Graduate Program in Biology
The Biology Department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis has a large, vibrant, and diverse graduate program. Graduate students in our program can specialize in one of two tracks: Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (EES), or in Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB). Overall, we have 172 students, of which 115 are Masters students and 57 are working on doctoral degrees; 57 are international students, mainly from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Biology Graduate students in EES conduct research on a variety of topics in ecology, population biology, behavior, evolution, systematics, and conservation. Some students work on temperate systems in the U.S., while others work on tropical species in other countries. A few examples of the research that is being conducted by EES students include the role of parasites on life history strategies of birds, communication in frogs, movement and dispersal patterns in river otters in Missouri, social behavior of capybaras in Venezuela, evolution and systematics of the flora of Madagascar, distribution and ecology of neotropical migrant birds, fruit dispersal by South American bats, and evolution of reproductive behavior and mating systems in the avifauna of the Galapagos Islands.
Research by CMB graduate students also is diverse. Student projects include the genetic control of development in leeches, gene expression in yeast cells, processing of RNA in eukaryotes, and gene regulation in cyanobacteria.
The graduate students in the Biology Department form a close-knit group and are highly supportive of one another. They work hard but also enjoy parties and other social events. The biology graduate student soccer team, the "Jaguarundis", is active and welcomes new members. UMSL Biology graduate students interact extensively with faculty and students at Washington University, St. Louis University, and the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
The Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) is a recognized campus group that represents and advocates for our graduate students. The Department of Biology welcomes input from students and there is a graduate student representative on all major departmental committees.
In summary, the Biology graduate program is dynamic, draws students from every part of the world, and offers quality education and research opportunities in many different areas of biology.
Application, Admission, Assistantships and Fellowships
CMB dissertation proposal requirements
CMB comprehensive exam requirements