Graduate students in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington receivea commitment from the entire department to support their education and research. In addition to providing five years of assistantships, we support our many of our students through endowed departmental grants for research and travel. Our students make excellent use of the many opportunities available to them, as evidenced by the extraordinary number of fellowships and awards received, the successful publication of high impact papers, and their regular contributions at national and international meetings. Our students receive additional training by participating in departmental governance, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and other activities. Together these factors combine to promote an unusual degree of professionalism and community spirit, exemplified by the annual graduate student research symposium, organized by students and attended by the whole Department.
General Statistics(All numbers are approximations, exact figures differ annually)
Number of applicants: greater than 300 Number of students invited for interview weekend: 50 Number of offers extended: approx. 30 (about 10% of applicants) Number of offers accepted: 15 Time to completion: 5 - 5.5 year average Teaching Assistant Requirement: Minimum 2 quarters TAing Funding: Our department provides funding for the first five years of your program through a variety of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. |
Member of the Team
By joining the Biology Department at the University of Washington, you will become a part of a world-class research institution. Here, graduate students are treated as colleagues by a committed faculty who work to mentor students, to provide opportunities to develop research interests, to network both on and off campus, and to publish and present their own research.
You will find a collaborative environment at the University of Washington, with faculty engaging in research with the lab next door, researchers across campus, and teams halfway across the world. Our graduate students are encouraged to collaborate similarly, seeking additional mentors and colleagues throughout the world who compliment their research interests.
Timeline to Completion
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Autumn Quarter |
Winter Quarter |
Spring Quarter |
Summer Quarter |
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Year 1 |
Begin program, optional lab rotation #1 |
Optional lab rotation #2 |
Optional lab rotation #3, choose advisor/permanent lab |
Select Supervisory Committee; first annual meeting |
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Year 2 |
Wrap up Prescription Letter Requirements
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General Exam by end of Spring Quarter |
Supervisory Committee Annual Meeting |
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Year 3 |
Conduct research and begin writing; work to publish/present research; Supervisory Committee Annual Meeting |
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Year 4 |
Conduct research and continue writing; work to publish/present research; Supervisory Committee Annual meeting |
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Year 5 |
Publish/present a chapter of your dissertation; select Reading Committee |
Schedule Final Exam |