Curriculum

Because this is a highly-mentored program designed around each student, your advisor will provide guidance on the appropriate curriculum based on your core discipline of interest. The key distinguishing features of the curriculum are:

• A personalized program of study that allows you to explore the disciplinary areas of greatest interest to you.
• Three ten-week laboratory rotations during your first year of study
• A two-semester core course sequence consisting of two courses that will provide core training in all the relevant bio-related areas.
• Encouragement to choose dissertation research projects that are use-focused, contribute to solving a large-scale challenge, and promise rich interdisciplinary experiences.
• Students accepted into the Biological Design PhD program will be supported as Research Assistants (RAs) in the first year of study and generally through the term of their studies.

If you are accepted to the Biological Design PhD Program:

During the first academic year, in addition to a core course sequence, you will complete three 10-week laboratory rotations. Rotations can be in any laboratory on the ASU campus provided it is centered largely on biological research and is approved by the Biological Design graduate faculty chair. Your advisor will help coordinate these rotations to help you choose the best laboratory and mentor for you, and one which exposes you to diverse approaches to science.

At the end of the first year of course work and rotations (May), you will choose a lab and professor to work in consultation with the Biological Design Program and prospective mentors. One semester of Teaching Assistant participation will be required to gain experience in teaching.

All Biological Design graduate students through the course of the graduate experience will participate in special seminars, meetings and social activities to encourage broad research interactions. You will be eligible for program support to attend scientific meetings.

You may request to work in a laboratory at ASU the summer prior to the start of your graduate studies.

View our Course Descriptions