Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Life Sciences

Program Details

Format

Start Term

In-Person
Fall, Spring, and Summer

Duration

Full-time 3 years

Application

Deadline

Rolling

Program Description

KGI’s PhD in Applied Life Sciences provides students with expertise in research areas relevant to applied biosciences. Using state-of-the-art interdisciplinary tools and approaches to solve problems, students use the knowledge they gain through this degree program to advance new horizons in the applied biosciences.

About the Program

KGI’s PhD program enriches students experiences in both science and business aspects of the bioscience industry, making them unique among the graduate pool. All applicants must have completed a master’s degree focused on applied life sciences. Completion of the PhD Program is anticipated to require at least an additional three years of full-time study beyond the master’s degree with the possibility for extension depending on the particular research project.

Program Objectives

Graduates of KGI’s PhD program are expected to:

• Apply rigorous research methodologies to original, independent experimental, theoretical, and/or computational work in applied bioscience.
• Develop both a broad understanding of current scientific advances and mastery in an area of interdisciplinary science of relevance to applied bioscience sufficient for conducting original research.
• Understand the translation of basic science and engineering discoveries into products and processes, which benefit society.
• Adhere to ethical principles in research, development, and business issues inherent in the bioscience industries.

Career Opportunities

Your Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Life Sciences degree offers the competencies and strategic-thinking skills needed to pursue roles in several areas of research, bioscience, and many more areas.

Program Tracks

Traditional Track

The student is conducting PhD studies on KGI premises under supervision of Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences or School of Health Sciences faculty. To foster interdisciplinary research, the student may have one or more research advisors. One advisor must be a KGI faculty member; additional advisors may be from collaborating institutions.

Tuition is typically covered by external grants or institutional funding and students also receive a stipend. International students may be required to pay tuition and cover their own living expenses.

Industry-Sponsored Track

The student is sponsored by a biotechnology or pharma company. This track involves the student conducting studies at the company site and periodically visiting KGI. In addition to the company research advisor, the student must be supervised by a KGI faculty advisor.

Tuition is typically covered by an industry sponsor or tuition remission from a student's employer. Students are required to pay some or all tuition if not supported by an industry sponsor. If the student is not employed by the industry sponsor, a stipend is typically provided by the sponsor. Industry-sponsored track students may complete their research on site at KGI or remotely at the sponsor's site.

Program Faculty and Staff

• Loren Martin, Program Director
• Barbara Bailus, Assistant Professor of Genetics
• Subhrajit Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
• Saurav Datta, Program Director (MEng), Assistant Professor - Bioprocessing
• Julio ("Cesar") Espinoza, Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and Data Analytics
• Barbara Fortini, Program Director (MSGDA), Interim Program Co-Director (MSGC), Associate Professor of Genetics, Director of the Center for Training in Applied Genomics
• Gargi Ghosh, Associate Professor of Bioprocessing
• Derick Han, Keck Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Professor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology
• Jeniffer Hernandez, Associate Professor of Immunology
• Anna Hickerson, Henry E. Riggs Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Program Director (MSMDE), Associate Professor
• John Krstenansky, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
• Animesh Ray, W. M. Keck Foundation Professor of Systems, Computational, and Molecular Biology
• Gregory Reardon, Program Director (PharmD), Associate Professor of Administrative Sciences
• Danielle Short, Research Administrative Coordinator

Prerequisites

• Two-year master’s degree with experiential learning and professional development components

Admission Requirements

• Completed online application
• Personal statement
• Resume
• Letter of recommendation
• Transcripts
• English language proficiency (TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, iTEP)
• $75 non-refundable application fee
• Admission interview

Enrollment Fee

Admitted students are required to submit a $400 non-refundable enrollment fee to hold their spot in the program.