Program Overview

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Introduction to the Botany PhD Program

The University of WisconsinMadison offers a PhD program in Botany, providing students with the opportunity to work with faculty and staff on a range of projects in plant biology. The program encompasses various levels of organization, from molecules to populations, communities, and lineages of organisms. Major research areas include evolution and systematics, molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, plant biology, biochemistry, and ecology.

Admissions

Admission to the Botany PhD program requires a combination of academic achievement, research experience, and compatibility with the program's research areas. The admissions process involves a two-step evaluation by the academic program and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School, which include:

• Fall Deadline: December 1
• Spring Deadline: The program does not admit in the spring
• Summer Deadline: The program does not admit in the summer
• GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): Not required
• English Proficiency Test: Refer to the Graduate School's policy
• Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT): The GRE subject test in Biology or in Cell and Molecular Biology is not required
• Letters of Recommendation Required: 3

Funding

Financial support is available to qualified graduate students in the form of teaching, research, and project assistantships and fellowships. Typically, there are approximately 35 graduate students who hold assistantships or fellowships in the botany department. Additional funding opportunities include:

• Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF)
• External Fellowships
• Intradepartmental Fellowships and Awards

Requirements

The PhD program in Botany requires a minimum of 51 credits, with at least 26 credits of graduate-level coursework. Students must also complete a preliminary examination, a dissertation, and a final oral exam. The program offers four pathways:

1. General Botany Pathway: Complete one course from each of the following areas: genetics, biochemistry, cell or molecular biology, plant physiology or plant developmental biology, cryptogamic botany, plant anatomy or morphology, ecology, and evolution or systematics
2. Ecology Pathway: Complete at least three courses in ecology, one course in evolution, and one elective course
3. Evolution Pathway: Complete at least five courses, including one in evolution, systematics or cryptogamic botany, population or quantitative genetics, ecology, and an elective course
4. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Pathway: Complete at least five courses, including one in plant anatomy or morphology, biochemistry, cell or molecular biology, plant physiology, plant developmental biology or genetics, and an elective course

Policies

The program follows the Graduate School's policies, including those related to probation, advisor/committee, credits per term, time limits, and grievances and appeals. Students are required to conduct a yearly progress report meeting with their thesis committee after passing the preliminary examination.

Professional Development

The Graduate School offers various resources for professional development, including workshops, seminars, and online courses. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these resources to build their skills and enhance their academic and professional careers.

Learning Outcomes

The Botany PhD program aims to produce graduates who can:

1. Demonstrate a fundamental breadth of understanding of the basic properties of plant life
2. Apply methodological or theoretical frameworks within a specialized botanical subdiscipline
3. Communicate scientific research proposals and results in written and oral formats
4. Evaluate, critique, and apply critical thinking skills to scientific research
5. Value and promote professional ethics in scientific research
6. Engage in respectful debate and discussion of scientific information
7. Appreciate the importance of professional service