Graduate Studies
Prospective Graduate Students
Graduate study in Biological Sciences at Purdue University is multi-disciplinary, offering a wide variety of choices for doctorate and masters degrees. Major research groups exist in the fields of molecular, cellular, organismal, structural, and population biology. Areas of research include biochemistry, biophysics, cellular and developmental biology, population ecology and evolution, eukaryotic and molecular genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology and physiology, and plant physiology. A major advisor may be selected in any of these areas. In addition, several interdisciplinary programs also are available in conjunction with other departments and divisions within the University. We therefore welcome applicants from different disciplines such as chemistry, physics and related fields as well as students from traditional biological backgrounds.
Graduate Training and Research in Biophysics/ Structural Biology
Structural biology and molecular biophysics have been strong themes in
the Life Sciences at Purdue for 3 decades.The Biophysics Program offers
graduate traineeships for Fall, 2000 funded by an NIH Biophysics Training
Grant. Research of faculty emphasizes structural analysis of biological
macromolecules and viruses by x-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance,
electron microscopy, and spectroscopy, applied to fundimental problems
in biophysics, biology, and medicine. Projects include protein- and virus-nucleic
acid interactions, mechanisms of enzyme action, DNA transciption effectors,
virus and toxin entry and protein import into membranes and cells, transmembrane
and protein-protein signaling, cancer research, metalloproteins, biological
electron transfer, and energy transduction.
Cell Motility and Cytoskeletal Research
The Purdue Motility Group (PMG), which focuses on cytoskeletal- and cell
motility research, is based in the Department of Biological Sciences
at Purdue University, but involves scientists from five other departments.
Researchers who examine the function of the cytoskeleton in fundamental
cellular processes use a variety of techniques and approaches, including
light- confocal-, and electron microscopy, biochemistry, subcellular
fractionation and molecular genetics. The faculty represented in the
group maintain extensive networks of collaborators within the region
and across the globe. The PMG site furnishes PDF files of published papers,
a gallery of research images and movies, a calendar of events and activities
taking place in the field, and information about each of the participating
faculty.
Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology
The Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology faculty of the Department
of Biological Sciences utilize a variety of eukaryotic experimental systems
to address fundamental problems in cell and developmental biology. A major
focus of the program is the training of graduate students, which includes
several advanced lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses, extended research
laboratory rotations, and significant interactions with the rest of the
60 Departmental faculty and 130 graduate students.
Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution
The faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University,
offer specialized training in ecology, behavior, and evolution leading
to a M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Faculty research interests combine theoretical
approaches with intensive laboratory and field investigations. At present,
field studies are being conducted in the midwest, southeast, and southwest
U.S. as well as in East Africa and Central and South America.
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
The combination of microbiology and molecular genetics has produced many
of the basic insights for the spectacular development of subcellular
and molecular biology over the past 50 years. It has accomplished this
by providing experimentally favorable model systems for the study of
cellular processes. In the past decade, however, substantial excitement
has developed in investigating microbes not only as models of other cells,
but for their own importance.
Neurobiology
The Neurobiology faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences have
vigorous research programs focused on cellular and molecular aspects
of neuronal function. A critical component of each of these programs
is the training of Ph.D. students to do independent research in their
chosen area of modern Neurobiology. Students are encouraged to take advantage
of the full range of expertise within the Neurobiology group, as well
as the considerable resources offered by the Department of Biological
Sciences which includes 35 other active research faculty, over 130 Ph.D.
students, and extensive support staff and facilities.
Structural Virology
The structural virology group in the Department of Biological Sciences
at Purdue University consists of six different laboratories that use
a combination of cryo-electron microscopy, crystallography, and molecular
biology to elucidate the processes of viral entry, replication, and pathogenesis.
One of the strengths of this group is the extensive network of collaborative
efforts between the laboratories. Therefore, this web page is organized
as a series of interlacing reference pages. You may access a list of
the viruses currently being studied at Purdue or a list of the laboratories
performing the research. You will be able to download high resolution
images, coordinates, programs, movies, references, and contact personnel
at each step.
Nanobiology
For once, Purdue researchers in the biological sciences are looking forward
to playing a small role in the advancement of science. That "small" role
is to help lead the university's push into the future of nanobiology. Spearheaded
by veteran scientists Michael Rossmann, Janet Smith and others in the world-renowned
Purdue Structure Group, the initiative will include a focus on tiny molecular
machines and mechanistic processes studied at the nanoscale through x-ray
crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and advanced computational tools.
The group's research will contribute to strategies for designing new drugs
to combat deadly viruses and other diseases, and promote the development
of next generation biomedical machines.