Biological Sciences
The graduate programs in the Department of Biological Sciences are open to all qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must meet all Graduate School admission requirements.
Applications should be submitted directly to the Graduate School. For full consideration for GTA or GRA positions, applications must be submitted by January 15. Applicants will not be considered without a department faculty member who has agreed to serve as the major adviser. Correspondence with one or more departmental faculty members before and during the application process is essential. For email addresses for faculty members and for additional information about our programs, please visit our website at www.ndsu.edu/biology/.
Financial Assistance
A student must first be accepted by the Graduate College before consideration for financial assistance. Graduate research assistantships (GRA) and graduate teaching assistantships (GTA) are available. Applicants are considered based on scholarship, potential to undertake advanced study and research, as well as financial need.
In addition to the stipend, graduate assistants receive a graduate tuition waiver. Tuition waivers cover base tuition for NDSU graduate credits only. Students are responsible for differential tuition, student fees, and tuition for non-graduate level credits taken or Cooperative Education credits.
In addition to research and teaching assistantships, there are other types of financial support. A limited number of fellowships are available through the Graduate College. Outstanding scholarship and financial need are primary considerations for these fellowships. Scholarships in specific areas are also available through the Department of Biological Sciences. These are generally supplemental and do not include tuition waivers. Students are considered for these awards after enrollment, with primary considerations being scholastic performance and research at NDSU.
Students must select a major adviser prior to their arrival for graduate studies.
The M.S. program generally requires a minimum of 24 months of full-time study, during which an overall GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained. The M.S. degree may be earned by either of two options. The Plan A: Thesis Option emphasizes completion of a research project. The Plan B: Comprehensive Study Option requires more course work, and instead of conducting research and presenting a thesis, the candidate presents a paper or papers approved by the adviser to the examining committee, demonstrating ability for scholarly study and written expression. Candidates under both options must present a seminar on the thesis research or comprehensive study and must pass an oral examination.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science (M.S.) | 30 | |
| Basic Research Principles | ||
| Graduate Seminar | ||
| Scientific Integrity (or equivalent as approved by committee) | ||
| Quantitative Biology (or equivalent as approved by committee) | ||
Biological Content Courses to be approved by the advisory committee. | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
The Ph.D. program generally requires a minimum of 36 months of full-time study, during which an overall GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained. Candidates for the Ph.D. are required to take a preliminary written and oral examination directed to academic subject matter and an oral final examination of the dissertation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. Program | 90 | |
| Graduate Seminar | ||
| Quantitative Biology (or equivalent as approved by committee) | ||
| Biological Research Principles | ||
Biological Content Courses to be approved by the advisory committee | ||
| Scientific Integrity (or equivalent as approved by committee) | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
Laura Aldrich-Wolfe, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 2006
Research Interests: Community Ecology, Mycorrhyza and Plant-fungal Interactions
Julia H. Bowsher, Ph.D.
Duke University, 2007
Research Interests: Evolutionary and Developmental Biology of Insects
Ned A. Dochtermann, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, 2009
Research Interests: Evolutionary and Behavioral Ecology
Erin H. Gillam, Ph.D.
University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2007
Research Interests: Evolution and Behavioral Function of Communication Signals Using Bats as a Model
Kendra J. Greenlee, Ph.D.
Arizona State University, 2004
Research Interests: Comparative Physiology, Insect Respiration and Immunology
Timothy J. Greives, Ph.D.
Indiana University, 2009
Research Interests: Hormones and Behavior, Seasonality, Biological Rhythms, Reproductive Eco-physiology
Britt Heidinger, Ph.D.
Indiana University, 2007
Research Interests: Physiological Ecology, Senescence, Stress Physiology
Angela Hodgson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2010
Research Interests: Ecosystem Biology and Wildlife Conservation Biology
Jiha Kim, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 2006
Research interests: Tumor Microenvironment
Jennifer L. Momsen, Ph.D.
Rutgers, 2007
Research Interests: Biology Education at the Undergraduate Level
Lisa M. Montplaisir, Ph.D.
University of Arizona, 2003
Research Interests: Science Education, Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Development
Marinus L. Otte, Ph.D.
Vrije Universiteit, 1991
Research Interests: Wetland Science, Biogeochemistry, Plant Ecophysiology
Katie M. Reindl, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2006
Research Interests: Cancer Cell Biology, Identification and Validation of New Drug Targets
Sarah Signor, Ph.D.
University of California-Davis, 2013
Research interests: Insect Evolutionary Genomics
Matthew Smith, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas, 2012
Research Interests: Patterns of Phenotypic Variation in Natural Populations
Craig A. Stockwell, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, 1995
Research Interests: Evolutionary Ecology of Vertebrate Populations, Conservation Biology, Fisheries Biology
Steven E. Travers, Ph.D.
University of California-Santa Barbara, 1998
Research Interests: Plant Evolutionary Ecology
Emeritus
William J. Bleier, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University, 1975
Research Interests: Blackbirds, Animal Depredation, Avian Ecology
Malcolm G. Butler, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, 1980
Research Interests: Aquatic Ecology, Limnology, Fisheries, Water Quality, Wildlife Management
Gary K. Clambey, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1975
Research Interests: Ecology and Biogeography, Environmental Analysis and Planning, Structure Function Relations in Midwestern Ecosystems, Human Ecology
Theodore L. Esslinger, Ph.D.
Duke University, 1974
Research Interests: Lichenology; Taxonomy, Chemosystematics, and Floristics of Lichens; Emphasis on the Parmeliaceae and Physciaceae
James W. Grier, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 1975
Research Interests: Eagles and Other Birds of Prey, Herpetology, Aquatic Organisms, Fossils, Animal Population Dynamics, Habitat Ecology
Gary L. Nuechterlein, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1980
Research Interests: Behavioral Ecology of Birds; Wildlife Ecology, Particularly of Nongame Species
Adjunct
Michael J. Anteau, Ph.D.
Louisiana State University, 2006
Mark E. Clark, Ph.D.
University of Tennessee, 1996
Ned H. Euliss, Jr., Ph.D.
Oregon State University, 1989
Mark A. Hanson, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1990
Douglas H. Johnson, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1986
George M. Linz, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1982
Daniel C. McEwen, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2008
David M. Mushet, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2010
Wendy L. Reed, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2000
Marsha A. Sovada, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 1993
Steve K. Windels, Ph.D.
Michigan Technological University, 2008
Brian Wisenden, Ph.D.
University of Western Ontario, 1993