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- Biology Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
- Biology Faculty
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Environment (48 credits)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Neotropical Environment (48 credits)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (48 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Developmental Biology
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Environment
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Neotropical Environment
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Bioinformatics
Biology
Location
Location
- Department of Biology
- Stewart Biological Sciences Building, Room W4/8
- 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue
- Montreal, QC H3A 1B1
- Canada
- Telephone: 514-398-6400
- Fax: 514-398-5069
- Email: gradinfo.biology [at] mcgill.ca
- Website:
About Biology
About Biology
The Department offers graduate training in many areas of biology with particular strengths in the following areas: Molecular Biology and Genetics; Cell and Developmental Biology; Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation; Evolution; Neurobiology; Bioinformatics; and Plant Biology. In addition to the regular M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, the Biology Department offers specialized programs, known as “options”, in certain specific areas: Neotropical Environments (NEO), Bioinformatics, Environment, and Developmental Biology.
Graduate programs leading to the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees are offered. Both are research-intensive degrees, and the emphasis in both programs is on development of the intellectual and technical skills necessary for independent research. The main component of both degrees is a thesis presenting results of this work and the student’s original contribution to scientific knowledge. Formal coursework, usually in the form of literature-based seminar courses, is minimal and typically completed within the first year. Students present their own work annually in a formal seminar, and regularly attend other seminar series and journal clubs, in order to round out their scientific training.
In addition to working with world-class researchers, graduate students in Biology have access to top-notch research infrastructure. The recently renovated Stewart Biology Building and the newly constructed Bellini Life Sciences Complex are equipped with state of the art equipment and facilities for sophisticated imaging, robotic, and genetic techniques, to name a few. These in-house capabilities are complemented by a wide range of field research facilities, which include the Gault Nature Reserve at Mont St. Hilaire (QuĂ©bec), the Morgan Arboretum (QuĂ©bec), the Huntsman Marine Science Centre (New Brunswick), the Subarctic Research Laboratory (QuĂ©bec), the Bellairs Research Institute (Barbados), the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama), and the limnology research station at the Wilder and Helen Penfield Nature Reserve on Lake Memphremagog (QuĂ©bec). These resources are also extended by affiliation with other organizations such as the Redpath Museum, the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National Research Council of Canada, the Groupe Interuniversitaire de Recherches OcĂ©anographiques du QuĂ©bec (GIROQ), the 91ÉçÇř Macdonald campus, the Montreal Neurological Institute, the Jewish General Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, Montreal Children's, and Royal Victoria Hospitals.
The Department specifies a minimum level of support for all graduate students. This amount is $15,500 per annum plus tuition fees. The required minimum duration of support is two years for the M.Sc. program, five years for a Ph.D. student entering as Ph.D. 1 (from a bachelor's) and four years for a Ph.D. student entering as Ph.D. 2.
The graduate program of each student is established and regularly evaluated by a three-member supervisory committee appointed by the Graduate Training Committee and chaired by the student’s thesis supervisor.
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
| The typical graduate student in this program has a strong background knowledge in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, organismal biology, ecology, developmental biology, and statistics, often with special strengths in the area of proposed study. Given the continuing trend toward interdisciplinary work, the program also accepts some students with a high scholastic standing who have completed a program in fields other than biology (medicine, engineering, chemistry, physics, etc.). Admission is based on an evaluation by the applicant’s potential supervisor, who is the faculty member who will provide supervision and financial support for the student’s research, and by the Biology Graduate Training Committee. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact faculty members with whom they wish to study before applying for admission.
Alumni have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers. Many go on to pursue postdoctoral research and later assume faculty positions, while others work as researchers in industry, wildlife biologists, forensic technologists, or science policy advisers, to name a few. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Environment (48 credits) |
|---|
| The Environment graduate option offers students the opportunity to pursue environment-focused graduate research in the context of a range of different fields, including Anthropology, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biology, Bioresource Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Entomology, Epidemiology, Experimental Medicine, Geography, Law, Microbiology, Plant Science, Parasitology, Philosophy, Renewable Resources, and Sociology. Through a program consisting of research, seminars and two courses, this option adds a layer of interdisciplinarity that challenges students to develop and defend their research and think in a broader context. Students graduating from the M.Sc. or Ph.D. program under the Environment option will therefore be able to understand and critically analyze an environmental problem from several perspectives (e.g., social, cultural, scientific, technological, ethical, economic, political, legislative) and at a local, national, regional, and/or international scale. In addition, they will be able to explore and critically assess analytic and institutional approaches for alleviating the selected environmental problem, and to effectively communicate research findings to both specialist and lay audiences. Coordinated and administered through the 91ÉçÇř School of Environment (MSE), the Environment option is aimed at students who wish to use interdisciplinary approaches in their graduate research on environmental issues and who wish to benefit from interactions that will occur as they interact with students from a wide range of different disciplines. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Neotropical Environment (48 credits) |
|---|
| The 91ÉçÇř-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) is a research-based option for M.Sc. or Ph.D. students in the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Bioresource Engineering, Geography, Natural Resource Sciences, Plant Science, and Political Science at 91ÉçÇř. The NEO is aimed at students who wish to focus their graduate research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries. The typical NEO student has a very strong interest in conservation because NEO courses focus on conservation issues. Students in the program have diverse backgrounds, including both Latin American and Canadian students, and must either speak Spanish or enrol in a Spanish course when they enter the program. NEO favours interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 91ÉçÇř and from STRI. Accordingly, each student will have two co-supervisors, one from 91ÉçÇř and one from STRI. Students will complete their research in Latin America and the NEO's core and complementary courses will be taught in Panama. Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required. Through this educational approach, NEO seeks to facilitate a broader understanding of tropical environmental issues and the development of skills relevant to working in the tropics. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (48 credits) |
|---|
| The goal of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in the interdisciplinary field of Bioinformatics, which lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. This work includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating Bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. The Bioinformatics graduate option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses, as well as a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field. The typical entering student will be affiliated with one of about fourteen different “home” departments in three different faculties, chosen based on his/her specific field of expertise, and will therefore meet the specific requirements for that department. The student will additionally be evaluated according to requirements specific to the Bioinformatics option. Students in this option will have access to five specialized courses that are open only to students within the Bioinformatics option. At the M.Sc. level, students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology |
|---|
| The typical graduate student in this program has a strong background knowledge in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, organismal biology, ecology, developmental biology, and statistics, often with special strengths in the area of proposed study. Given the continuing trend toward interdisciplinary work, the program also accepts some students with a high scholastic standing who have completed a program in fields other than biology (medicine, engineering, chemistry, physics, etc.). Admission is based on an evaluation by the applicant’s potential supervisor, who is the faculty member who will provide supervision and financial support for the student’s research, and by the Biology Graduate Training Committee. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact faculty members with whom they wish to study before applying for admission.
Alumni have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers. Many go on to pursue postdoctoral research and later assume faculty positions, while others work as researchers in industry, wildlife biologists, forensic technologists, or science policy advisers, to name a few. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Developmental Biology |
|---|
| The option in Developmental Biology brings together the strong concentration of outstanding developmental biology researchers at 91ÉçÇř and across Montreal to offer students the opportunity to pursue cutting edge research in developmental biology in a rich and collaborative environment. This option is intended to provide broad training in developmental biology and offers research opportunities with a variety of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant model systems, including Drosophila, C. elegans, Arabidopsis, and mice. Participating faculty are drawn from research institutions across Montreal in addition to the Department of Biology, including the Montreal Neurological Institute, the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de MontrĂ©al (IRCM), and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre. The synergies arising from this network enhance a unique training environment that provides students with outstanding theoretical and practical preparation for a future career in science. This Ph.D. program is distinguished from the graduate program in Biology because entering students will carry out three research “rotations” during their first semester, allowing them to experience a variety of research areas before choosing a supervisor for the remainder of their graduate work. Students enter directly from their undergraduate studies, and the primary criterion for admission to the program is a strong background in research at the undergraduate level. It is also expected that candidates will have a CGPA of 3.5 or better, although exceptions may be made for applicants with outstanding research experience. Students will also participate in courses, retreats, and symposia specific to the program. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Environment |
|---|
| The Environment graduate option offers students the opportunity to pursue environment-focused graduate research in the context of a range of different fields, including Anthropology, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biology, Bioresource Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Entomology, Epidemiology, Experimental Medicine, Geography, Law, Microbiology, Plant Science, Parasitology, Philosophy, Renewable Resources, and Sociology. Through a program consisting of research, seminars and two courses, this option adds a layer of interdisciplinarity that challenges students to develop and defend their research and think in a broader context. Students graduating from the M.Sc. or Ph.D. program under the Environment option will therefore be able to understand and critically analyze an environmental problem from several perspectives (e.g., social, cultural, scientific, technological, ethical, economic, political, legislative) and at a local, national, regional, and/or international scale. In addition, they will be able to explore and critically assess analytic and institutional approaches for alleviating the selected environmental problem, and to effectively communicate research findings to both specialist and lay audiences. Coordinated and administered through the 91ÉçÇř School of Environment (MSE), the Environment option is aimed at students who wish to use interdisciplinary approaches in their graduate research on environmental issues and who wish to benefit from interactions that will occur as they interact with students from a wide range of different disciplines. This option is available for Master's and/or Ph.D. students in: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Bioresource Engineering, Entomology, Microbiology, Plant Science, Parasitology, Renewable Resources), Arts (Anthropology, Geography, Philosophy, Sociology), Law, Medicine (Epidemiology and Experimental Medicine), and Science (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geography). |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Neotropical Environment |
|---|
| The 91ÉçÇř-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) is a research-based option for M.Sc. or Ph.D. students in the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Bioresource Engineering, Geography, Natural Resource Sciences, Plant Science, and Political Science at 91ÉçÇř. The NEO is aimed at students who wish to focus their graduate research on environmental issues relevant to the Neotropics and Latin American countries. The typical NEO student has a very strong interest in conservation because NEO courses focus on conservation issues. Students in the program have diverse backgrounds, including both Latin American and Canadian students, and must either speak Spanish or enrol in a Spanish course when they enter the program. NEO favors interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning through the participation of researchers from 91ÉçÇř and from STRI. Accordingly, each student will have two co-supervisors, one from 91ÉçÇř and one from STRI. Students will complete their research in Latin America and the NEO's core and complementary courses will be taught in Panama. Through this educational approach, NEO seeks to facilitate a broader understanding of tropical environmental issues and the development of skills relevant to working in the tropics. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Bioinformatics |
|---|
| The goal of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in the interdisciplinary field of Bioinformatics, which lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. This work includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modeling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating Bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases and the use of algorithms and statistics.
The Bioinformatics graduate option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses, as well as a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field. The typical entering student will be affiliated with one of about fourteen different “home” departments in three different faculties, chosen based on his/her specific field of expertise, and will therefore meet the specific requirements for that department. The student will additionally be evaluated according to requirements specific to the Bioinformatics option. Students in this option will have access to five specialized courses that are open only to students within the Bioinformatics option. At the Ph.D. level students will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field and will also have the capability of developing an independent Bioinformatics research program. |
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)
Biology Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Biology Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a B.Sc. in a discipline relevant to the proposed field of study with an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0/4.0 or a CGPA of 3.2/4.0 for the last two full-time academic years. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required, but may be submitted. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone). A score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 86 on the Internet-based test with each component score not less than 20 or 6.5 on IELTS is the minimum standard for admission. Specific programs may have additional requirements.
Admission is based on an evaluation by the Graduate Training Committee and on acceptance by a research director who can provide adequate funding for personal and research expenses. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact staff members with whom they wish to study before applying for admission.
Application Procedures
Application Procedures
Application to the graduate program in Biology is made using an online web application form. A direct link to the online form can be found on the Biology Department website.
All applicants should read the academic faculty and admission procedure sections on the Biology Department website before completing the application form. These guidelines contain specific information on the application process, summaries of the research areas of staff, and contact information.
Dates for Guaranteed Consideration
For dates for guaranteed consideration, please select the appropriate program from the following website: www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/programs. If application materials are received after the dates for guaranteed consideration, review of the applicant’s file may be delayed until the following admittance period. All inquiries pertaining to admission procedures should be directed to the Graduate Admissions Secretary.
Note: Applications for Summer term admission will not be considered.
91ÉçÇř’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)
Biology Faculty
Biology Faculty
| Chair |
|---|
| Paul F. Lasko |
| Chair of Graduate Program |
|---|
| Laura Nilson |
| Emeritus Professors |
|---|
| A. Howard Bussey; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Brist.), F.R.S.C. |
| Robert L. Carroll; B.S.(Mich.), M.A., Ph.D.(Harv.), F.R.S.C. |
| Ronald Chase; A.B.(Stan.), Ph.D.(MIT) |
| Jacob Kalff; M.S.A.(Tor.), Ph.D.(Ind.) |
| Donald L. Kramer; B.Sc.(Boston Coll.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
| John B. Lewis; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
| Professors |
|---|
| Graham A.C. Bell; B.A., D.Phil.(Oxf.), F.R.S.C. (James 91ÉçÇř Professor) |
| Gregory G. Brown; B.Sc.(Notre Dame), Ph.D.(CUNY) (on sabbatical) |
| Lauren Chapman; B.Sc.(Alta.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
| Rajinder S. Dhindsa; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Punj.), Ph.D.(Wash.) |
| Siegfried Hekimi; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Geneva) |
| Paul F. Lasko; A.B.(Harv.), Ph.D.(MIT) (Molson Professor of Genetics) (Associate Member in Anatomy & Cell Biology) |
| Martin J. Lechowicz; B.A.(Mich. St.), M.S., Ph.D.(Wisc.) (on sabbatical) |
| Louis Lefebvre; B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.(Montr.) |
| Michel Loreau; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Free Univ., Brussels) (on sabbatical) |
| Gerald S. Pollack; M.A., Ph.D.(Princ.) |
| Catherine Potvin; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Duke) |
| Neil M. Price; B.Sc.(New Br.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
| Rima Rozen; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) (James 91ÉçÇř Professor) |
| Daniel J. Schoen; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Mich.), Ph.D.(Calif.) (Macdonald Professor of Botany) (on sabbatical) |
| Associate Professors |
|---|
| Ehab Abouheif; M.Sc.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Duke) (on sabbatical) |
| Thomas E. Bureau; B.Sc.(Calif.), Ph.D.(Texas) (William Dawson Scholar) |
| Joseph A. Dent; B.Sc.(Mich.), Ph.D.(Col.) |
| François Fagotto; Ph.D.(Neuchâtel) |
| Gregor Fussmann; Dipl.(Berlin), Ph.D.(Max Planck Institute) |
| Andrew Gonzalez; B.Sc.(Nott.), Ph.D.(Imperial Coll., Lond.) |
| Frédéric Guichard; B.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Laval) |
| Paul Harrison; B.Sc.(NUI), Ph.D.(Lond.) (on sabbatical) |
| Andrew Hendry; B.Sc.(Vic., BC), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Wash.) (joint appt. with Redpath Museum) |
| Rudiger Krahe; Dipl.(Alexander U.), Ph.D.(Humboldt) (on sabbatical) |
| Brian Leung; B.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Car.) |
| Robert L. Levine; B.Sc.(Brooklyn), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Yale) |
| Laura Nilson; B.A.(Colgate), Ph.D.(Yale) |
| Richard Roy; B.Sc.(Bishop's), Ph.D.(Laval) |
| Frieder Schoeck; Dipl.(Erhangen), Ph.D.(Max Planck Institute) |
| Jacalyn Vogel; M.Sc.(E. Ill.), Ph.D.(Kansas) (Canadian Pacific Chair in Biotechnology) |
| Tamara Western; B.Sc.(Dal.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
| Monique Zetka; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
| Assistant Professors |
|---|
| Gary Brouhard; M.S.E., Ph.D.(Mich.) |
| David Dankort; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McM.) |
| Jonathan Davies; M.Sc.(Cape Town), Ph.D.(Imperial Coll., Lond.) |
| Irene Gregory-Eaves; B.Sc.(Vic., BC), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Qu.) |
| Nam-Sung Moon; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
| Simon Reader; B.A.(Camb.), Ph.D.(Camb.) |
| Jon Sakata; B.A.(C'Nell), Ph.D.(Texas-Austin) |
| Alanna J. Watt; B.Sc.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Brandeis) |
| Sarah Woolley; B.Sc.(Duke), Ph.D.(Texas-Austin) |
| Hugo Zheng; M.Sc.(Helsinki), Ph.D.(Oxf. Brookes) |
| Associate Members |
|---|
| Anatomy and Cell Biology: Nathalie Lamarche, Craig Mandato |
| Anthropology: Colin Chapman |
| Biochemistry: Maxime Bouchard |
| Centre for Research in Neuroscience: Sal Carbonetto, Robert Dunn, Yong Rao, Donald Van Meyel |
| Dept. of Human Genetics, Chair: David Rosenblatt |
| MCH: Feige Kaplan |
| MNI: Kenneth Hastings, Stefano Stifani |
| RVH: Hugh J. Clarke, Daniel Dufort, Teruko Taketo |
| Redpath Museum: Claire de Mazancourt, David Green, Hans Larsson, Virginie Millien, Anthony Ricciardi |
| University of the West Indies: Judith Mendes |
| Adjunct Professors |
|---|
| IRCM: Michel Cayouette, Frédéric Charron, Artur Kania, Marie Kmita |
| NRC Lab: Malcolm S. Whiteway |
| STRI: Eldredge Bermingham, Rachel Collin, Hector Guzman, Edward Allen Herre, Haris Lessios, Mark Torchin |
| U. de Montréal: Pierre Drapeau, Louis St-Amant |
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) (45 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Environment (48 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Environment (48 credits).
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Neotropical Environment (48 credits)
Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required.
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Neotropical Environment (48 credits).
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (48 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biology (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (48 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology .
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Developmental Biology
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Developmental Biology.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Environment
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Environment .
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Neotropical Environment
Participation in the MSE-Panama Symposium presentation in Montreal is also required.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Neotropical Environment .
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Bioinformatics
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Bioinformatics .
Faculty of Science—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)