Graduate Programs
Programs of Study
With the advent of genomics, the 21st Century has been termed a "revolutionary" era in Biology and Biotechnology. The Department of Biology and Biotechnology (BB) is perfectly situated for this transition with the construction of the Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park. This interdisciplinary state-of-the-art building integrates Life Sciences and Bioengineering graduate programs at WPI and houses a number of technology centers, such as the Bioengineering Institute (BEI).
The Department offers a fulltime research-oriented program for incoming graduate students, leading to either a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in biotechnology or Masters (M.S.) degree in biology and biotechnology. These programs require students to successfully complete a set of required courses in the field and a thesis project or dissertation that applies the basic principles of biology and biotechnology using hypothesis driven experimental methods to a specific research problem.
Graduates will have a broad knowledge of the field of biology and biotechnology, a detailed knowledge in their area of specialization, a working knowledge of modern research tools, a strong appreciation for scientific research in theoretical and experimental areas, and a foundation for lifelong learning and experimenting, both individually and as part of a team. Students who complete these programs will be well prepared for careers in the academics and private sectors or further graduate education.
Faculty in the Biology and Biotechnology Department have research interests in three main areas; molecular/cellular/developmental biology, molecular ecology and evolution, and applied microbial systems. Students seeking a graduate degree in biology and biotechnology engage in directed study with one of the department's faculty in his or her research specialty area. The department suggests that, prior to applying, students review the information at the department's Web site to help identify potential faculty advisors.
Application and Admission
Applications should be made to either the M.S. program in biology and biotechnology or the Ph.D. program in biotechnology. The department accepts applications for admission to the Fall semester only. Applications should indicate that they wish to be considered for Fall admission.
Admission Requirements
See Admission Information page.
Degree Requirements
M.S. in Biology and Biotechnology
Students pursuing the M.S. degree in biology and biotechnology must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of course and theses work, six of which must be thesis research credits. In addition, M.S. students must successfully complete (grade of B or higher) as minimum of three graduate courses appropriate to their area of study (subject to pre-approval by their thesis committee) and the graduate seminar (BB 501, 1 credit in every semester registered for full-time study). Students must assemble an Advisory Committee of three faculty members. A minimum of two of the committee members must be biology and biotechnology program faculty members. One of the biology and biotechnology faculty members will chair the committee and be the student's faculty advisor. The Advisory Committee must review and approve each M.S. student's program of study and thesis research.
Ph.D. in Biotechnology
In addition to the WPI requirements, a dissertation (minimum of 30 credit hours) is required of all Ph.D. students. It is the intention of the faculty that the student develop for this degree a thematic focus for a minor, interdisciplinary area of study outside of the biology and biotechnology department, such that the following credit distribution be required for coursework:
15 credit minimum
BB courses at the 4000 or 500 level (an M.S. in a biological field may be considered acceptable)
15 credit minimum
Within the minor area of study and taken at the 4000 or 500 level (M.S. in an appropriate minor field of study may be considered acceptable)
15 credit maximum
At the 4000 level or below for all requirements
2 credit minimum
To meet the cultural studies requirement
2 credit minimum
To meet the teaching skills requirement
Biology Seminar (BB 501) is required every semester.
Students must successfully complete (grade of B or higher) three of the four departmental core courses (BB575, BB576, BB577, or BB 578).
Teaching Requirement
2 credit minimum
The objective of this requirement is formal training in pedagogy. It can be fulfilled by enrolling in: (1) an advanced undergraduate or graduate course in education; or (2) a mentored teaching experience (IS/P) arranged with an individual faculty member, within the major discipline of the student and the professor. This mentored teaching experience is distinguished from a teaching assistantship in that it requires significant mentored student involvement in course development, delivery and evaluation.
Cultural Studies Requirement
2 credit minimum
Graduates of the biotechnology program will need more than technical skills to make their way in the global market. Such skills might include bioethics, and linguistic and interpretive skills that encourage a reasoned awareness and acceptance of human differences. Students may choose from offerings in bioethics, history and language to develop a focused strength in one area. Graduate work in Cultural Studies is a minimum of 2 credit hours done under the guidance of a humanities advisor. For example, a student could register for Bioethics for 2 credits.
Publications
In order to graduate, at least one manuscript should be submitted for publication in a refereed journal and at least one paper must have been presented at a national or international conference.
Exams, Reports and Dissertation Defense
A Ph.D. qualifying exam is required and should be taken following the first year of study. A majority of the Examining Committee must be members of the biology and biotechnology department faculty. The committee must also approve the student's dissertation research proposal and will meet each semester to review and assess the student's progress. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must also give annual presentations of their research work to the department as part of the graduate seminar course.
A public defense of the completed dissertation is required of all students and will be followed immediately by a defense before the Examining Committee. All members of the Examining Committee must be present for the defense. Operational details of the program, including the student qualifying exam and dissertation defense, can be found in the graduate handbook provided to all entering students.
Faculty
E. W. Overström, Professor and Department Head; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts- Amherst; oocyte biology, developmental cell biology, animal somatic cell cloning.
D. S. Adams, Professor; Ph.D., University of Texas; design of neurotrophic factors for treating stroke, human stem cell matrices for treating spinal cord injuries.
J. Bagshaw, Professor; Ph.D., University of Tennessee; recombinant DNA mechanisms and technology, regulation of gene expression.
T. C. Crusberg, Associate Professor,Ph.D., Clark University; heavy metal bioremediation of industrial wastewaters, cryptobiotic desert soil crusts as indicators of environmental change in the American southwest.
A. DiIorio, Ph.D., WPI, bioprocess design technologies for overall process improvement and remediation of heavy metals from waste water using a naturally produced biopolymer.
T. Dominko, Research Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; regenerative cell biology, reproductive/ developmental biology.
J. B. Duffy, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Texas; molecular signal transduction mechanisms (EGFR, TGF-B Pathways) using drosophila model system.
D. G. Gibson III, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Boston University; amino acid neurotransmitters, arthropod hormones and growth factors, invertebrate neuromuscular junctions.
L. M. Mathews, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Louisiana; population genetics and evolutionary ecology of marine and aquatic invertebrates, design and application of molecular genetic tools for ecological research, conservation biology.
R. L. Page, Research Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; regenerative cell biology, somatic cell cloning.
S. M. Politz, Associate Professor; Ph.D.; UCLA. Genetic control of surface glycoprotein expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; chemosensory control of nematode behavior and development; host immune responses to parasitic nematode infections.
R. Prusty Rao, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Penn State University Medical School; Fungal pathogenesis and its regulation by small molecules, genomic approaches to identifying novel virulence factor as targets for antifungal drug development, genetic modification of yeast to increase ethanol production.
J. Rulfs, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Tufts University; cell culture model systems of signal transduction, metabolic effects of phytoestrogens, cultured cells in tissue engineering.
E. F. Ryder, Associate Professor; M.S. Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health; PhD Genetics, Harvard University; nervous system development using C. elegans as a genetic model, bioinformatics approaches to understanding gene expression, computer simulations of development.
P. J. Weathers, Professor; Ph.D., Michigan State University; biology of in vitro cultured plants and their tissues, plant secondary metabolism, bioreactor development for plant and animal tissues, process development for plant products.
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