Graduate Programs

Overview of Graduate Programs in Biological Sciences

Welcome to the Biological Sciences graduate program. The Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University offers an innovative coursework-based Master of Arts (MA) degree as well as research-based Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. All graduate students, regardless of program, have the opportunity to engage in research with internationally recognized faculty.

The list of Biological Sciences graduate programs can be accessed from the links in the blue side bar on the left-hand side of this web page.

Application Fee Waivers

For Domestic Students: Kent State University is offering a Free Application Week (waiving the application fee) for Domestic students who submit their applications to Kent State from October 21st - 28th, 2024.

For International Students: The window to apply for an Application Fee Waiver has passed. NO ADDITIONAL FEE WAIVERS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

If you already applied for a fee waiver, you will be notified by November 1st if you were selected to receive a fee waiver.
We will award up to 10 fee waivers to our top applicants.
Earning a fee waiver does NOT guarantee acceptance to the BSCI graduate program.
All applicants who earn a fee waiver are encouraged to submit their official application through the Kent State University application system by NOVEMBER 15th.

Graduate Assistantships, FAQs & Additional Information

M.S. and Ph.D. Programs

FAQs regarding the M.S. and Ph.D. programs

Graduate Assistantships

The application cycle for Fall 2024 admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs is now closed. The application cycle for Fall 2025 admission will be open from early August through Nov. 15, 2024.
M.S. and Ph.D. programs only offer admission for Fall semester.
Unconditional acceptance in both our M.S. & Ph.D. programs includes a Graduate Assistantship position that comes with a stipend, tuition coverage, and some health insurance benefits. You do not need to apply for these benefits separately.

Additional Teaching, Support, and Training

Departmental teaching/research assistantships include:

A full tuition waiver
Annual stipend
Money towards the purchase of health insurance

Additional financial support includes:

Travel money to conferences
Graduate Student Senate research awards
Opportunities to apply for additional graduate student awards/endowments/fellowships

Additional training includes:

Research Ethics
Professional Writing Course
Departmental Seminars Series
Program Journal Clubs
Training in use of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
Workshops in professional skills and careers

Alumni Highlights

Dr. Liz Aulino, PhD Integrative Physiology & Neurobiology

Dr. Aulino graduated with a PhD in Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology from Kent State University in Spring 2021.

Where she is working:

Dr. Aulino is working as a Technical Support Consultant for Bio-Rad Laboratories. This role entails working with scientists to troubleshoot experimental outcomes associated with Bio-Rad products. She works remotely and her position allows her to do lots of technical troubleshooting - it's the best of all worlds.

Citations of papers published:

Aulino, E.A. and Caldw

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Dr. Cindy Perkovich, Phd Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Cindy Perkovich graduated with a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Kent State University in Spring 2021.

Where she is working:

Dr. Perkovich started in her position on June 1st, 2021 in the Entomology Department at Tennessee State University. She is working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Nursery Crop Research Center in McMinnville for Karla Addesso. Karla gave the keynote speech for the Tennessee Entomological Society in September, 2021.

Citations of papers published:

Perkovich, C., & Wa

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Dr. Desmond Owusu Kwarteng, PhD Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics

Where will you be working once you graduate?
I will be working as a Postdoctoral Research fellow in the lab of Prof Bradley Hyman at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
What papers have you published with citations?
Owusu Kwarteng D, Gangoda M, Kooijman EE. The effect of methylated phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives on the ionization properties of signaling phosphatidic acid. Biophysical Chemistry. 2023 Mar 11:107005.
Graber Z, Owusu Kwarteng D., Lange SM, Koukanas Y, Khalifa H, Mutambuze

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