Ph.D. Degree

About the Chemical Biology Ph.D. Program

The Chemical Biology doctoral degree program is designed to provide maximum flexibility, enabling students to pursue their research interests within a larger framework, strong interdisciplinary framework including core curriculum, and regular programming to bring students and faculty together.

Chemical Biology Ph.D admissions process

Research Rotations

During the first year in the program, students are required to conduct two semester-long research rotations or four half rotations in different laboratories of their choosing (CHEMBIO 599).

At the end of the second semester of the program, students select a research advisor located in one of the PCB participating departments. The faculty advisor is the primary support and advisor for the remaining four years of the program.

Candidacy & Research Progress

Admission to candidacy typically occurs in the Summer before the second year and marks the transition from a largely-classroom based experience to one that is focused on independent research. The milestone determines whether a student is ready to lead their thesis project, and identifies areas of knowledge or experimental design that need strengthening in order for the student to succeed.

Post candidacy regular annual meetings of the student’s dissertation committee are held to ensure progress concludes with a dissertation and defense in the fifth year of the program. Once the advisor and thesis committee deem research results to be suitable for writing a thesis, students begin to write a thesis then defend it. The Chemical Biology Ph.D. degree is designed to be completed in five years.

Defense of Dissertation

The regulations governing the preparation of the dissertation are provided in the Handbook for Doctoral Candidates, which is distributed by the Graduate School. Candidates begin drafting the dissertation after the Committee deems the student adequately prepared.

All additional steps and requirements before, during, and after the dissertation defense can be found within the Rackham Navigating Your Degree webpage, under the sections Dissertation and Oral Defense.

Chemical Biology Ph.D Five-Year Timeline

Year One: Fall Term (August– December)

Complete a research rotation in a lab (CHEMBIO 599; 6 credits)
CHEM 525 (Chemical Biology I; 3 credits)
CHEMBIO 601 001 (Critical Analysis of the Literature I; 1 credit)
PIBS 503 (Responsible Conduct of Research; 1 credit)
Elective course in chemistry, biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biophysics or other course in consultation with the Program (2-4 credits)

Year One: Winter Term (January–April)

Complete research rotation in a lab (CHEMBIO 599; 6 credits)
CHEM 510 (Foundational Skills in Chemical Biology; 3 credits)
CHEMBIO 610 (Critical Skills in Chemical Biology; 1 credit)
PIBS 504 (Rigor & Reproducibility; 1 credit)
Elective course in chemistry, biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biophysics or other course in consultation with the Program (2-4 credits)

Year One: Spring Term (May–June)

Select thesis advisor
Select thesis committee
Begin thesis research

Year One: Summer Term (July–August)

Thesis research
Submit first IDP and Mentoring Plan
Advance to candidacy

Year Two: Fall Term (August–December)

Continue full time research in lab (CHEMBIO 990, pre-candidate thesis research; 8 credits)
Third Year Examination (may be done in Fall or Winter term of second year)

Year Two: Winter Term (January–April)

Continue full time research in lab (CHEMBIO 990, pre-candidate thesis research; 8 credits)
Third Year Examination (may be done in Fall or Winter term of second year)
Complete annual IDP and Mentoring Plan update

Years Three through Five

Continue full time research in lab (CHEMBIO 995, candidate thesis research; 8 credits)
CHEMBIO 610 (Critical Skills in Chemical Biology; 1 credit) taken once more in year 3 - 5.
Annual meeting with dissertation advisory and committee
Complete annual IDP and Mentoring Plan update each year