular level to the biosphere. Degrees are offered in four integrated areas: biochemistry; ecology and evolutionary biology; integrative cell biology; and microbiology. The program takes four to five years, with funding available through sources such as scholarships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and supervisor's research grants.

Completing this program

  • Research Seminar: Related to supervisor interest, and may include biochemistry, cell biology, ecology and evolutionary biology or microbiology.

  • Candidacy: Students will prepare a research proposal or essay, followed by an oral exam in their field of research expertise.

  • Additional Courses: Topics may cover biology of laboratory animals, theory and lab methods, statistical methods, recent advances and Darwin.

  • Thesis: Students will propose, write and successfully defend a research thesis.

Specializations

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysical Chemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Microbiology
  • Physiology
  • Structural Biology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Energy and Environmental Systems

Outcomes

Professor, biologist, teacher, consultant, scientist (agricultural/forestry breeding, process development, environmental), data analyst, biotechnologist, genetic counsellor, manager (lab, project, clinic, territory, resource), science writer, research technician, bioscience/biotechnology business.

A PhD in biological sciences is usually considered a final degree.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Minimum of two courses, with additional seminar courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Four years full-time; six years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

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Biological Sciences


  1. Arshad Ayyaz

    Arshad Ayyaz

    Accepting Inquiries
    Single Cell Genomics, Tissue Regeneration, Cancer, Molecular Biology
  2. Placeholder Profile Image

    Robert Barclay

    Unavailable
    Behavioural and physiological ecology, conservation biology
  3. Placeholder Profile Image

    John EA Bertram

    Accepting Inquiries
    Dynamics of locomotion
  4. Tamara Bodnar

    Tamara Bodnar

    Seeking Students
    Microbiome , Inflammation and neurodegeneration, Prenatal alcohol exposure/Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Germ-free models, Indigenous community partnerships (health focus)
  5. Gordon Chua

    Gordon Chua

    Accepting Inquiries
    Eukaryotic Gene Expression and Regulation
  6. Antoine Dufour

    Antoine Dufour

    Unavailable
    Proteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity
  7. Peter Dunfield

    Peter Dunfield

    Accepting Inquiries
    Microbial Ecology / Environmental Microbiology, Biotechnology
  8. Peter Facchini

    Peter Facchini

    Accepting Inquiries
    Plant Metabolic Biochemistry
  9. Constance Finney

    Constance Finney

    Accepting Inquiries
    Infectious Disease Immunology
  10. Placeholder Profile Image

    Jeremy Fox

    Accepting Inquiries
  11. Marie Elizabeth Fraser

    Marie Elizabeth Fraser

    Accepting Inquiries
    Structural Biology
  12. Lisa Gieg

    Lisa Gieg

    Unavailable
    Environmental Microbiology
  13.  Omid Haji-Ghassemi - Assistant Professor - Department of Biological Sciences

    Omid Haji-Ghassemi

    Accepting Inquiries
    Structural Biology of Protein Kinases
  14. Dave Hansen

    Dave Hansen

    Seeking Students
    Stem Cells, microRNA level control
  15. Michael Hynes

    Michael Hynes

    Unavailable
    Bacterial genetics and physiology
  16. Photo of Dr. Lucas

    Kelsey Lucas

    Accepting Inquiries
    Ecological Biomechanics
  17. Image of Professor Mercader 2022

    Julio Mercader Florin

    Accepting Inquiries
    Environmental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Bioarchaeology, Chemical and Materials Science approaches to the Past
  18. Greg Moorhead

    Greg Moorhead

    Accepting Inquiries
    Protein Phosphatases in Cell Signalling
  19. Placeholder Profile Image

    Douglas Morck

    Accepting Inquiries
    Biofilms, Antibiotic Resistance, Bacterial Pathogenesis, Immunomodulatory Effects of Antibiotics
  20. Douglas Muench

    Douglas Muench

    Seeking Students
    Characterization and engineering of proteins that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression, Molecular and cellular approaches to oil sands tailings remediation and biosensing
  21. Dae-Kyun Ro

    Dae-Kyun Ro

    Accepting Inquiries
    General statement, 1. Chemical diversity and evolution of sesquiterpene lactone in lettuce, sunflower, and related plants in Asteraceae family., 2. Molecular genetics and biochemistry of natural rubber in lettuce., 3. Proanthocyaninin biochemistry in pea, 4. Synthetic Biosystems for the Production of High Value Plant Metabolites
  22. Carrie Shemanko

    Carrie Shemanko

    Unavailable
    Mammary Gland Development, Breast Cancer and Bone Metastasis
  23. Douglas G Storey

    Douglas G. Storey

    Unavailable
    Host Pathogen interactions
  24. Jessica Theodor

    Jessica Theodor

    Unavailable
    Dietary adaptations of herbivores, Ungulate Phylogeny, Response to Cenozoic climate change, Mammalian paleontology
  25. Jana Vamosi

    Jana Vamosi

    Unavailable
    Plant Biodiversity
  26. Vamosi SM - Profile Picture

    Steven Vamosi

    Unavailable
    Conservation, Ecology, Evolution
  27. Placeholder Profile Image

    Jean-Francois Wen

    Unavailable
    Public Economics

Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

Completion of a Master of Science program recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Exceptional students may apply to a PhD program without a Master of Science recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Work samples

None

Documents

A concise statement outlining the applicant's research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the University of Calgary

Reference letters

Three academic reference letters along with the required reference form.

Test scores

None


English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Deadlines

For admission on September 1

  • Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by June 1 
  • International (students with international transcripts)- apply by May 1 

For admission on January 1

  • Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by Oct. 1 
  • International (students with international transcripts)- apply by Sept. 1

For admission on May 1

  • Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by March 1 
  • International (students with international transcripts)- apply by Jan. 1

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Department of Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences Building 186
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, ABT2N 1N4
403-220-6623

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Faculty of Science

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Science website