Objectives
The primary objective is to offer to qualified students opportunities for advanced study in the biological sciences leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Graduates of our master's program are normally employed in research capacities at universities or companies involved in pharmaceutical, clinical, biological or biotechnological research, or in teaching. Graduates of our Ph.D. program accept research/teaching positions at the college and university level or are often employed at managerial levels in industry or government. The department has organized its courses to provide students with a broad-based background in biology with an emphasis on cell and molecular biology and to prepare them for advanced study and research in several areas including intracellular trafficking, signal transduction and cellular responses to stress, including aging and programmed cell death.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs focusing on Cell and Molecular Biology. Approximately 40 graduate students of diverse backgrounds are enrolled in these programs at any one time. The relatively small size of our program encourages intensive faculty/student interaction in both the classroom and laboratory. In many cases, the laboratory setting includes undergraduates, M.S. students, and doctoral students guided by postdoctoral fellows as well as faculty, creating a dynamic environment with intellectual exchange occurring at many levels.  Find out more about our  Master of Science Degree Program in Biological and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, a joint effort of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students begin their studies with a core of courses providing solid grounding in biochemistry, molecular genetics, and cell and developmental biology. Advanced courses based on current scientific literature, as well as regular attendance at seminars presented by scientists from other institutions, round out the formal preparation.

Doctoral students gain research experience early, through a series of research rotations which allow them to become familiar with the biological questions asked by faculty in the department and the techniques used to answer those questions. Students are then in a position to choose and carry out their doctoral research most effectively. We also encourage M.S. students to do research so that they gain a better understanding of experimental techniques and approaches to questions discussed in their classes, as well as better preparation for careers in research.

Candidacy
A student will be admitted into candidacy for the Ph.D. upon the successful completion of all courses other than doctoral research (950), the doctoral qualifying examination, research tool requirements, and acceptance of a thesis proposal by the chair of the department.

Graduate Admission Information
Robert Medrano, Director
Office of Graduate Admission
(718) 990-2790
medranor@stjohns.edu

Department Contact
Chris Bazinet, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies
bazinetc@stjohns.edu
St. Albert Hall  Room 246C
(718) 990-1419