All CDB doctoral candidates and master’s candidates who are conducting laboratory or other original research projects are required to register for 700-level research credits with their primary advisor. Master’s degree candidates who are doing a research project culminating in an original thesis are required to register for a minimum of 6 credits (in total) of research towards their degrees. Doctoral students are required to register for a minimum of 24 credits/40 suggested (in total) of research towards their degrees. Research credits do not count toward a non-thesis-based master’s degree.
- 16:148:701:(PI Section #) (Fall) Research in Biology
- 16:148:702:(PI Section #) (Spring) Research in Biology
Your PI or Advisor section number can be found under the Research in Biology listing in the schedule of courses. If you do not see your PI/Advisor listed, please notify the graduate office at
How to Determine the Number of Research Credits for Ph.D. Students Each Semester
RU-NB students should start taking as many credits of research as possible (12 max.) right away to bring the total semester’s credits to full-time status. The definition of full-time status for graduate students is a minimum of 9 credits per semester. The program encourages students to register for up to 16 credits per semester to reach the desired 40 research credits as early as possible.
Once students approach 40 credits of research earned, only 1 credit of research is required each semester by the School of Graduate Studies until graduation. For students who have successfully passed both qualifying exams, full-time status is defined as at least 1 credit per semester until graduation. If reduced credit waivers are required for loan deferral or international visa status, please notify the MBS Graduate Program Office for further instructions, as needed.
RBHS students (with UM billing code) should register for 9 credits of research each semester until graduation, regardless of credits accumulated or post-qualifying status.