Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this interdisciplinary field. Upon completing the PhD degree, students will be able to develop knowledge of the breadth of topics within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines that underlie the foundations of Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes for the PhD degree in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology include:

• Developing knowledge of the breadth of topics within STEM disciplines
• Demonstrating critical thinking skills and the ability to integrate knowledge from diverse STEM fields to solve biological problems
• Demonstrating written communication skills required for a thesis describing independent research, published research, and external research proposals
• Demonstrating effective oral and visual communication skills necessary for articulating scientific findings and significance to diverse audiences

Requirements for the PhD Degree

The PhD degree program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology requires students to:

• Choose an advisor (PI) by the end of the first semester
• Fulfill a teaching requirement
• Submit a thesis proposal that provides evidence of their ability to carry out original research in a specialized area of Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology before the beginning of their fifth semester in residence
• Complete 90 semester hours of program-approved courses (including thesis research hours)
• Pass their qualifying exam, which includes thesis proposal defense
• Defend the PhD thesis in a public oral examination

Course Requirements

The course requirements for the PhD degree in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology include:

• Required courses:
  • SSPB 501 / BIOE 502 / BIOS 505: Physical Biology
  • SSPB 502 / BIOE 552: Intro Computational Systems Biology: Modeling & Design Principles of Biochem Networks
  • SSPB 503 / BIOE 508: Synthetic Biology
  • SSPB 575: Introduction to Research
  • UNIV 594: Responsible Conduct of Research
  • SSPB 599: Graduate Teaching in SSPB
• Seminars:
  • SSPB 550: Graduate Seminar (4 semesters required)
• Elective requirements:
  • Select at least 3 courses from Approved Advanced Topics in the SSPB field
  • Select at least 2 additional courses at the 300-level or above from any department
• Thesis research:
  • SSPB 800: Graduate Research (each semester of residency after the first semester)

Admission Requirements

Applicants for graduate study in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology must have:

• A BA or BS degree in natural sciences, engineering, or related field (or some equivalent)
• Strong ability and motivation for research as indicated by academic record, relevant research experience, and recommendations

Prerequisite Requirements

Students are required to have training in the following three foundation areas:

• Biochemistry or Molecular Biology
• Ordinary Differential Equations
• Statistics If students are missing formal training in these subjects, they are required to take the equivalent background courses during their first year.

Prerequisite Courses

The corresponding courses at Rice include:

• BIOS 301: Biochemistry I
• BIOS 341: Cell Biology
• MATH 211: Ordinary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
• CMOR 304: Differential Equations in Science and Engineering
• BIOE 439: Applied Statistics for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• STAT 305: Introduction to Statistics for Biosciences
• STAT 310: Probability and Statistics

Transfer Credit

For Rice University's policy regarding transfer credit, see the university's transfer credit policy. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Qualifying Exam

Students are expected to pass their qualifying exam before the beginning of their fifth semester in residence unless an extension has been granted by the Program Director. Students may retake the exam up to two times if granted permission to do so by the Program Director. Students who do not pass the Qualifying Exam may exit the program with a MS degree if the appropriate requirements have been met.

Thesis Proposal Defense

Students are required to submit their written proposal to their Research Progress Committee no later than two weeks before the scheduled exam. The proposal is expected to be in NIH NRSA-like format, limited to 10 pages (not including References), and include the following sections: Abstract, Background, Problem Statement, Research Plan, Preliminary Results, References, and Proposed Timeline.