Research in genetics has brought about one of the major scientific revolutions of humankind. The advent of recombinant DNA technology provided the tools to isolate, sequence and characterize genes, the building blocks of life. Evolutionary biology has allowed us to reconstruct the history and selective pressures acting to shape those genes. In the past ten years, a remarkable synthesis of molecular and evolutionary genetics has taken place and created the field of genomics, which promises unprecedented scientific breakthroughs in medicine and agriculture. Our program is unique in that it brings together a broad array of faculty in many areas of molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, and genomics into one group. A graduate degree in Genetics from the University of Georgia will put you at the forefront of this scientific revolution.
The Department of Genetics offers a graduate program leading to the PhD degree. The department is particularly strong in the areas of recombinant DNA technology, gene regulation, prokaryotic molecular genetics, plant molecular biology, mammalian genetics, evolutionary genetics, and population genetics. After a student is admitted, a faculty advisory committee is appointed to recommend a program of study based on the individual student’s academic background and research interests. A master’s degree is not required for entrance into the doctoral program, and students without a master’s degree are encouraged to enter the doctoral program directly.
Physical facilities available for research include all modern equipment and facilities necessary for research in the various areas of genetics. Special on-campus facilities include a DNA and protein sequence and synthesis facility, a molecular marker analysis facility, a complete electron and confocal microscopy laboratory, controlled-environment equipment, equipment for radioisotope studies, a special fermentation facility, a monoclonal antibody production facility, and extensive computer facilities. Cooperative arrangements for joint research exist with such off-campus facilities as the Russell Agricultural Research Center, the Yerkes Primate Center, the Sapelo Island Marine Institute, the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Director of Graduate Studies Bob Schmitz, Professor gencoord@uga.edu Graduate Program Administrator Susan White whites@uga.edu 706.542.1127 www.genetics.uga.edu
A minimum of 30 hours
1. Apply to a gateway program: Integrated Life Sciences (http://ils.uga.edu/) or Integrated Plant Sciences (https://ips.uga.edu/) a) Application deadline is December 1 for the following fall b) GRE is not required but accepted as supplemental application material
2. Apply to the UGA Graduate School and include the following: a) Three letters of recommendation b) C.V. c) Statement of Purpose (emphasizing career goals, objectives, and research plans) d) Unofficial transcript (3.0 minimum GPA)
Although there are no formal course requirements for admission, your previous coursework and training should reflect preparation for advanced study in genetics (e.g., coursework in genetics, work experience, research experience, publications, presentations, REU participation, MS or senior thesis). A MS is not required for admission.
International students: For students whose primary language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. Students need to submit official university documents according to the UGA Graduate School requirements. Students will also have to show certificate of finances upon acceptance to the program.
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. 20 of these hours must be at the 8000-level or above (exclusive of doctoral research, doctoral dissertation, or directed study).
| GENE 8100 | Foundations of Genetic Analysis | 4 |
| GENE 8300 (1 hour) | Introduction to Scientific Research Writing | 1 |
| GENE 8620 (1 hour) | Rigor and Reproducibility in Genetics Research | 1 |
| GENE 8880 (1 hour) * | Directed Study in Research Communication | 1 |
| GENE 9000 | Doctoral Research | 1-18 |
| GENE 9300 (3 hours) | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-10 |
| GRSC 8550 (1 hour) | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
*Repeated each semester in residence until 5th year
Choose a minimum of 3 credit hour(s) from the following:
BIOS course 6000-level and above
MATH course 3000-level and above
STAT course 6000-level and above
| BINF 8441E | Statistical Inference for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| EPID 8560 | Analysis of Infectious Disease Data | 3 |
| FANR 6750-6750D | Experimental Methods in Forestry and Natural Resources Research | 4 |
| PBIO(PATH) 8250 | Experimental Design and Analysis in Field Plant Biology | 3 |
Any other quantitative course by written approval of the Graduate Affairs Committee. Please note that computer programming is considered to be a language, and thus courses with this focus do not fulfill this requirement.
Choose a minimum of 6 credit hour(s) from the following:
| BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8113 | Advanced Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology (1a) | 2 |
| BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8114 | Advanced Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology (1b) | 2 |
| BCMB 8150 | Advanced Topics in Cell Signaling and Cell-Cell Communication | 3 |
| CBIO 8300 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
|
ECOL 4500/6500
Analytical Thinking
|
Evolutionary Ecology | 4 |
| EHSC 8460-8460L | Environmental Genomics | 1-3 |
| ENTO 8570 | Molecular Entomology | 2 |
|
FANR 4350/6350
Analytical Thinking
|
Conservation Genetics | 3 |
|
FANR(BINF)(GENE) 8140
Analytical Thinking
Critical Thinking
|
Functional Genomics | 3 |
| GENE 4200/6200 | Advanced Genetics | 3 |
| GENE(CBIO) 4310/6310 | Genetic Approaches to Developmental Neuroscience | 3 |
| GENE 4500/6500 | Human Genetics | 3 |
| GENE(ECOL) 4530/6530 | Molecular Ecology | 3 |
| GENE 4540/6540 | Cancer Genetics | 3 |
| GENE 4550/6550 | Evolution and Development | 3 |
| GENE 8150 | Fundamentals of Evolutionary Genetics | 4 |
| GENE 8550 | Evolution and Development | 3 |
| GENE(BCMB) 8910 | DNA Modeling | 2 |
| GENE 8930 | Advanced Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| GENE(BINF) 8940 | Applied Genome Analysis | 3 |
| GENE(MIBO) 8980 | Prokaryotic Genetics | 2 |
| MIBO 8120 | Foundations of Microbiology | 5 |
| MIBO(BCMB)(BINF) 8270L | Composition, Organization, and Evolution of Genomes | 3 |
| MIBO 8600 | Fundamental Processes of Prokaryotic Cell Biology | 3 |
| PBIO(CRSS) 4500/6500 | Introduction to Gene Technology | 3 |
| PBIO(GENE)(PATH)(BINF) 4510/6510 | Genome Evolution Across the Tree of Life | 3 |
| PBIO 8100 | Plant Genetics | 4 |
| PBIO(BINF) 8350-8350L | Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | 3 |
| PBIO(GENE)(PATH)(BCMB)(MIBO) 8960 | Genetics of Yeast and Filamentous Fungi | 3 |
| PBGG(CRSS)(HORT) 4140/6140 | Plant Breeding | 3 |
| PBGG(CRSS) 8890 | Plant Cytogenetics: Behavior and Evolution of the Plant Genome | 3 |
| GRSC 7001 | GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar | 1 |
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| GRSC 7770 | Graduate Teaching Seminar | 1-3 |
| LLED 7769 | International Graduate Internship II | 3 |
Course should be taken prior to or simultaneously with a teaching assistantship.
Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.
Many of our graduates have gone on to academic careers as research and teaching faculty at top-ranked universities and liberal arts colleges. Other graduates pursue successful non-academic careers with government agencies and in industry (e.g., as program scientists, data analysts).
Qualified students will be nominated by the Graduate Program Committee for Graduate School Presidential and Ph.D. Fellows awards. Students are also encouraged to seek outside fellowships and scholarships (e.g., NSF Graduate Research Fellowships).
Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities outside of Athens, when appropriate and in consultation with their committees.
Students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities when those internships will facilitate their professional development and career aspirations.
Students are encouraged to present their research at conferences, professional meetings, and symposia. The Graduate School has funds available to defray travel expenses for students who present. Students also are encouraged to write grant proposals to help fund their research and to develop grant-writing skills. Students are expected to publish their research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Genetics Graduate Student Organization (GGSA) is the primary group that organizes and represents graduate students in the department of genetics. STEMZone is an outreach event that focuses on community science education and occurs during home football games.