Graduate Programs
Masters Programs
- M.S. Plant Biology
Doctoral Programs
- Ph.D. Plant Biology
- Ph.D. Plant Biology (Plant Genetics)
Students usually spend five years earning the Ph.D. degree. During the first two years, a student takes courses and initiates the dissertation research. After course requirements have been met and the student has passed written and oral qualifying examinations, which include intensive coverage of the area of specialization, the student advances to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The student then completes his or her research, submits a written dissertation, and defends a thesis.
Students are supported using a combination of research assistantships and teaching assistantships.
Possible Areas of Study
Agricultural Plant Biology
- Biochemistry and physiology
- Cellular, molecular and developmental biology
- Ecology
- Evolution, Systematics and Ethnobotany
- Genetics
- Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Chemical Genomics applied to questions of plant biology
Integrative Graduate Education and Research Trainee Program at the UCR Center for Plant Cell Biology
Graduate Student training in interdisciplinary science is available within the Center for Plant Cell Biology's ChemGen IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Trainee) program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and founded by leading practitioners of chemical Genomics.
Graduate Advisor- Admissions/
Recruitment
Professor Zhenbiao Yang
(951) 827-7351
yang@ucr.edu
Graduate Advisor- Continuing Students

Professor Norman Ellstrand
(951) 827-4194
ellstrand@ucr.edu
Information for Prospective Graduate Students:
For More Information:
Biological Science Graduate Student Affairs Center
GRE Dept. Code: 0205
TOEFL Dept. Code: 37
