Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis-based program
Program overview
Ambitious students looking to broaden their horizons through a wide range of cutting-edge research should consider the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD Thesis) degree. The research-based program ranges from biochemistry and molecular research to cellular and developmental biology, as well as genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. It also includes applications to cancer and clinical research. Following a previous degree, the program may take up to six years of full-time study. Students will enjoy practicing science in a setting that combines the amenities of a large city with the outdoor leisure activities of the nearby Rocky Mountains.
Completing this program
- Courses: Topics may include analysis of eukaryotic genomes, control of gene expression, cytogenetics, metabolic genetics and more.
- Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
- Sex & Gender Module: Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
- Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
- Seminars: Student participate in a journal club and work-in-progress seminars for their research group, and will present one seminar per year.
- Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
Specializations
Outcomes
Academic research; post-secondary and secondary teaching; industry research and consulting; business consulting, analytics, management, sales, research and marketing; scientific writing; IP and patent law; medicine (lab tech; physician; clinical scientist); veterinary medicine.
A PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology is usually considered a final degree; some graduates go on to post-doctoral research.
Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
Courses
Three core courses and one to two electives
Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar
Classroom delivery
Time commitment
Four years full-time; six years maximum
Supervisor
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted
Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.
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Seeking StudentsGenetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology -
Accepting InquiriesMolecular Chaperones and Neurodegeneration -
UnavailableBiochemistry and Molecular Biology of Lyme Disease -
Seeking StudentsGenetics of blood vessel development; precision medicine; developmental biology, Vascular patterning, Vascular stabilization, The zebrafish model -
UnavailableDevelopmental and reproductive biology -
Seeking StudentsComputational biology, bioinformatics, and genomics, Systematic variant interpretation in human genetic disease, Bayesian statistics, large-scale inference, and machine learning, Human and computational population genetics, Molecular evolution -
UnavailableBiology of male germ line stem cells -
UnavailableProteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity -
Seeking StudentsPrion diseases, cell biology of prion infection, chronic wasting disease, prion strains -
UnavailableDNA damage repair, Radiation Biology, Chromatin Dynamics, Cell Biology, Project #1 - SNM1 nuclease-mediated DNA repair, Project 2 - Chromatin remodeling in oxidative DNA damage responses, Project 3 - Alpha-particle-induced DNA damage
Admission requirements
GPA
A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
Minimum education
An MSc degree or equivalent. from a recognized institution.
Work samples
None
Documents
- A current C.V.
Reference letters
Three
Test scores
None
English language proficiency
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 105.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.5.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
- Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 with no section less than 70.
- Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of A- in each course.
Deadlines
For admission on September 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
- International students: Apr. 1 application deadline
For admission on January 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
- International students: Aug. 1 application deadline
For admission on May 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline
- International students: Dec. 1 application deadline
For admission on July 1:
- Canadians and permanent residents: May 1 application deadline
- International students: Feb. 1 application deadline
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements
Learn more about this program
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Health Sciences Centre
HSC G345C, 3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
Contact the Graduate Program Administrator
Visit the departmental website
Cumming School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
Visit the Cumming School of Medicine website
Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
Highlights of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
These stories from those involved in the program show what it's like to be involved yourself.
Carla Davidson, Owner - Endeavour Scientific Management and Consulting
"I learned a combination of critical thinking, clear communication and broad experience. My graduate degree gave me the willingness to start my own business."
Kevin Thorneloe, Director - Biopharm Translational Medicine
"The critical thinking skills I acquired during my PhD has been the foundation of my career in the pharmaceutical industry."
Nima Najand, Technology Analyst - Innovate Calgary
"UCalgary has been instrumental in providing me with skills to succeed in careers outside academia."
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