The Graduate Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (abbreviated as the MMG Program) offers both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees and is part of a large, diverse, and highly interactive community of biological scientists that form the Graduate Program in Molecular Biosciences at Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. This consortium is currently made up of five graduate programs and functions to coordinate the recruitment, admissions, and first-year core curriculum of Ph.D. students, as well as helping our students in selecting Ph.D. research advisers from among the more than 200 faculty members on campus. The MMG Program currently has approximately 121 faculty members from a number of departments and institutes in the areas of: molecular genetics; molecular biology; gene regulation; signal transduction; microbial physiology; virology and pathogenic microbiology; applied, environmental and industrial microbiology. Additional or alternative studies are designed to meet individual needs. Thus graduate students have the opportunity to select additional study areas in their work.
The Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Graduate Program offers advanced studies leading to Ph.D. and M.S. degrees.
The Ph.D. requirements include the set of first-year core courses in Molecular Biosciences, encompassing a broad range of biological topics. In addition, students are required to take the MMG Program curriculum courses, conduct laboratory research, pass parts I and II of the qualifying examination, and write and defend a research dissertation. All Ph.D. students are guaranteed a competitive stipend in addition to health coverage and tuition remission for the duration of their graduate studies, provided that academic standards are met and progress towards a Ph.D. is maintained.
The MS requirement includes a minimum of 30 credits. Students may select either a research thesis or non-research thesis option of study. NO financial aid is offered to Master's students; however, limited TA positions are sometimes available to support Masters training.
Admissions
All Ph.D. applications will be reviewed by the joint Graduate Programs in Molecular Biosciences Admissions Committee. The deadline for applications to the Ph.D. program is December 1 of each year. The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications early in December.
M.S. applications are reviewed separately by the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Masters Admissions Committee. The deadline for completed M.S. applications is April 1.
The application form is the same for both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs.